Planned Parenthood NH Action Fund Paid Canvasses Knock 7,000+ Doors in 3 Weeks

Granite Staters Are Outraged About Family Planning Defund and Attacks on Abortion Access and Motivated to Vote

CONCORD - On September 14, Planned Parenthood New Hampshire Action Fund launched a canvassing operation as part of the effort to mobilize voters and ensure Granite Staters elect reproductive rights champions to New Hampshire’s Executive Branch who will restore critical family planning funding and protect the right to determine what’s best for our own bodies and lives. 

To date, over 2,000 voters have been reached. Some voters are learning for the first time that Governor Sununu signed an abortion ban, and that his Executive Council has voted four times to reject contracts for Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, Lovering Health Center, and Equality Health Center, dismantling the NH Family Planning Program and jeopardizing essential health care for thousands of low-income and uninsured Granite Staters.

Now is the time for New Hampshire voters to take control and elect leaders to office that put the health of Granite Staters above politics. 

Statement from Kayla Montgomery, Vice President of Public Affairs for Planned Parenthood New Hampshire Action Fund:

“New Hampshire is at a clear crossroads, and the conversations we’re having with voters show Granite Staters are outraged by recent attacks on reproductive health care and fired up to elect leaders who will ensure that abortion, birth control, and comprehensive health care - including sexual education - are protected and accessible. 

It is time to elect an Executive Branch that will restore critical family planning contracts that were repeatedly rejected by the current Executive Council, a move that has jeopardized access to essential health care for thousands of low-income and uninsured Granite Staters. And they need a Governor who will stand strong against abortion bans and attacks on our personal freedoms. With just over a month until Election Day, Planned Parenthood New Hampshire Action Fund will do all that we can to reach as many voters as possible, because New Hampshire needs champions for reproductive freedom in every office.”

Anecdotes from voters:

• “Voter is 19 years old and still new to voting, but is extremely fired up to go vote this year. She was dismayed to learn that her Councilor voted four times to cut funding {for NH Family Planning providers}.”
• “Voter originally said they don't vote, but when I emphasized that this is the election that will determine if abortion is legal in NH, she promised she would vote.” 
• Voter doesn't know much about politics, but said he will be supporting whoever supports Planned Parenthood.” 
• “Voter had never heard of Executive Council. Will look further into it and was glad I talked with him” 
• “Voter believes the conversation about abortion should solely be a conversation between a woman and a doctor and will be supporting electeds that support access and funding.”
• “Voter has two daughters of her own very inspired to go to the ballots this November.”
•  “Voter gets contraception from Planned Parenthood, who has helped in so many ways. Is voting for Planned Parenthood supported  candidates all the way.”

Background: 

PPNHAF PAC has endorsed: 

• Dr. Tom Sherman for Governor
• For Executive Council:
  • Dana Hilliard in District 1 
  • Cinde Warmington in District 2 
  • Katherine Harake in District 3 
  • Kevin Cavanaugh in District 4
  • Shoshanna Kelly in District 5

The Executive Council’s Attacks on Reproductive Health Care:

• Family Planning Contracts:
  • Councilors Kenney, Stevens, Gatsas, and Wheeler voted against family planning contracts every single opportunity they have had, including 4 times in less than a year (July 2022, January 2022, December 2021, and September 2021). 
  • Joe Kenney, Ted Gatsas, and Dave Wheeler have voted against these contracts prior to 2021, as well. 
  • Family Planning contracts consistently passed with bipartisan support from 1972-2011. 
• Sex Education Contracts:
  • Currently, Councilors Kenney, Gatsas, and Wheeler are threatening funding for opt-in after school comprehensive sex education programming that is targeted toward teens in Manchester and Claremont. This funding has received bipartisan, unanimous Executive Council approval since 2015. The effectiveness of the programming is shown by New Hampshire having one of the lowest teen pregnancy rates in the country.

Sununu’s Attacks on Reproductive Health and Rights:

• In 2015, then Executive Councilor Chris Sununu cast the deciding vote to defund Planned Parenthood health centers in New Hampshire, jeopardizing access to family planning care for thousands of Granite Staters.
• In 2016, when Sununu ran for governor in a contentious primary, he laid out steps he would take to restrict abortion access in NH once elected. 
• As Governor, Sununu signed a budget that underfunded the Family Planning Program and silently watched his Republican colleagues gut that program by rejecting contracts with three reproductive health providers, including PPNNE.
• In 2018, Sununu put his full support behind Justice Kavanaugh. Because of his appointment to SCOTUS - which led to the overturning of Roe v. Wade -  the states that are banning or deeply restricting abortion access continues to rise, and to date 1 in 3 people in America have lost access to safe, legal abortion in their home state.
• In 2020, Sununu vetoed the Reproductive Health Parity Act, which would have removed financial barriers for people seeking access to abortion.
• On June 25, 2021, Sununu signed New Hampshire’s first abortion ban in modern history into law. Sununu’s abortion ban criminalized doctors, required forced ultrasounds for all people seeking abortion care, and failed to make exemptions for rape, incest, or fatal fetal diagnoses.  

###

Planned Parenthood New Hampshire Action Fund (PPNHAF) is an independent, nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization formed as the advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood of Northern New England in New Hampshire. The Action Fund engages in educational and electoral activity, including voter education, grassroots organizing, and legislative advocacy. The Action Fund makes independent expenditures on behalf of or in opposition to targeted candidates for public office. Follow us on Twitter.  

PPNHAF maintains a separate, segregated political committee and fund to make direct campaign contributions to endorsed candidates (the PAC). Follow PPNHAF PAC on Twitter. 

Understanding and explaining the different Planned Parenthood entities in New Hampshire:

Planned Parenthood of Northern New England (PPNNE) is the largest provider of reproductive and sexual health care across the State of New Hampshire. We serve New Hampshire residents through 5 health centers in Derry, Exeter, Keene, Manchester and White River Junction, VT. Last fiscal year we saw more than 11,000 patients at these sites. PPNNE was named a 2021 Guardian of Excellence Award^® winner by Press Ganey, the national leader in health care consumer and workforce engagement. Press Ganey recognizes PPNNE as a top-performing health care organization, achieving the 95^th percentile or above for performance in patient experience, out of more than 20,000 medical practices.

Planned Parenthood New Hampshire Action Fund (PPNHAF) is an independent, nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization formed as the advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood of Northern New England in New Hampshire. The Action Fund engages in educational and electoral activity, including voter education, grassroots organizing, and legislative advocacy. The Action Fund makes independent expenditures on behalf of or in opposition to targeted candidates for public office. PPNHAF maintains a separate, segregated political committee and fund to make direct campaign contributions to endorsed candidates (the PAC)

Planned Parenthood New Hampshire Action Fund PAC is the political committee that makes candidate endorsements and gives financial contributions directly to candidate