Virginia gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe made a campaign promise yesterday to exempt existing abortion clinics from having to comply with state health and safety standards. Recently, a number of clinics in the state were closed after they failed to live up to state standards.
Last year, according to Women Speak Out, more than 80 violations were discovered inside Virginia abortion facilities last year. But that doesn’t seem to stop McAuliffe from defending them. This clearly shows his concern is for the well being of the abortion industry and not women.
Here’s what he said: “I can do what I talked about, issue a guidance opinion by March to keep the remaining health centers open. I can do that myself as Governor. That’s why I said I’ll do that by March to keep the remaining, uh, Norfolk is closed. Fairfax is closed, or closing, so there will be 18 left. Only one of those 18 actually meet the, the requirements so they’ll all close if I don’t do that. But I will issue what’s called a guidance opinion by mid-March which will say that these regulations, I have, the General Assembly wasn’t definitive with the Board of Health as to the rules, I can give a guidance opinion to the Board of Health to grandfather in those remaining clinics to keep them open. That’s why this election is so important, and I will do that.”
