Here is an edited transcript of interviews with Gov.
Christine Gregoire and Dino Rossi about various social issues.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi thinks pharmacists
should be able to decide whether or not they want to sell the Plan B
emergency contraception pill. There's been some
question about where Rossi stands on the issue, particularly since
last week when a
federal judge suspended state rules that required pharmacist to
dispense the morning-after pill.
Rossi spokeswoman Jill Strait told me by e-mail:
Rossi supports the decision by Judge Leighton and believes that
pharmacists should not be forced to do something that is against
their conscience or religious beliefs.
In 2006, the state Pharmacy Board was prepared to adopt
regulations, supported by the Washington State Pharmacy Association,
that protected the right of conscience. Unfortunately, Gregoire
refused to let the board do its job and interfered. She threatened
the board to see things her way and they ultimately complied with
her heavy-handed tactics.
The federal judge put the brakes on Gregoire's strong-armed
approach and protected the constitutional rights of pharmacy
professionals following their consciences.
Full article at:
http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com/davidpostman/archives/2007/11/rossi_says_pharmacists_shouldnt_have_to_sell_plan_b.html
Washington Gubernatorial Candidates Disagree
on Pharmacists' Rights
Olympia,
WA (LifeNews.com) -- The two candidates for governor in Washington,
pro-abortion incumbent Gov. Gregoire and pro-life Republican
gubernatorial candidate
Dino Rossi, have different views on whether
pharmacists should be allow to opt out of dispensing certain drugs. Gregoire forced pharmacists to dispense drugs like the morning after
pill that violate their moral or religious views. But
Rossi thinks
pharmacists should be able to decide whether they want to sell it.
Rossi
spokeswoman Jill Strait told the Seattle Times that
Rossi
believes
pharmacists should not be forced to do something that is against their
conscience or religious beliefs. "In 2006, the state Pharmacy Board was
prepared to adopt regulations, supported by the Washington State
Pharmacy Association, that protected the right of conscience," Strait
said. "Unfortunately, Gregoire refused to let the board do its job and
interfered. She threatened the board to see things her way and they
ultimately complied with her heavy-handed tactics."
Election 2004 voters guide
Spokesman Review
... Not one of Rossi’s key issues – but one that his opponents are
focusing on – are his anti-abortion views. Rossi is Catholic. “I’ve
always believed that abortion was never intended except for maybe cases
of rape, incest or to protect the life of the mother,” he said. “If I
have to change my position on an issue of conscience to become governor,
it’s not worth it.” But he argues that abortion is a federal issue and
that, as governor, he’d have little say in the matter. “I’m not running
for the U.S. Supreme Court,” he said. “We have about as much control
over that (abortion) as we do over world peace.”
Full article at
http://www.spokesmanreview.com/elections/2004/candidates/candidate.asp?ID=65
