Potential 2009 Republican Ticket an Imperfect Storm for Reproductive Rights
March 31, 2008 For Immediate Release And Cuccinelli Makes Three: Potential 2009 Republican Ticket an Imperfect Storm for Reproductive Rights (Alexandria, VA) State Senator Ken Cuccinelli’s announcement that he is running for Attorney General should alarm all Virginians who believe that politicians should not interfere in the most private and personal decisions of women and their families. Currently, all announced GOP candidates for statewide office in 2009 have extreme anti-choice records when it comes to reproductive rights. “NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia will work every minute from now until November 3, 2009 to ensure that voters understand the extreme records of McDonnell, Bolling, and Cuccinelli,” said Tarina Keene, Executive Director of NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia. “These three men are out of touch with Virginia voters, a majority of who believe the decision to terminate a pregnancy should be a private and personal one made by a woman in consultation with her physician and her family. Virginians expect more from our highest officeholders than just divisive rhetoric—we want public officials to work together on commonsense solutions to prevent unintended pregnancy, such as increased access to safe and affordable contraception and comprehensive, medically accurate sex education. I can guarantee that you will not see those types of solutions being proposed by these three men.” Background Information: Potential 2009 Republican Ticket—Record on Choice Robert McDonnell, Candidate for Governor Robert McDonnell opposes legal abortion even in cases of rape and incest. In 2004, he voted against the addition of language recommended by the Governor to ensure that the bill in question would not “limit a woman’s rights as recognized by the Supreme Court of the United States in Roe v. Wade.” Bill Bolling, Candidate for Lieutenant Governor In 2007, Lt. Governor Bill Bolling cast the tie-breaking vote in favor of prohibiting state expenditures to Planned Parenthood, whose facilities provide a wide range of health-care services, including cervical-cancer screening, STI testing, and contraceptive services. In addition, while in the State Senate, Bolling twice voted against a bill to protect women’s timely access to contraception. Ken Cuccinelli, Candidate for Attorney General State Senator Ken Cuccinelli is one of the most ardent anti-choice legislators in the General Assembly. He routinely supports legislation designed to limit access to abortion services; even worse, he refuses to support commonsense legislation that would prevent unintended pregnancy and reduce the need for abortion. In 2007, he co-sponsored HB2797, which not only threatened access to abortion but some forms of contraception as well.
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