MITT VETOES NEEDLE SALES BILL, RILED POLS VOW OVERRIDE

Gov. Mitt Romney yesterday vetoed a bill that would bring the Bay
State in line with 47 other states by allowing over-the-counter sales
of hypodermic needles to prevent the spread of HIV - claiming the
measure would only add to the state's heroin epidemic.

The Democrat-controlled Legislature, which approved the measure by
wide margins in the House and Senate, swiftly vowed to override
Romney's veto. New Jersey and Delaware are the only other states that
don't allow sales of hypodermic needles in pharmacies without a prescription.

"I'm just very disappointed," said state Rep. Peter Koutijian
(D-Waltham), a former prosecutor, who said he questioned Romney's
concern for heroin addiction rates considering last week the governor
vetoed $8.2 million for substance abuse treatment.

Lt. Gov Kerry Healey pointed to state public health statistics that
suggest HIV transmission rates due to intravenous drug use have
declined annually while the number of heroin-related fatal overdoses
and hospitalizations have shot up.

The transmission rate of new HIV cases caused by intravenous drug use
statewide has fallen from 32.8 percent in 1997 to 15.7 percent in
2004, Healey said. During the same period of time, the number of
fatal heroin overdoses rose from 178 in 1997 to 574 in 2004, she said.

Bill supporters argue research shows legalizing needle sales
decreases transmission rates of HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C without
having any effect on drug use or crime.

"This is simply a political move on the governor's part," said
Rebecca Haag, executive director of AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts.