ST. PAUL — Gov. Mark Dayton has vetoed bills that would have banned public funding of abortions and outlawed the procedure starting at 20 weeks after conception.

The Democratic governor and longtime abortion rights supporter vetoed the bills on Wednesday. He says in veto letters that the bills “infringe upon a woman’s basic right to health and safety.”

Both bills easily cleared the Legislature. It showed a stark change in the political landscape for abortion opponents.

Until Republicans took over both legislative chambers in January, the Democratic-controlled Senate had blocked abortion restrictions even when the GOP held other seats of power.

The bill prohibiting abortions at 20 weeks would have allowed exceptions to save the mother’s life or prevent irreversible physical harm, but not for rape, incest or mental health conditions.