CITING RISE IN HEROIN DEATHS, GOVERNOR VETOES NEEDLE BILL

BOSTON - Citing an increase in heroin deaths and hospitalizations,
Gov. Mitt Romney vetoed legislation last week that proponents say
will slow the spread of HIV and hepatitis C by making clean needles
readily available, without a prescription, to illegal drug users.

Romney called the legislature's work "laudable" in an effort to stop
the spread of intravenous diseases, such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C,
but said signing the bill would lead to "unintended consequences in
public health."

"We believe that upon review of this bill that some of the unintended
consequences could be more severe than the benefits that would be
achieved by signing the bill. For that reason I have vetoed the bill
that has been brought to my desk," said Romney.

The move disappointed lawmakers and public health advocates who have
been lobbying for many years to decriminalize needle possession and
allow the sale of syringes in pharmacies.

Massachusetts is one of three states in the country to require
hypodermic needles to be sold with a prescription, along with New
Jersey and Delaware.

House and Senate sponsors of the bill reacted by saying they are
hopeful to amass a two-thirds majority in both branches to override
the governor's veto.

Citing a dramatic rise of heroin use and a sharp decline of HIV/AIDS
transmission rate from 1997 to 2004, Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey said
passing the bill "would send the wrong message" by making needles
readily available to illegal drug users.

"We feel [the bill] was ultimately misguided and did not create the
proper balance between public safety and public health and in fact it
may have been addressing the wrong public health issue," said Healey.

Healey used numbers to make her case. She said the Department of
Public Health statistics indicate the transmission rate of HIV/AIDS
through intravenous drug use has declined from 32.8 percent of new
cases in 1997 to 15.7 percent of new cases in 2004, the most recent
year for which statistics are available.

Over the same period, fatal overdoses and heroin-related
hospitalizations have risen. In 1997, there were 9,612 heroin-related
hospitalizations, compared to 17,704 in 2004. Over "roughly the same
time period," fatal heroin overdoses jumped from 178 to 574.

She said Massachusetts is reportedly in the top 5 percent for heroin
use in the nation.

"We cannot, in good conscience, say we should make needles more
available to heroin addicts and we cannot say to our kids we're
making the right decision by making needles available over the
counter," said Healey.

Holyoke Police Chief Anthony Scott, who joined Romney at the press
conference, commended the governor for vetoing the legislation,
calling it a measure that would "make drug deals easier to occur."

"This bill would have taken a valuable tool away from law
enforcement, and that is the illegal possession of hypodermic needle,
which is used to make our communities safer," said Scott. "This bill
would have added to the number of needles we would be picking up at
our parks and at our playgrounds."

Last year in Allston-Brighton, within a week, two residents found
exposed, used syringes on the street in Allston. And officials,
including City Councilor Jerry McDermott are now working to provide
more opportunities for safe disposal for residents who come across
these needles.

But Rep. Peter Koutoujian, D-Waltham, co-chairman of the Joint
Committee on Public Health and co-sponsor of the bill, said the
measure would increase public safety for police officers.

"It actually protects all of our first responders because there will
be less dirty needles," said Koutoujian.

He plans to ask for support of the legislators to override Romney's veto.

Koutoujian said the governor is the one sending the wrong message, as
opposed to proponents of the bill, because he recently cut $8.2
million from a substance abuse treatment request.

Healey was asked if she has any evidence that proves expanding the
access to clean needles would increase illicit drug abuse.

Healey said she does have "good statistics" but was working with
other public health officials to get "real-time bases of heroin abuse
and deaths."

Sen. Robert O'Leary, D-Barnstable, who co-sponsored the bill, said he
was not surprised by Romney's action.

"It's appealing to people's fears and ignoring the facts," he said.
"Decriminalizing needles save people's lives."

"The evidence will say it will lower the transfer of needles," said
Rebecca Haag, executive director of AIDS Action Committee, who favors
the bill. "This project reduces the spread of HIV/AIDS and hepatitis
C with no increase in crime."

Democratic Party Chairman Philip Johnston said Romney's vetoed
"life-saving" legislation.

"When presented with the opportunity to make Massachusetts a safer
and healthier place to all residents, Mitt Romney and Kerry Healey
turned their backs. If the governors of 47 other states will do what
it takes to help stop the spread of HIV and hepatitis C, why can't
our governor and lieutenant governor do the same? Their action today
is a disgrace."

Assistant House Majority Leader Byron Rushing, D-Boston, said the
governor's action on the bill reflects his focus on "national
conservative politics."

"This bill will save lives and I am confident we will override his
veto and pass this rational and proven public health policy," Rushing
said in a statement. "Whatever the governor and his advisors think
about addicts, I'm saddened that they have no compassion for the
people they ultimately interact with. Dirty needles put addicts'
partners at risk also."