Fla. governor vetoes 'ultrasound' measure

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., June 12 (UPI) -- Florida Gov. Charlie Crist Friday vetoed a bill that would force women to pay for an ultrasound before having an abortion, calling it "an inappropriate burden."

The measure would also require women to listen to a description of the fetus before proceeding with an abortion.

"This bill places an inappropriate burden on a woman seeking to terminate a pregnancy," Crist said in a veto message.

The bill would exempt victims of rape, incest, domestic violence or human trafficking from the requirement and would permit women to opt out of having to look at the ultrasound, The Miami Herald reported.

John Stemberger, president and general counsel of the Florida Family Policy Council, said the veto was "profoundly disappointing." He said it proves Crist is "pro-abortion," although the governor has long said he personally opposes abortion but is reluctant to impose his views on the public, the newspaper said.

Crist recently left the Republican Party and is running for the U.S. Senate as an independent.

The bill he vetoed Friday was initially intended as a regulatory measure on nursing homes but Republican lawmakers added the ultrasound requirement without public testimony in committee hearings days before it received final passage, the Herald reported. The state Senate voted 23-16 in favor of the measure and the House approved it 76-44.