Update: For anyone who has been out of touch, a shooter opened fire at a Planned Parenthood in Colorado yesterday. News is still breaking. Here is the latest from one hour ago: The suspect’s name is Robert Lewis Dear. Three people died, including one police officer. The identities of the other two have not yet been released. Nine people were injured. The motive for the attack has yet to be determined. You know how investigations go; it will probably be a while before any speculations will be confirmed.
At the beginning of this week, a commenter complained that none of the Democratic candidates for President has specific plans to improve access to abortion. I thought surely they must. So I went to their Web sites and, when I did not find everything I needed, I reached out to their campaign headquarters for more information. I explained who I was and that this column posts Saturday night at Daily Kos. One campaign emailed me back. So here’s a special shout-out to Martin O’Malley and his staff! They are not only in favor of women’s rights, they are prepared to answer questions on the subject.
But first, here is Bernie Sanders’position on abortion as reported on his Web site, with as many specifics as I was able to find:
As president, Sen. Sanders would expand, not cut, funding for Planned Parenthood, the Title X family planning program, and other initiatives that protect women’s health, access to contraception, and the availability of a safe and legal abortion.
As president, Sen. Sanders will only nominate Supreme Court justices who understand that Roe v. Wade is the law of the land and recognize the rights of women to have access to family planning services.
Here is Hillary Clinton’s position on abortion as reported on her Web site, with as many specifics as I was able to find:
Hillary will stand up to Republican attempts to defund Planned Parenthood, which would restrict access to critical health care services, like cancer screenings, contraception, and safe, legal abortion. She will fight to protect the Affordable Care Act, which bans insurance companies from discriminating against women and guarantees 47 million women and counting access to preventive care.
And finally, here is Martin O’Malley’s position on abortion, which his staff sent to me and contains much more information than his Web site. Since they’re the good guys, they get the last and the most words:
Hi Elena!
Thanks for reaching-out! Please find some elaborations on this policy area (below) as well as our healthcare white paper (attached).
Thanks!As president, I would not allow Republicans to take our country backward and deny women basic health care services. I would always stand firm in my commitment to protecting and expanding women’s health care options.
I’m proud to have been in this fight throughout my career.
As Governor, I signed into law the Family Planning Works Act, giving 35,000 low-income women access to contraception and cancer screenings. I expanded family planning clinics into more comprehensive health centers. And I expedited Medicaid eligibility for prenatal services.
Because of our efforts, we cut Maryland’s infant mortality rate by 18 percent.
As president, I would stand up to the Republicans who are restricting women’s health services—holding states accountable and provide funding so all women have access to essential reproductive health care, including contraception.
- I would veto any attempt by Congress to undermine safe, legal abortion… or defund Planned Parenthood.
- My administration would fight for federal legislation to prevent states from implementing laws that are simply designed to shut down health centers…. including medically inappropriate laws that impose mandatory waiting periods and ultrasounds prior to an abortion.
- I would advocate for strong provider non-discrimination protections to stop state efforts to exclude Planned Parenthood from federal grant programs.
- And I would fully enforce federal law that guarantees people access to family planning services under Medicaid.
These actions are especially important for ensuring equal access to reproductive healthcare for women of color, for immigrant women, and for LGBT people… because they are disproportionately impacted by laws that take away access to safe, legal abortion.
- Tackling disparities in healthcare access and outcomes will be a central tenet of my healthcare agenda as president.
- I have already called for lifting administrative rules that restrict immigrants’ access to affordable healthcare under the ACA.
- And I support proposed legislation to give undocumented immigrants who pay taxes and prove their residency access to tax credits and subsidies under the ACA.
- What’s more, my administration would seek to provide universal access to comprehensive reproductive care – adopting access as a major quality measure for health systems and states. I would also provide funding and hold states accountable for ensuring universal access to family planning.
Because it’s about time that every woman in our nation enjoys the right to live a healthy, productive life—free from the backwards thinking of the Republicans.
The central issue in this race is how to build an economy that works for everyone. Attacks on women's rights, on access to contraception and healthcare, do absolutely nothing to create jobs, lift wages, or create a better and more prosperous country for our children.
Color me impressed. This is not intended to start a pie fight, but to provide information on all the Democratic candidates. They all look pretty great on this issue to me, and a 180 from Republican positions. But please feel free to discuss below.