Pennsylvania governor vows to veto ‘any anti-choice bill’ that lands on his desk

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) on Thursday vowed to veto legislation similar the wave of anti-abortion laws that Republican governors in other states have signed on in recent weeks. 

“I’m appalled by legislation in Alabama, Georgia, and even here in Pennsylvania that limits a woman’s right to choose” Wolf said in a tweet on Thursday, a day after Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R) signed legislation banning nearly all abortions in her state, even in cases of rape and incest. 

“I’ll veto any anti-choice bill that lands on my desk. I won’t let our commonwealth go backward on reproductive rights,” he continued.{mosads}

The tweet also featured a short video message in which he further condemned the laws passed in states like Alabama and Georgia.

I’m appalled by legislation in Alabama, Georgia, and even here in Pennsylvania that limits a woman’s right to choose.

I’ll veto any anti-choice bill that lands on my desk. I won’t let our commonwealth go backward on reproductive rights. pic.twitter.com/CJ8Fs6krSo

— Governor Tom Wolf (@GovernorTomWolf) May 16, 2019

“I just want you to know, there are bills floating around different parts of the United States — Georgia, Alabama and even here in Pennsylvania — anti-choice bills that seek to place a politician between a woman and her doctor when it comes to one of the most important medical decisions she’s ever going to make,” Wolf said in the short clip.

“I just want you to know, that if such a bill were to come to my desk, I would veto it,” he added.

The governor’s remarks come as number of Republican governors and state legislatures where Republicans hold the majority have moved to pass restrictive abortion measures.

Under the measure signed by Ivey signed earlier this week, doctors can face up to a maximum punishment of 99 years for performing abortions. 

Republican governors in Ohio and Georgia have also signed off on similar measures dubbed “heartbeat” bills seeking to ban abortions in the states once a fetal heartbeat is detectable, which often occurs as early as six weeks into a pregnancy.