Senate Bill 9 vetoed by Gov. Beshear

Governor Beshear used his Friday 5 PM briefing to veto SB 9.

The Courier-Journal reported online at about 6:30 PM, as well as in today’s print newspaper:

Gov. Andy Beshear has vetoed a bill that would hand new power to Attorney General Daniel Cameron to regulate abortion clinics and also require abortions be suspended as an elective procedure during the coronavirus pandemic.

Senate Bill 9 passed in the final hours of the 2020 General Assembly on April 15, also requires doctors to try to save any infant born alive, including after a failed abortion.

At this writing the veto has not yet been posted to the state website.

Reacting, Margie Montgomery expressed “extreme disappointment.” She and thousands of prolifers had politely but firmly sent emails and petitions to the governor pleading with him to uphold the measure either by letting it go into effect without his signature or courageously signing it.

Senator Whitney Westerfield, chief sponsor of SB 9, last week predicted Beshear would veto the bill. He said Friday night that he is “supremely disappointed” with the veto.

“This governor once again demonstrated his hostility to unborn life,” said Westerfield. “If the Lord is willing, I will file this bill on the first day of the 2021 session.”

Polls across America consistently show upwards of 80% of the public support Born Alive protections.

Interestingly, in his veto declaration, Beshear didn’t mention the merged aspect of the bill that provided Attorney General Daniel Cameron with authority to investigate the state’s two abortion clinics.

Cameron called on the Beshear administration earlier to end abortion procedures in the state during the COVID-19 pandemic. In a statement Friday night he called the veto “reprehensible.” Read the entire statement here.