Colorado Gov. Bill Owens (R) on Thursday vetoed a bill (HB 1212) that would have given pharmacists the authority to write prescriptions for emergency contraception -- which can prevent pregnancy if taken up to 72 hours after sexual intercourse -- the Denver Post reports (Couch, Denver Post, 4/14). The bill -- sponsored by state Sens. Betty Boyd (D) and Jennifer Veiga (D) -- also would have allowed pharmacists who object to EC on moral grounds to decline to prescribe the drug (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 4/4). "I believe this [bill] strays radically from the accepted norms of medicine," Owens wrote in his veto message, adding that access to EC "will continue to be commonly and widely available [in the state] with a physician's prescription" (Bartels, Denver Rocky Mountain News, 4/14). He also wrote, "I believe it is irresponsible to allow minors to obtain [EC] without the counsel and guidance that could be provided by a doctor." Boyd said she would try to get the measure approved again next year (Paulson, AP/CBS4, 4/13). State legislative proposals to expand access to EC in Colorado have failed the past four years, according to the Post. "Next year, perhaps we will have the benefit of a governor who will not put politics ahead of women's health," Veiga said (Denver Post, 4/14). She added that Owens after this year will leave office and that Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill Ritter has said he would sign the bill. A proposed state ballot initiative could allow voters to decide whether state pharmacists should be allowed to dispense EC without a physician's prescription, according to Veiga (Denver Rocky Mountain News, 4/14).