On Thursday April 13, 2006, Colorado Governor Bill Owens vetoed House Bill 1212, which would have simplified access to emergency contraception for Latinas and all women in Colorado. With this veto, Governor Owens has once again turned his back on the health and well-being of Colorado women, inappropriately imposing his restrictive personal beliefs on all Coloradans.

Despite Owens' frustrating veto, we can celebrate the momentum and collective voice organized to promote access to emergency contraception. Over 5,000 petitions were collected by reproductive rights advocates throughout Colorado. In conjunction with ProgressNowAction.org, COLOR launched an email tool through which more that 690 activists contacted their elected officials in support of HB1212. Thank you all for your letters, email messages, and calls to your elected officials, including Governor Owens. You helped to send a clear message that simple, timely access to emergency contraception is safe, reasonable, and beneficial.

Throughout 2006, your energy and activism will be needed to address issues that affect Latina reproductive health and rights. COLOR looks forward to continued collaboration.

For more information on Governor Owens' veto visit:
-His veto letter: http://www.colorado.gov/governor/press/april06/hb1212.html
-Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report: www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=36628
-The Denver Post article: www.denverpost.com/news/ci_3709042