Arkansas governor vetoes bill banning most abortions at 12 weeks

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas (Reuters) – Democratic Governor Mike Beebe on Monday vetoed legislation that would ban most abortions in Arkansas after 12 weeks of pregnancy, a restriction that would be the most severe in the nation. The bill’s supporters say they plan to seek a vote on Tuesday to override Beebe’s veto, which would require only a simple majority in Arkansas. Beebe said in a veto letter that the bill “blatantly contradicts” the U.S. Constitution as interpreted by the Supreme Court, and he questioned the potential cost to taxpayers of defending it against legal challenges. …