Gov. McAuliffe calls for review of abortion clinic regulations in Virginia
Source: Washington Post
By Laura Vozzella, Updated: Monday, May 12, 2:23 PM
RICHMOND — Gov. Terry McAuliffe ordered the state’s Board of Health on Monday to review regulations that impose strict hospital-style building codes on abortion clinics, an attempt at fulfilling a campaign promise to free clinics from the rules.
McAuliffe (D) had promised throughout the race to undo the year-old regulations, which had been approved by the General Assembly and imposed under his predecessor, Robert F. McDonnell (R).
....
As a candidate, McAuliffe said he would do away with the regulations by issuing a “guidance opinion,” a mechanism whose existence legal experts later called into question. Now governor, he has struck upon the review process as a possible way.
McAuliffe also stacked the 15-member health board with five new abortion rights supporters, after nudging four members to wrap up their terms a month early.
Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/mcauliffe-calls-for-review-of-abortion-clinic-regulations/2014/05/12/ec723fac-d9e1-11e3-8009-71de85b9c527_story.html
In case you've forgotten, here are the results of the Virginia elections for 2013:
Democratic Terry McAuliffe 1,069,859 47.75%
Republican Ken Cuccinelli 1,013,354 45.23%
I'm sure the comments will come rolling in. Here's the latest, as of 4:08 p.m.:
alert4jsw 3:45 PM EDT
This review is well justified. Having worked in Virginia code enforcement for several years, I know that changes to building code requirements (such as the regulations adopted for abortion clinics) only apply to buildings built after the code requirement is enacted. Buildings built before the new requirement are only required to remain compliant with the version of the code under which they were built. (Otherwise builidings would be in a constant state of upgrade and repair to keep up with code changes.)
The only exception I am aware of occurred in the 1980s after several disasterous hotel fires in Las Vegas, when existing hotels were required to retrofit sprinkler systems if they did not already have them. But this required special legislation from the general assembly, not a simple building code update.
My point being that the regulations adopted under McDonnell/Cuccinelli, if upheld, should have only applied to a clinic built after they were adopted, and should have had no effect on any clinic that existed at the time they were adopted. Only if an existing clinic underwent extensive structural modifications would the new code possibly apply.
The original rules from the state Board of Health were in keeping with this long-standing legal policy, but that didn't accomplish Cuccinelli's goal. So he then threatened to refuse to represent the board members in any legal action related to their decision, which in itself would have constituted malfeasance on his part had he folllowed through with the threat. Still, it was enought to the board into submission, resulting in the situation that is now under review.
Congratulations to Governor McAuliffe for having the political courage to take this on.
= new reply since forum marked as read
Maybe women will be free to make their own choices. Thank you Gov. Terry.
As I often say, the worst Dem is always better than the best Repub. Yet another proof.
Here's hoping.
"Congratulations to Governor McAuliffe for having the political courage to take this on." - YES! 
I'm sure that the women of VA are grateful to have terry as governor, instead of Cuccinelli.
