New Hampshire Legislature Upholds Governor Benson’s Veto of Emergency Contraception Bill.
CONCORD – The New Hampshire Legislature today upheld Governor Benson’s veto of SB 484, a bill that would have established a collaborative practice for Emergency Contraception (EC). This veto denies women expanded access to a contraceptive method that could dramatically reduce the number of unintended pregnancies and abortions in the state. NARAL Pro-Choice New Hampshire Executive Director Laura Thibault was disappointed by the vote, “By denying expanded access to this safe and effective contraceptive option, the legislature ignored the wishes of the majority of New Hampshire citizens who support this common sense measure. We are deeply disappointed that political pressure outweighed common sense and a commitment to preventing unintended pregnancy in New Hampshire”. “The action of Governor Benson and those who followed his lead in rejecting this bill will not go unnoticed by New Hampshire voters. The majority of citizens who care about women’s health will make their voices heard at the polls this November and will elect leaders who won’t play politics with women’s lives. It is only a matter of time before emergency contraception will become more accessible for New Hampshire women”, Thibault concluded. The collaborative practice would have enabled trained pharmacists to voluntarily partner with licensed prescribers to dispense EC directly from the pharmacy. Used since the 1970’s, EC utilizes the same hormones found in ordinary birth control pills to keep an egg from being released, fertilized, or implanted in a woman’s uterus. EC is currently available with a prescription and can be taken in the case of contraceptive failure, unprotected sex, or sexual assault to prevent unintended pregnancy. EC should not be confused with RU-486 or mifepristone, an early abortion option.
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