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Pawlenty vetoes bills on sick-leave use, surrogacy contracts
He said that surrogates should be able to make their own medical decisions and that added sick leave would be costly.
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Gov. Tim Pawlenty vetoed several family-related bills Friday.
The governor rejected one that would set up requirements for surrogate mother agreements, citing lack of protections for women who contract to carry and deliver children for others, including failure to establish the surrogate mother's right to make her own medical decisions while she's pregnant. Pawlenty also expressed concerns that the bill "fails in any manner to recognize or protect the life and rights of the unborn child."
Advocates had argued that the bill would establish the legal parentage of children born of surrogate mothers and would "minimize the few negative situations" that inevitably occur under such arrangements.
Pawlenty also vetoed a bill that would remove the presumption of confidentiality for adoptions occurring before 1977. "Breaching the promise of confidentiality previously given to these birth parents is not appropriate," Pawlenty wrote in his veto message.
Late Friday, the governor vetoed a bill prohibiting Minnesota from implementing a federal driver's license standard, known as Real ID.
Sick leave: Use or abuse?
In previous action late Thursday, Pawlenty vetoed a bill that would allow workers to use their sick leave to care for immediate relatives. Pawlenty called such a proposal "an unfunded mandate" on hard-pressed local governments.
The law currently allows workers to use their sick leave to care for ill or injured children. The bill he vetoed would have expanded that to allow use of sick leave for adult children, spouses, siblings, parents and stepparents, and grandparents.
Pool safety bill signed
In another action, Pawlenty signed the Abigail Taylor pool safety bill into law.
The proposal, which establishes a number of new safety standards, is named for the 6-year-old Edina girl who suffered an ultimately fatal injury after sitting on a wading pool drain last summer. Its powerful suction ripped out part of her intestinal tract.
KEVIN DUCHSCHERE, NORMAN DRAPER
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Current state office holders
Governor: Tim Pawlenty
One of only a few prominent Republicans to win a competitive re-election contest in the Democratic sweep of 2006, Tim Pawlenty is widely seen as politically shrewd and naturally likable.
- Lt. Governor: Carol Molnau
- Secretary of State: Mark Ritchie
- Attorney General: Lori Swanson
- State Auditor: Rebecca Otto
Minnesota's political giants: Learn more about the men and women who have shaped Minnesota's political history.
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