McAuliffe Vows to Keep Virginia's Abortion Clinics Open

Democrat Terry McAuliffe says that if he is elected governor of Virginia he would issue a "guidance opinion" exempting existing abortion clinics from complying with stringent new health and safety standards.

McAuliffe said last week after several clinics closed because of the regulations that he plans to take the action to keep 18 remaining centers open.

"But I will issue what’s called a guidance opinion by mid-March," he said in a video captured and distributed by the anti-abortion group Women Speak of Virginia, a political action committee affiliated with the national Susan B. Anthony List, reports the Washington Times. 

The video is no longer visible on You Tube.

"I can give a guidance opinion to the Board of Health to grandfather in those remaining clinics to keep them open. That’s why this election is so important, and I will do that," McAuliffe vowed.

But lawyers in the office of Attorney General Kenneth Cuccinelli, McAuliffe’s Republican rival for governor, told the Washington Times they were not familiar with anything called a guidance opinion that can be issued by a Virginia governor.

"Moreover, the governor does not have the power to issue an edict to ignore a law passed by the General Assembly," said Cuccinelli spokesman Brian Gottstein.

Maribeth Brewster, a spokeswoman for the Virginia Department of Health told the newspaper she cannot recall the board ever receiving a guidance opinion from a governor.

The new standards call for such things as mandatory inspections of facilities and include provisions on staff training, sanitation requirements, and hospital-type construction codes.

Meanwhile, Citizens United is launching a $375,000 advertising campaign against McAuliffe over his business record, reports Politico.

A $300,000 TV ad by Citizens United Productions will promote the group’s documentary "Fast Terry," a stab at McAuliffe’s so-far unfulfilled promises to create thousands of jobs in the state through his electric car startup, GreenTech.

And Citizens United went on the air Wednesday with a $75,000 radio ad linking McAuliffe with Obamacare.

"It’s hard enough making ends meet without liberal politicians like Terry McAuliffe making things worse," says a woman with children playing in the background. "McAuliffe supports Obamacare and now Obamacare is pushing folks into the unemployment line."