Access to Reproductive & Sexual Health Care Is Not a Partisan Issue
By Planned Parenthood Votes New Mexico | Aug. 7, 2017, noon
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This week, Ben Ray Lujan, Chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee & NM Democratic Representative, told The Hill that there will be no litmus test for Democrats who oppose abortion rights and are seeking financial support from the DCCC. To note, Lujan has a strong record of both championing for Planned Parenthood and fighting to protect the ACA. As disappointing as the comment was to hear, at Planned Parenthood Votes New Mexico we know that reproductive rights are an issue of significant importance to voters, regardless of any party’s position.
Planned Parenthood Votes New Mexico supports policies that align with core progressive values, policies that would not be applicable if people could not access the full range of reproductive health care that they rely on - care that allows them to plan their families and live healthy lives.
The majority of New Mexicans support access to abortion because they trust their neighbors to make their own health care decisions without interference from the government. Family planning is central to expanding economic opportunity. Thus, while a candidate may hold a variety of opinions personally, the important piece is their understanding of the greater socioeconomic impact of these policies and that morally, they cannot, and should not, tell their constituents what is best for their own health and the health of their families. In that sense, abortion care is a pivotal issue for the voter who is identifying candidates who stand with their community’s growth, opportunities, and access to care.
Access to a full range of reproductive and sexual health care is not, and should not be, a partisan issue. Safe and legal abortion is sought out by people of all backgrounds and political parties, and should not be limited in support to any one party.
It’s more important than ever that we stand for the people in our communities - regardless of their income, immigration status, sexuality, or political affiliations - to access the full range of reproductive health care they rely on, which includes access to safe and legal abortion.
Image: Jane Beaird @quietcreature
Tags: Abortion, Health Care, litmustest, litmus, nonpartisan, reproductive justice