COUNTY EXECUTIVE VETOES CLINIC BILL!

From the office of the County Executive, Rob Astorino:

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  May 18, 2012 

ASTORINO VETOES CLINIC ACCESS LAW CALLING IT LEGALLY FLAWED

Says access to reproductive health facilities is already well protected by state and federal laws

 

Saying the bill is legally flawed and unnecessary, County Executive Robert P. Astorino today vetoed a bill that purports to guarantee women access to certain reproductive health clinics.

“The legislation is unnecessary, unfair and unconstitutional on its face, all of which put the public at risk,” said Astorino in his message to the Board of Legislators. “My veto is a principled attempt to spare our residents of these harmful consequences.”

            The legislators approved the bill on May 7 by a 10-7 vote. It was opposed by a coalition of pro-life and pro-choice legislators. It would take 12 votes to override the veto.

            Astorino gave the following reasons for his veto:

• The legislators who supported the bill and their supporters had failed to provide any evidence that the law was needed. In fact, he said, existing federal and state statutes already restrict protesters outside clinics and there was no evidence that these laws were insufficient or not being enforced.
• The law’s enactment would violate the First Amendment’s guarantees and result in an “unacceptable potential to chill freedom of speech and assembly.”
• The law subjects law-abiding citizens to frivolous lawsuits and exposes them to unreimbursable legal fees.
• The bill itself is legally flawed and vague and could be costly for the county to defend in legal proceedings.

“At a time when your Honorable Board has failed to act on $80 million in pending and much needed capital projects and has failed to act on 37 pending appointments to various Boards and Commissions why is so much time being expended on a matter already addressed by two separate levels of government?” Astorino asked rhetorically.      

Comments

[Robert Florin]

This is great news, as county legislator Jim Maisano said in his statement there are many flaws in this bill and also it is unconstitutional.How could anybody vote for this?

[Whitney P.]

Outstanding!

[Sister Mary Anne]

Praise the Lord! Thank you Mr. Astorino

[Eileen Peterson]

Planned Parenthood using the Village of Spring Valley tried to stop pro-life people from praying on public property and LOST IN FEDERAL COURT. The taxpayers of Spring Valley had to pay court cost which amounted to thousands of dollars-
Here is the story:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pro-life Clients thank ACLA for Result in Spring Valley Civil Rights Suit

SPRING VALLEY, NY: As already reported (see story below) ACLA’s lawsuit against Spring Valley, New York on behalf of Catholic pro-life activists Father Francis J. Samoylo and Richard Bruno has been settled in a major victory for the pro-life cause.

Following repeal of the unconstitutional ordinance at issue, which banned all public assemblies without permission of the Town council, Father Samoylo and Mr Bruno expressed their gratitude in a letter to the Association:

"The unconstitutional repealed ordinance was directed towards us in an attempt to intimidate and have us discontinue our peacefully praying the rosary on public property outside a Planned Parenthood Abortion Mill asking for Our Lady of Guadalupe’s intercession. Prior to engaging your superb legal team, pro-bono, (free, without cost)… we were very concerned with possible legal consequences. Your Christ-like demeanor and superior professional legal advice quickly removed any anxieties we were experiencing… renewed our courage and strengthened our resolve.

“The unbelievable speed with which you accomplished this despite your existing heavy caseload was truly remarkable. Both Father Frank Samoylo and myself are extremely grateful for your excellent advice, patience, reassurance, time and superior work in drafting that awesome 26-page legal brief that was submitted to the court and was instrumental in our victory.”

Commenting on the outcome of the case, ACLA chief counsel Christopher A. Ferrara said that "it was a privilege and a pleasure to provide effective representation to these two exemplary Catholics. This is what ACLA was created for."

Thank you, County Executive Astorino, for knowing that was an attempt by the bullies at Planned Parenthood to silence free speech because the choice of LIFE hurts their monetary flow and YES, it is only about MONEY!