RELEASE: Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona: Senate Obstruction on Voting Rights Legislation is Shameful

Arizona — Today, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate held a vote to pass the Right to Vote: John R. Lewis Act and a vote to change procedural rules to allow voting rights-related legislation to be passed with a simple majority. Both efforts failed.

These votes follow an open letter sent to Senators Kelly and Sinema yesterday by Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona, Las Adelitas Arizona, and Arizona Black Political Cultivation, calling for them to vote to change Senate rules if necessary to fight for voting rights and reproductive health care. While Sen. Kelly listened to the voices of Arizonans and voted to change Senate rules in order to protect our freedom to vote, Sen. Sinema turned her back on us by prioritizing arcane Senate rules over the health of our democracy.

Statement from Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona:

“In Arizona, we have watched voting rights and reproductive freedom come under attack from both the state and federal government. These rights are linked: as we wrote to Senators Sinema and Kelly yesterday, ‘Access to abortion is intrinsically connected to access to the ballot box — both give us the ability to make choices for our bodies, lives, and futures.’

“While Senate Republicans continue to fail voters by spreading misinformation and standing by as states restrict access to the ballot box, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona applauds Senator Kelly for doing everything in his power, including voting to change an arcane Senate rule, to pass much needed voting rights protections. Unfortunately, Senator Sinema’s refusal to acknowledge the reality of Republican obstruction shows her disregard for the rights and freedoms of her constituents. She is choosing to protect Senate rules used to block civil rights legislation, and in doing so jeopardizes the fight for reproductive rights, endangers her legacy, and abandons Arizonans. While we encourage her to reevaluate her position, she will have to live with the political consequences.”

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