Planned Parenthood Action Fund Announces Final Stretch in Massachusetts Volunteer Voter Education Program
For Immediate Release: April 24, 2013
Doors/ Phones/E-mails to GOTV to Help Elect Ed Markey to U.S. Senate and Linda Dorcena Forry to State Senate in Mass. Special Election
BOSTON, MA — With less than a week before the Massachusetts Special Election Primaries, Planned Parenthood Action Fund announced the final stretch of a month-long volunteer-driven voter education program to help elect Ed Markey to the U.S. Senate and Linda Dorcena Forry to the State Senate on April 30. The Planned Parenthood Action Fund is the advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood Federation of America and endorsed Ed Markey on March 13, 2013.
The group has been mobilizing Planned Parenthood Action Fund supporters and volunteers to talk with thousands of voters in South Boston and Dorchester about the candidates and their records and agendas for women’s health and economic security. This week, participants will continue making calls and knocking on doors to urge voters to stand up for women’s health care by getting out the vote for Congressman Markey and State Representative Forry on April 30. The group is also e-mailing supporters with information about the candidates and details about local polling places.
“For three decades, Ed Markey has been a champion for women and their access to health care,” said Dawn Laguens, executive vice president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund. “That’s why we’re proud to promote a volunteer-driven campaign to bring him to the U.S. Senate.”
“As an elected representative, Linda Dorcena Forry has fought for comprehensive sexuality education and defended access to women’s health care. She is a lifelong Bostonian and is dedicated to improving her community,” said Tricia Wajda, director of public affairs for the Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts. “As our state senator, I am confident she will continue to fight for women’s health — protecting access to birth control and preventive health care for all of us.”
“This election will have a profound impact on Massachusetts women and their families,” said Leda Anderson, a volunteer from the Fenway neighborhood of Boston. “I am proud to volunteer alongside other Planned Parenthood Action Fund supporters to make sure people get out and vote on Tuesday for Congressman Markey and Linda Dorcena Forry. We need elected officials at all levels of government that will stand up for a woman's ability to make her own health care decisions."
Congressman Markey has received a 100 percent rating from the Planned Parenthood Action Fund for his votes in the U.S. House of Representatives to oppose legislation that would have restricted access to safe and legal abortion, and for his votes to support comprehensive sex education, birth control access, and funding for Planned Parenthood. Congressman Markey supported passage of the Affordable Care Act, the landmark health care law that includes historic new benefits for women, including access to birth control without a co-pay as well as a number of other preventive health care services. During congressional debate on the ACA, Congressman Markey opposed the Stupak-Pitts amendment that would have effectively banned health coverage of abortion in the new health insurance marketplaces.