Planned Parenthood statement on Maine Senate vote to advance LD 780, constitutional amendment to explicitly enshrine right to reproductive autonomy

Statement from Lisa Margulies, Esq., Vice President of Public Affairs, Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund and Planned Parenthood of Northern New England on the Maine State Senate’s engrossment vote on LD 780

“Today, Maine moved one step closer to explicitly enshrining the right to reproductive autonomy in our state constitution. We applaud the majority of senators who voted to protect Mainers’ reproductive liberties and allow Maine voters to weigh in directly on this issue. It is troubling that certain politicians in our state continue to oppose protecting access to essential, legal medical care for Mainers – and prevent their constituents from speaking at the ballot box.

It is crystal clear that extremists in our own state and across the country will do everything they can to take away our rights and freedoms. Whether it’s the right to contraception, assisted reproductive technology like in vitro fertilization (IVF), full spectrum pregnancy care, or abortion, Mainers should not have to worry about those rights being revoked election to election.

A majority of Mainers elected reproductive rights champions to represent them in Augusta, and since Dobbs, those champions have worked to protect and expand access to care. All elected leaders now have an obligation to let Mainers speak on their basic rights and freedoms by approving LD 780 and letting Mainers vote for reproductive freedom in November.”

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Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund is an independent, nonpartisan, not-for-profit membership organization formed as the advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood of Northern New England in Maine. PPNNE has four health centers in Maine and sees more than 12,000 patients a year.