Presidential Hopeful Gov Bill Richardson Ignoring Pleas From Heartbroken Stillbirth Families: Dramatic Video Tells Stories
When Governor and presidential hopeful Bill Richardson vetoed the MISSing Angels Bill (SB17), enraging bereaved mothers, after it passed the New Mexico legislature with unanimous bipartisan support, the MISS Foundation vowed to launch an awareness campaign targeted at educating the governor so he wholly understands the issue of stillbirth.
Phoenix, Arizona (PRWEB) May 2, 2007
When Governor and presidential hopeful Bill Richardson vetoed the MISSing Angels Bill (SB17) after it passed the New Mexico legislature with unanimous bipartisan support, the MISS Foundation vowed to launch an awareness campaign targeted at educating the governor so he wholly understands the issue of stillbirth.
The MISSing Angels Bill helps provide much-needed comfort, dignity, and documentation to women and their families experiencing the death of a baby just prior to or during birth. All states, including New Mexico, require the family to pay for funeral expenses, and a death certificate/report is issued after a stillbirth. Yet, some states refuse to offer women the choice of a birth certificate. It offers an option to women who give birth to loved and wanted babies who die unexpectedly to choose a birth certificate.
"I would assume that the last thing a presidential candidate would want to do is knowingly wound thousands of grieving mothers after their baby's death," said Daryl Logullo, Legislative Liaison for the MISS Foundation.
In response to the veto, the MISS Foundation has released a public service announcement that portrays the experiences of bereaved parents after stillbirth and is directed at Richardson's campaign. A very sensitive and controversial video, it speaks of the enormity of this public health issue. "Bill Richardson made a grave error in judgment, clearly being misinformed about this issue by his advisers," said Joanne Cacciatore, CEO of the MISS Foundation. Both the MISS Foundation and the National Stillbirth Society are calling for Governor Bill Richardson to offer a public apology to these bereaved mothers and families.
The PSA can be found at http://www. youtube. com/watch? v=ZNvTDTK-0Jk (http://www. youtube. com/watch? v=ZNvTDTK-0Jk) or on the MISSing Angels Bill legislative page: http://www. missingangelsbill. org (http://www. missingangelsbill. org)
For more information on the MISSing Angels Bill, visit www. missingangelsbill. org or www. missfoundation. org.
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