Minn. Gov. vetoes anti-abortion bill; Calif. bill stalls

The Minnesota bill would have mandated licenses for clinics performing 10 or more abortions a month. The California measure would let nurse practitioners, nurse midwives and physician assistants perform specific types of abortions.

Minneapolis Star Tribune: Dayton Vetoes Abortion Bill
Gov. Mark Dayton vetoed a bill Thursday that would have required licensing of abortion clinics. He's also expected to veto another bill that would require a doctor to be present whenever an abortion pill is prescribed or swallowed. The abortion pill measure won final approval from the Republican-led Minnesota House on Thursday, just hours before Dayton rejected the licensure bill. Dayton said in a statement that the proposed law would have forced "inappropriate and unworkable" new requirements on the few facilities that offer abortions (Brooks, 4/26).

(St. Paul) Pioneer Press: Dayton Vetoes Abortion Clinic Restrictions
The Republican-backed proposal also would have forced clinics to pay a $3,712 annual license fee. Proponents argue it's an important issue to the health and safety of women. Opponents contend that state health officials already have ample oversight of abortion providers and that the proposed regulation is more about restricting access to abortions than protecting women (Boldt, 4/26). 

San Francisco Chronicle: Bill Expanding Abortion Access Stalls In Capitol
A bill to allow non-physicians to perform abortions stalled in a Senate committee at the Capitol Thursday, as key lawmakers questioned the scientific findings of UCSF researchers who conducted a study that led to the proposal. The bill, SB1338, would allow nurse practitioners, nurse midwives and physician assistants to perform what is known as an aspiration abortion, which is the most common abortion procedure and takes place in the first trimester (Buchanan, 4/27).