Dayton Vetoes Pro-Life Bills Despite DFL Support

Dayton’s message was clear: “Our place is not between a woman and her doctor.”

Mark Dayton
Image Credit: The Office of Governor Mark Dayton & Lt. Governor Tina Smith

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Gov. Mark Dayton has followed through on his promise to veto two pieces of legislation pushed by Republicans that would regulate abortion facilities in the state of Minnesota.

As reported by Alpha News, Dayton told members of the press, “I oppose both of them, and will continue to oppose them, and will say that I will veto them if they are included in any bill.”

Rep. Mary Franson (R-Alexandria) authored HF 209, which would stop taxpayer funded abortions, a bill that passed with bipartisan support.

“All women deserve to be healthy and safe,” Dayton said in a veto letter to House Speaker Kurt Daudt (R-Crown). “I will not approve a bill that infringes upon Minnesotans’ Constitutionally-protected rights, discriminates against women because of their socioeconomic status, or does not protect their health and safety.”

The other bill vetoed by Dayton was HF 812, authored by Rep. Deb Kiel (R-Crookston). The bill would require abortion facilities to be licensed by the state commissioner of health and submit for inspections.

“The licensure criteria in the bill are overly broad and unnecessary,” Dayton said to Daudt in a separate veto letter.  “Health care research, findings, and conclusions are best left to experts, who are trained to make medical, not political, decisions, and who are in the best position to protect a woman’s health.

“MCCL is hopeful that Gov. Dayton will sign into law this effort to protect women’s health and lives, and prevent the horrific abortion facility conditions discovered in other states,” Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life Executive Director Scott Fischbach said, as reported by Alpha News.

In January, Republican legislators promised thousands of Minnesotans that they would fight for pro-life legislation at the Minnesota March for Life hosted by MCCL.

“I’m confident that this year we can end taxpayer funding of abortion,” Daudt told the crowd. “We can defund Planned Parenthood and we can provide the most basic protection of women by making sure that abortion clinics are licensed and inspected here in the State of Minnesota.

Preya Samsundar

Preya Samsundar was born and raised in Minneapolis, MN. She graduated from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities this Spring with a B.A. in Political Science and Sociology, with a minor in Strategic Communications. Preya has previously worked on several State Campaign Races.