The predominantly-Democratic state legislature overrode vetoes from Republican Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, reinstating a law that protects abortion services in the state and provides pathways for medical professional who want to train in abortion services, the Baltimore Sun reports.
A moderate Republican much-discussed as a potential 2024 presidential candidate, Hogan vetoed recently passed legislation that protected abortion rights, required health insurance plans to cover abortions, funded the training of abortion providers, and launched a paid family and medical leave program for all workers in the state.
Less than 24 hours after Hogan vetoed those measure, the legislature overrode his vetoes. In a letter explaining his vetoes, Hogan said he was concerned about the leave program’s costs, particularly for small businesses.
Democrats pointed out that the Maryland economy has recovered well from the pandemic. “It means high-quality, educated, experienced workers want to move to Maryland and work in the industries that drive our economy,” Democratic state house majority leader Eric Luedtke of Montgomery County said on Saturday. “Our economy is fantastic, Maryland is doing well … and part of the reason it’s doing well is frankly because of bills like this.”
Widely seen as a more palatable candidate to mainstream voters than anyone else in the current GOP stable, Hogan enjoys general popularity in Maryland, but he is term limited.