Chamber of Commerce Fails to Ask about Women, Healthcare and the Economy

(Portland, MAINE) –  This morning, the Portland Chamber of Commerce hosted the second gubernatorial debate of the week and failed to ask a single question about women, their access to health care and their rights –- all issues essential to discussing the economy in general and intimately connected to the ability of individuals to participate in the workforce. 

Moderators at the first gubernatorial debate Tuesday that was hosted by Portland Press Herald, Lewiston Sun Journal and Maine Public, noted that they received a large number of questions from Mainers asking for information from the candidates on abortion and reproductive healthcare issues, and two days later, the Portland Chamber of Commerce either refused to acknowledge that Mainers want to hear from the candidates on these issues or is completely out of touch with how reproductive healthcare access and freedoms impact Maine’s economy. Sponsors and moderators of candidate debates have an obligation to  ask questions and probe for clear answers from the candidates on these essential issues. 

Access to contraceptives, for example, results in higher participation among women in the workforce as well as higher wages, reports the Institute for Women’s Policy Research. 

Here in Maine, Governor Janet Mills has a clear record of working to facilitate access to birth control for Mainers and in understanding how access to reproductive healthcare services impacts the ability of working-age Mainers to participate in the workforce.  

In her first term in office, Governor Mills: 

• Expanded coverage for birth control through private insurance 
• Implemented dispensing of emergency contraception via vending machines 
• Expanded Medicaid/MaineCare including access to reproductive and sexual health care. 
• Dedicated resources to improve maternal health outcomes 

In contrast, in his eight years as governor, Paul LePage: 

• Cut funds for family planning including Planned Parenthood of Northern New England 
• Attempted to veto expanded coverage for reproductive healthcare for low-income people,  
• Vetoed a bill that would require insurance coverage for preventive care for women, and,  
• Used his administration to target abortion providers with politically motivated investigations 
• Vetoed protections for workers who breast-feed [Portland Press Herald, 6/22/13] 
• Vetoed a bill to study the establishment of a paid leave program for maternity leave and leave to care for sick family members   

Statement from Nicole Clegg, Chair of Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund PAC: 

“Voters care deeply about sexual and reproductive healthcare, and they want to know how each candidate plans to govern on these issues. Access to birth control changes people’s lives and provides them with opportunities to further their education or pursue a career they otherwise would not be able to. Access gives Mainers’ agency and the right to control if or when they want to start a family. 

As an organization clearly focused on business economy and Maine’s ability to thrive in a post-Roe world, it is stunning that the Portland Chamber of Commerce would either not make that connection or choose to omit such crucial subject matter during a candidate debate. Voters are counting on debate moderators and sponsors to ask these important questions without judgement and in a medically accurate manner, not ignore or shy away from them completely. 

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The Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund Political Action Committee promotes and preserves a health care landscape and a political climate favorable to women’s health by working to identify and elect supportive candidates seeking executive and legislative offices. The PPMEAF PAC is operated by the Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund, an independent, nonpartisan, not-for-profit membership organization formed as the advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood of Northern New England in Maine. The Action Fund engages in educational and electoral activity, including voter education, grassroots organizing, and legislative advocacy.