Romney expected to veto syringe bill
He has 10 days to act on measure
 Demonstrators yesterday held signs across the street from the State House in support of the controversial bill. (Globe Staff Photo / John Tlumacki) |
Governor Mitt Romney is expected to reject a bill sent to him yesterday by the Legislature that would legalize over-the-counter purchases of hypodermic needles.
As the bill has made its way through the Legislature, Romney, Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey, and other opponents have argued that it would encourage illegal drug use and threaten public safety. But advocates of the bill say it would save lives by curbing the spread of blood-borne diseases such as HIV and hepatitis C.
Romney has 10 days to act on the measure. Both the House and Senate have passed the bill by the two-thirds majority necessary to override a veto. Massachusetts would become the 48th state to legalize over-the-counter sales of syringes.
Romney, who is considering a 2008 run for president, has denounced the bill, saying that there is no system for the safe disposal of used syringes and that it would enable drug users.
``We have a problem with heroin abuse in Massachusetts and this exacerbates that problem," said Eric Fehrnstrom, the governor's spokesman.
At a press conference yesterday, Healey, the GOP nominee for governor, said she supports drug treatment programs and preventive outreach to children. She also said she would work to sustain a veto.
``Imagine your children not only coming upon dirty needles in the park, but standing next to a drug addict in the checkout line of
Immediately after Healey's press conference, Middlesex District Attorney Martha Coakley, a Democratic candidate for attorney general, said there have been no studies or statistics to back up the claims of those opposed to the bill.
``There's little or no effect on the public safety issue," she said. ``The states where the needles are available have not found any increase in drug use or crime as a result of it."
Senator Steven A. Tolman, Democrat of Brighton, said, ``Make no mistake about it, we have the votes to override this because it's the right thing to do."
Russell Nichols can be reached at rnichols@globe.com. 
