Gov. Rick Scott (R-FL) knows how to throw a party. The conservative governor on Saturday hosted pro-life activists and Florida lawmakers at the governor’s mansion to celebrate a handful of new anti-abortion laws, the Miami Herald reports.
But the laws actually went into effect about a month ago, so why host the ceremonial bill-signing event now?
“A lot of people put a lot of effort into these things,” Scott said, speaking to why the event was held over the weekend. “I think they want to have an event to memorialize it. For these bills, a lot of these people have worked on these bills for years and years, and it’s a way for them to celebrate the accomplishments.”
Scott’s spokesman told TPM in an email that it is “common to hold ceremonial bill signings to highlight the hard work of the legislators involved with making them a reality.”
“I am honored today to sign four bills that strengthen Florida’s pro-life laws,” Scott added. “During my campaign and since I have been governor, I have made it very clear that I am, and always have been, pro-life.”
The Miami Herald breaks down the four bill Scott and others celebrated:
One requires women to receive an ultrasound before undergoing an abortion and be offered the opportunity to have it described to her. Another tightens requirements for parental notification when a minor seeks an abortion. A third prohibits insurance policies created through the federal health care law from covering abortions, and the fourth redirects proceeds from Choose Life license plates from counties to Choose Life, Inc., which counsels pregnant women. Lawmakers also passed a bill proposing a Constitutional amendment, which doesn’t require the governor’s signature, that would prohibit using tax dollars to pay for abortions.
Read the rest here.
