FAIRFAX, Va. — We’re still following Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s historic stretch of vetoes. According to his office, the governor vetoed more bills in one year than any Virginia governor has done in a single term: 201.
Among the bills that died at his desk, several focused on codifying contraception into Virginia law.
Virginia State Sen. Jennifer Boysko represents portions of Fairfax County. She was one of the key patrons of the Contraceptive Equity Act.
“It would have provided the right for anyone who needed contraception to have access to including IUDs, birth control, and other methods,” Boysko said.
The bill passed both houses of the General Assembly, but then Gov. Youngkin stepped in.
“[Youngkin] gutted it with an amendment that made it useless – then vetoed it,” she said.
WUSA9 asked Youngkin’s office why he vetoed the bill. Contraception is legal across Virginia.
His office sent us his statement on the veto:
I support contraception access. Of course, there is no question today that access is protected under the Constitution as laid out in Griswold v. Connecticut, 381 U.S. 479 (1965) and Eisenstadt v. Baird, 405 U.S. 438 (1972).
Quality health care for women is essential and contraception remains a crucial component of reducing abortions and fostering a culture of life, making Virginia the best place to raise a family.
As the issue continues to be deliberated by the legislature, and recognizing the diverse religious, ethical, and moral beliefs of Virginians, any contraception-related changes must be coupled with robust conscience clause protections for providers and also must uphold the fundamental right of parents to make decisions concerning their children's upbringing and care.
Boysko disagrees with Youngkin’s assessment of the federal security of contraceptive access. She pointed to the decision that overturned Roe v. Wade on abortion access.
“In the ‘Dobbs’ decision, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas said we should be looking at federal policy and the right to conception,” Boysko said.
Boysko says given that in 2025 a Democrat-majority General Assembly will again convene with the same governor, you can expect the contraception rights question to make a return in Richmond.