Dear Board Members, please do not be cowed by conservative and tea party politicians - this is Virginia, land of the free!

Do not bend to Cuccinelli's stiff regulations on women's health and family planning clinics. As the VIrginian-Pilot said in its editorial this morning, please return to the law when it stated that already-operating clinics would be grandfathered in.

State laws in parts of this country are denying women's basic health rights, as established by the Supreme Court in Roe vs. Wade. This can only be described as a war on women. These issues should be between a woman and her own MD.

It's very clear that this is a pointed attack on women's health clinics. It is not lost on me that other stand-alone businesses that provide surgery are not being forced to comply with these regulations. For example, some plastic surgery sites would not meet these standards, yet they are not targeted.

Please do the right thing. There is ample research evidence that shows that adequate and conveniently located women's health and family planning clinics reduce the need for abortions because they educate women about birth control and provide low-cost options for them. Poor women are most hurt by these ridiculous regulations. Please think clearly about this decision. Mark Herring will not threaten to punish you the way Cucinnelli did. Stand up for women!

Sincerely, Dr. Alice Twining, VIrginia Beach, VA. 23464