Planned Parenthood Statement on Extreme Abortion Ban Introduced by Radical Idaho Legislators

Statement from Mistie DelliCarpini-Tolman, Idaho State Director for Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawai‘i:

“State lawmakers’ priorities are gravely out of step with the urgent needs of Idahoans. Instead of helping families and communities struggling with the impact of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic, radically conservative legislators are rushing through extreme legislation that would restrict abortion in Idaho.”

“Senate Bill 1085 would forcibly ban a pregnant person from getting an abortion as early as six weeks into a pregnancy — only about two weeks after a missed period. This is, in many cases, before an individual would know they are pregnant. This bill could take away a person's right to make their own medical decision before they even know they have a decision to make.

“It is unacceptable, and frankly, irresponsible. Idaho has some of the highest rates of COVID transmission in the country, and the state’s vaccine rollout is the slowest of all 50 states. Elected officials would rather spend their time restricting basic, essential health care, instead of addressing the hardships that thousands of Idahoans currently face. It is also worth reminding our elected officials that Planned Parenthood has previously sued the state over abortion rights and won, costing the state upwards of $1 million in legal fees.”

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Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawai‘i (PPVNH) is an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization educating residents and policy-makers about reproductive health issues in Washington, Alaska, Idaho, and Hawai‘i. PPVNH lobbies and educates to advance Planned Parenthood's mission and also engages in limited electoral activities.