Pat Toomey Doubles Down on Defunding Planned Parenthood, Jailing Doctors that Provide Abortion, And Overturning Roe v. Wade

For Immediate Release: Nov. 3, 2016

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Pittsburgh, PA –– This morning, in an interview with Fox 29 in Philadelphia, Pat Toomey once again showed how out of step he is with women in Pennsylvania. Not only did Pat Toomey refuse to renounce Donald Trump, but he doubled down on his commitment to defund Planned Parenthood, claimed that Roe v Wade was “wrongly decided”, and still supports penalties for doctors who provide abortion. In his six years in the Senate, Pat Toomey has become one of the most extreme, anti-abortion Senators in the country, even supporting legislation that would put doctors that provide abortion in jail.

Quote from Meghan Eirkson, Planned Parenthood Votes:

“Pat Toomey’s radical positions on women’s health are out of touch with voters in Pennsylvania. Toomey’s insistence on defunding Planned Parenthood would threaten access to birth control and cancer screenings for the nearly 90,000 Pennsylvanians who go to Planned Parenthood every year. Toomey also wants to overturn Roe v. Wade and put doctors who provide abortion in jail. It’s no wonder why Pat Toomey refuses to abandon Donald Trump -- they have the same vision for women in this country.”

Pat Toomey has stood idly by as Donald Trump has insulted, demeaned, and disrespected women for months on the campaign trail. Nothing has been enough for Pat Toomey to renounce Trump –– not when Donald Trump said women should be punished for having an abortion or when Donald Trump was heard bragging about sexual assaulting women.

Background: Pat Toomey's Extreme Record on Reproductive Health Care

• Pat Toomey has voted to defund Planned Parenthood health centers seven times –– including a vote in favor of shutting down the entire federal government over funding for Planned Parenthood services. Over 90,000 Pennsylvanians rely on Planned Parenthood for birth control, cancer screenings, and STI testing every year. 

• Pat Toomey puts his personal ideology above the will of Pennsylvanians. Polling shows that Pennsylvania voters overwhelmingly support Planned Parenthood.

• Pat Toomey wants toban safe and legal abortion and said he would support the repeal of Roe v. Wade.  He’s even shirking his constitutional duty by joining with fellow Republicans in refusing to consider the president’s Supreme Court nominee. An overwhelmingmajority of Pennsylvania voters are opposed to Toomey and his fellow Republican senators blockading the nominee.

• Pat Toomey thinks  Roe. v. Wade was“wrongly decided.”

• Pat Toomey is as extreme as it gets when it comes to access to abortion. Toomey supports putting doctors who perform abortions into jail. He shares this position with Donald Trump.

• Pat Toomey has no understanding of the health care needs of women. Toomey has incorrectly referred to emergency contraception like Plan B as “abortion-inducing pills.”  

• Pat Toomey called the Supreme Court’s Hobby Lobby decision (which allows employers to deny their employees birth control)“great news.”

• Pat Toomey wants torepeal the ACA and has voted multiple times to do so. More than 137 million Americans, including more than 55 million women, now have access to preventive services — including contraceptive coverage, breast cancer screenings, and well-woman visits — because of the Affordable Care Act. In Pennsylvania alone, there are over 2.5 million women who now have preventive services coverage, thanks to the ACA. [Roll Call Vote 51,3/22/13; Roll Call Vote 9,2/2/11; U.S. Department of Health & Human Services: The Affordable Care Act is Improving Access to Preventive Services for Millions of Americans,5/14/15]

• Pat Toomey has voted multiple times against the Paycheck Fairness Act.

• Pat Toomey has voted against reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act.