GOVERNOR VETOES 9 OF FINAL 28 BILLS
BYLINE: By Matthew Benson and Karissa Marcum, The Arizona Republic
Gov. Janet Napolitano put an exclamation point on a contentious legislative session by vetoing nine more bills Wednesday, including a measure requiring informed consent for women considering donating their eggs.
Another rejected measure would have allowed university-sponsored student groups to base their membership on students' political or religious affiliation.
The string of vetoes came as Napolitano acted upon the final 28 bills waiting on her desk. She signed 19 measures into law, among them a bill that requires the display of the American flag, Constitution and Bill of Rights in public classrooms.
The vetoes add to a growing record for Napolitano. The Democratic governor issued 43 vetoes this session and, in recent weeks, jumped past former Gov. Bruce Babbitt's state record of 115. Napolitano now has wielded the veto stamp 127 times in four years.
Among the newest batch was Senate Bill 1097. The measure threatened doctors with suspension or revocation of their licenses if they were found to have not properly informed patients of the risks of egg donation prior to performing the procedure. In a letter explaining her veto, Napolitano called the measure "yet another attempt by the Legislature to inject politics into the medical advice a health care provider gives to a patient."
Her decision was cheered by Sean Tipton, director of public affairs for the American Society of Reproductive Medicine. Tipton said informed consent already is the standard for egg donation and called the measure "a proposed solution in search of a problem that doesn't exist."
But Cathi Herrod, interim president of the conservative Center for Arizona Policy, said the proposal was "simple legislation intended to bring informed consent to women who are donating or selling their eggs."
"It's unfortunate that our state is not supporting women," she added.
In addition to the human-egg bill, Republicans sent Napolitano five abortion and "sanctity of life" measures this session, including two that would have made it more difficult for minors to get abortions without parental consent and one to prohibit the sale of human eggs. She rejected each.
Napolitano's veto of the university-clubs measure was applauded by the Arizona Board of Regents.
The regents feared the measure, Senate Bill 1153, would enable discrimination by forcing public colleges to recognize student groups that limit their membership to students who share the same religious, political or philosophical beliefs. The bill included protection against discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, citizenship, age, veteran status or disability, but made no mention of religion or sexual orientation.
Board of Regents lobbyist Michael Hunter said the omission was glaring.
But the bill's sponsor, Sen. Linda Gray, R-Glendale, said the measure was about free speech, not discrimination. Groups shouldn't be forced to accept members who may not agree with the group's intent or who hope to join only to be disruptive.
"I'm surprised the governor doesn't stand for these students' First Amendment rights," she said. "You should be able to assemble based upon what the intent of the organization is."
In addition to the flag bill, Napolitano on Wednesday signed measures that will:
* Establish a rock-climbing park in Gila County, providing a new tourist attraction for the area.
* Reduce property taxes for biodiesel-fuel plants. A blend of diesel and vegetable oil, biodiesel is seen as a potential alternative-fuel source.
* Create a health-insurance-premium tax credit to improve the prospects of obtaining health coverage for individuals who are going without. At $5 million, the program is expected to benefit about 5,000 uninsured Arizonans, about 0.5 percent of the uninsured population.
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Bills vetoed, signed
Gov. Janet Napolitano cleared her desk Wednesday, acting on the final 28 measures awaiting her decision. She vetoed nine bills and signed 19.
VETOED BY GOV. NAPOLITANO
THE BILL: Senate Bill 1097
WHAT IT WOULD HAVE DONE: Prohibited the harvesting of human eggs without the informed consent of a woman. A physician found violating the provision would be subject to license suspension or revocation.
IMPACT: Opponents said the measure would add an unnecessary layer of bureaucracy and make it more difficult for women to donate eggs. Proponents said it would give women who were donating eggs more information.
THE BILL: House Bill 2575
WHAT IT WOULD HAVE DONE: Lowered from 200,000 to 165,000 the population threshold for counties to increase from a three-member to a five-member board of supervisors. Maricopa and Pima counties are the only counties with populations in excess of 200,000.
IMPACT: Supporters of the measure said it would ensure better representation for large populations. Opponents, meanwhile, said that most small counties operate effectively with three members and that adding board members would be too costly.
THE BILL: Senate Bill 1153
WHAT IT WOULD HAVE DONE: Required universities to recognize student groups that base their membership off students' political, religious or philosophical beliefs. Promised no recognition for groups that discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex, citizenship, age, veteran status or disability. IMPACT: Bill sponsor Sen. Linda Gray said the measure protected the free-speech rights of student groups.
Opponents said the bill would have allowed student groups to exclude members based on their sexual orientation or religious affiliation.
SIGNED BY GOV. NAPOLITANO
THE BILL: Senate Bill 1550
WHAT IT DOES: Establishes a rock-climbing state park in Gila County. IMPACT: Proponents said it would give rock climbers a haven and provide an important tourist attraction for the area.
THE BILL: House Bill 2583
WHAT IT DOES: Requires the display of the American flag, Constitution and the Bill of Rights in public classrooms.
IMPACT: Proponents said the bill would inspire patriotism. Critics called it meaningless, feel-good legislation and another mandate for school districts.
THE BILL: House Bill 2621, "grill bill"
WHAT IT DOES: Aims to give restaurants relief from a state requirement that no more than 60 percent of their sales come from alcohol.
IMPACT: Neighborhood groups said the bill is a backdoor way to allow more bars. Napolitano said she would instruct the state Department of Liquor Licenses to give careful consideration to community objections before granting a license.