Governor Mark Warner amended yesterday the "partial-birth infanticide" bills, introduced by Del. Robert Marshall (R-Prince William) and Sen. Stephen Newman (R-Lynchburg).

"The Governor is confusing infanticide with abortion. There is never a health reason to kill a born alive baby," stated Brenda Fastabend, President of Virginia Society for Human Life. "Any health exception renders the partial-birth infanticide ban useless, since health will be misused to the point where the bills become all exception and no ban," Mrs. Fastabend continued.

VSHL is also greatly disappointed that the Governor amended the Parental Consent bills, sponsored by Del. Richard Black (R-Loudoun) and Sen. Kenneth Stolle (R-Virginia Beach), by deleting the critical notarization position. That significantly weakens the law.

VSHL calls on members of the Virginia General Assembly not to accept these attempts of the Governor to render the Partial-Birth Infanticide and Parental Consent bills meaningless, and to restore the bills to their original language as passed by both houses on February 22.

The legislators are also asked to override the Governor's veto on the CHOOSE LIFE License Plate bill sponsored by Del. Black.

"Governor Warner's actions demonstrate just how extreme the Governor is on abortion, permitting a child to go under an abortionist's knife without parental consent, even when the baby is partially born," stated Mrs. Fastabend.

The Virginia Society for Human Life was founded in 1967 and is the Virginia affiliate of National Right to Life Committee, the nation's largest pro-life organization.