ICYMI: Governors Vow to Take Action Against Trump’s Gag Rule
For Immediate Release: March 4, 2019 (Updated: March 4, 2019, 2:57 p.m.)
ICYMI: Governors Vow to Take Action Against Trump’s Gag Rule
“Should you choose to move forward with this policy, we will do what is necessary to protect the health of our constituents and explore all possible avenues, including legal options, to block it from being implemented.” - New Dem Govs to Trump Administration
This week, 10 newly elected Democratic governors sent a letter to HHS Sec. Alex Azar urging the Trump-Pence administration to reconsider its unethical changes to the Title X program. The domestic gag rule, finalized by the Trump-Pence administration last week, would harm patients, widen health care inequities, and undermine the relationship between patients and their health care providers.
This adds to the widespread opposition that has come only days after the release of the rule. This week, 19 women’s health care provider groups, medical organizations, and physician leaders, representing more than 4.3 million health care providers, released a joint statement condemning the rule.
The governors’ letter states, “As the only federal program dedicated to the delivery of family planning and related health care services, the Title X program has provided access to essential health care services for more than 40 years. It is a state-federal partnership that improves health outcomes, and as such, has enjoyed broad bipartisan support at all levels of government.”
The letter goes on to say, “We stand with women and men in our states by rejecting this Administration's efforts to interfere in the doctor-patient relationship, gut women's access to family planning services, and force medical professionals to knowingly withhold information from their patients. We strongly urge you to rescind this rule. Should you choose to move forward with this policy, we will do what is necessary to protect the health of our constituents and explore all possible avenues, including legal options, to block it from being implemented. The women and men who rely on Title X in our states deserve no less.”
The Governors that signed the letter are: California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, Maine Gov. Janet Mills, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers.