“Pro-Choice” Governors Don’t Sign Abortion Bans; Stakes in NH Gubernatorial Contest Are Clear for Future of Granite Staters’ Reproductive Rights

CONCORD - On Tuesday, November 1, 2022, New Hampshire gubernatorial candidates Dr. Tom Sherman and incumbent governor Chris Sununu will meet in the WMUR Granite State Debate. Before the candidates take the stage, Planned Parenthood New Hampshire Action Fund is making the candidates’ records on reproductive health and rights clear. 

The Planned Parenthood NH Action Fund PAC endorsed Senator Dr. Tom Sherman for governor because he is a consistent leader in the fight to protect and expand access to the full range of reproductive health care, including safe, legal abortion. He fought against New Hampshire’s abortion ban during the state budget process and worked this year to mitigate the harm of that ban on abortion later in pregnancy while working to enshrine abortion rights in state statute. In comparison, his opponent, incumbent Governor Sununu, signed that abortion ban into law - without any exceptions for rape, incest, or fatal fetal diagnoses - and he bragged on a national podcast about “doing more on the pro-life issue…than anyone.”

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

“At this crisis moment for reproductive rights in our nation, New Hampshire needs a leader who is willing to take action to protect and expand access to health care. But Chris Sununu has proven time and again he is unwilling to stand up against his own party’s attacks on abortion rights and reproductive freedom. 

Granite Staters can count on Dr. Tom Sherman to stand strong against attacks on reproductive health care because he has a consistent record as state senator and state representative. When Sununu signed New Hampshire’s first modern abortion ban into law, Sherman led the effort to reduce the harm it caused, by adding critical exceptions for fatal fetal diagnoses and repealing the mandatory ultrasound provision. When the Supreme Court heard the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health case that threatened Roe v. Wade, Sherman stepped up to sponsor legislation to enshrine abortion rights in state statute. 

Without federal protections, the future of abortion rights in our state depends upon who we elect to represent us. Granite Staters can trust Tom Sherman to protect reproductive rights - no matter what.”

Background: 

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.
• In 2020, Sununu endorsed and campaigned for the current Republican Executive Council majority. In this biennium, Sununu’s Executive Council has dismantled the state family planning program and voted four times to defund Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, Lovering Health Center, and Equality Health Center. Additionally, his Council has repeatedly rejected routine contracts for after-school sex education programs that require parental consent for participation, which has resulted in the cancellation of Fall classes in Claremont.
• 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. Although Sununu continues to call himself “pro-choice,” he bragged on a national podcast about “doing more on the pro-life issue…than anyone.”

Dr. Tom Sherman’s Record Protecting Reproductive Rights

PPNHAF PAC endorsed Senator Dr. Tom Sherma because he has a proven track record as a reproductive rights champion, as a current state senator and former state representative.

• Sherman fought against New Hampshire’s abortion ban during the state budget process. This year, Sherman sponsored legislation to mitigate the harm of that ban on abortion later in pregnancy by adding exceptions for rape, incest, and fatal fetal diagnoses and repealing the ultrasound mandate provision.
• In 2022, as the Supreme Court considered a case that would eventually overturn Roe v. Wade, Sherman sponsored a bill to enshrine abortion rights in state statute. New Hampshire is currently the only state in New England with proactive protections for access to abortion, which leaves our state more vulnerable to additional restrictions on abortion rights.
• In 2020, Sherman sponsored legislation to remove financial barriers to abortion access - which passed the House and Senate but was vetoed by Governor Sununu.

New Hampshire’s 24-Week Abortion Ban:

• New Hampshire’s abortion ban is extreme for many reasons. It has no exceptions for rape or incest; and it has a very narrow exception for maternal physical health. When it was signed into law by Governor Sununu, it required ultrasounds prior to all abortion care - at every stage of pregnancy - and did not include an exception for fatal fetal diagnoses.
• Additionally, this abortion ban criminalizes health care providers with a class B felony which could come with up to seven years in prison and a fine up to $100,000, allows husbands to file civil actions, and allows the patient’s parents to file civil actions.
• There are no other medical procedures in New Hampshire law subject to felony charges and imprisonment for health care professionals.
• Nearly 200 New Hampshire medical providers opposed this bill during the legislative process. 

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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 candidates