Colorado Gov Ritter Signs Bill Forcing Hospitals to Distribute Plan B Drug 
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
March 16, 2007
Denver, CO (LifeNews.com) — Colorado Governor Bill Ritter signed a bill on Thursday that would force hospitals in the state to tell rape victims about availability of the Plan B drug — including religious hospitals who say the drug can cause an abortion. Pro-life advocates are upset by the bill and worry it could lead to promoting abortions as well.
The measure finally became law after former Gov. Bill Owens vetoed the bill in a previous session and despite Ritter’s claims to be pro-life.
Many pro-life advocates oppose the morning after pill because it can cause an abortion in some circumstances. It also can lead to risky sexual relations and does not prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.
But the Colorado affiliate of NARAL hailed the measure as “the first pro-choice measure signed into law since 1999.”
That drew criticism from Rep. Bill Cadman, a Colorado Springs Republican who said abortion advocates constantly told the legislature during the debate on the measure that it was not an abortion bill.
“We were told it wasn’t abortion. When you have a pro-abortion organization taking credit for it, I think it exposes their agenda,” he told AP.
Ritter is also coming under fire from pro-life advocates for his desire to use state taxpayer dollars to fund Planned Parenthood, which groups say is a violation of the state constitution.
Last year the Food and Drug Administration allowed sales of the morning after pill over the counter to anyone over the age of 18. Pro-life groups worry that older siblings or friends could buy the drug and give it to minors.
