Whoa. Free of GOP, Crist Hinting At Possible Veto Of Anti-Abortion Bill [View All]

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/05/crist-hinting-at-possible-veto-of-anti-abortion-bill.php

Crist Hinting At Possible Veto Of Anti-Abortion Bill
Eric Kleefeld | May 6, 2010, 9:27AM


Gov. Charlie Crist (I-FL), who left the Republican Party last week to run for Senate as an independent, faces a new test of his status as a candidate of the middle: Whether to veto a bill championed by anti-abortion Republicans in the state legislature. And for now, at least, signs are pointing toward a veto.

The legislation would require a woman seeking an abortion to view an ultrasound of the fetus, and listen to the doctor describe the fetus. As the St. Petersburg Times reports, Crist is sounding a lot like he'll veto it. "I'm concerned about it," Crist said Wednesday. "Even though I'm pro-life I don't want to impose my will on others."

If Crist were to veto the bill, it would be his second high-profile veto of a GOP-backed bill in the last three weeks. In mid-April, Crist vetoed a high-profile education bill that would have eliminated tenure for new teachers and instituted strict guidelines for merit pay -- a move that apparently sealed the deal for his decision to leave the Republican Party and run as an independent.