Delaware legislators weighing options on potential veto override of medical aid in dying bill

DOVER — After Gov. John Carney vetoed legislation to provide terminally ill Delawareans an option in their end-of-life care by terminating their suffering, legislative supporters of the proposal pushed back on the term-limited governor’s decision.

With Gov. Carney departing office in over two months and the general election nearly a month away, several legislators have not ruled out the possibility of attempting to override the veto.

“We’re in discussions with our colleagues and are trying to see if enough House members are interested in coming into special session to override the veto,” House Bill 140’s prime sponsor Rep. Paul Baumbach, D-Newark, told the Daily State News on Tuesday.

“We’re still in active discussions … I don’t know if there’s enough (House members) that we can hit the margins that we need and, if we are not able to, I’m really encouraged by the statement released by Senate (Democratic) leadership and their conviction.”

The retiring Newark Democrat led the initiative for over a decade and condemned the contents of Gov. Carney’s veto statement in an interview with the Daily State News on Friday.

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