Planned Parenthood W PA Action Fund: McCain Out of Touch on Women's Health

John McCain: Out of Touch on Women’s Health

Pittsburgh — The Planned Parenthood Western PA Action Fund, the advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania today criticized John McCain during his visit to Washington, PA for his out-of-touch record on issues relating to women’s health.

“For 25-years, Sen. John McCain has shamefully opposed support for basic health care for women, including affordable birth control — even in the face of rising health care costs,” said Kimberlee Evert, President of the Action Fund. “While Sen. McCain dodges questions on the campaign trail about whether or not he thinks it’s fair for insurance companies to cover Viagra but not basic birth control, his abysmal record on women’s health care speaks volumes.”

In an effort to raise awareness among voters, especially women voters who remain a crucial voting block this election, the national Planned Parenthood Action Fund has launched a “kNOw McCain” campaign, an aggressive grassroots and online effort to educate the public about McCain's extreme anti-women's health care record.

“It’s ironic that McCain is parading through Pennsylvania with former Governor Tom Ridge, known for his support for reproductive rights,” said Evert. “We need to let the public know that McCain can’t have it both ways: he can’t advertise himself as a moderate, and consistently vote against basic women’s health care.”

In Washington, McCain has consistently voted against women’s health for more than two decades. From standing with the Bush administration in opposing funding for family planning programs to voting against requiring insurance coverage of birth control, McCain has taken extreme positions against women’s health and has failed to support legislation that would help reduce the number of unintended pregnancies and the need for abortion. Just as alarming, McCain wants to overturn Roe v. Wade, potentially putting the lives and health of women in jeopardy.

McCain’s 25-year record in Congress of opposing initiatives to better women’s health has earned him a zero rating from the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, the lowest rating possible.

The following are highlights of McCain’s abysmal voting record on women’s health issues:

· McCain opposed requiring insurance coverage of prescription birth control. In 2003, McCain voted NO on legislation to improve the availability of contraceptives for women and to require insurance coverage of prescription birth control. [Murray Amendment, S.Amdt 258 to S. 3, vote 45, 3/11/03]

· McCain opposed Title X family planning program. In 1990, McCain voted NO on legislation to extend the Title X federal family planning program, which provides low-income and uninsured women and families with health care services ranging from breast and cervical cancer screening to birth control. [Motion to Invoke Cloture; Family Planning Amendments of 1989, S.110, 9/26/90]

· McCain supports overturning Roe v. Wade. In February 2007, the AP reported, “Republican presidential candidate John McCain, looking to improve his standing with the party's conservative voters, said Sunday the court decision that legalized abortion should be overturned. ‘I do not support Roe versus Wade. It should be overturned,’ the Arizona senator told about 800 people in South Carolina, one of the early voting states.” [AP, 2/18/07]

For more information on McCain’s out-of-touch record on women’s health and the “kNOw McCain” campaign, please visit www.plannedparenthoodaction.org.