Planned Parenthood Action Fund Congratulates Ed Markey for Primary Victory in Mass. Special Election
For Immediate Release: April 30, 2013
The Action Fund Worked to Educate Voters About Markey’s Strong Record on Women’s Health Issues
BOSTON, MA – Planned Parenthood Action Fund Executive Vice President Dawn Laguens congratulated women’s health champion Ed Markey for winning the Massachusetts Senate special election Democratic primary this evening. The Planned Parenthood Action Fund is the advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood Federation of America and ran a volunteer-driven voter education program in the weeks leading up to the primary to highlight Markey’s long record of support for women and their access to health care. The group endorsed Ed Markey on March 13, 2013.
“This is a win for Massachusetts women and their health,” said Dawn Laguens, executive vice president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund. “Planned Parenthood Action Fund supporters worked hard to get out the vote for Ed Markey today, because we know how important it is to have another champion of women’s health in the Senate. If elected, Massachusetts can count on Ed Markey to stand up to protect women’s access to health care and to block attacks on Planned Parenthood health centers, access to birth control, and access to safe and legal abortion.”
Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts director of public affairs, Tricia Wajda, offered congratulations to Ed Markey for his primary win for the U.S. Senate.
“We know from tonight’s election results that women’s health remains a key concern in Massachusetts, and will be a decisive issue in the general election for U.S. Senate in June,” said Wajda. “With a 30-year record in Congress, Ed Markey has proven that he can be trusted to stand up for Massachusetts women, no matter what. Unlike Gabriel Gomez, Ed Markey will protect women’s health, safe and legal abortion access, family planning funding, and comprehensive sexuality education in the U.S. Senate.”
In the weeks leading up to the primary, Planned Parenthood Action Fund ran a robust volunteer-driven voter education program to turn out voters in South Boston and Dorchester in support of the candidates with strong records and agendas for women’s health and economic security. Planned Parenthood Action Fund supporters and volunteers knocked on 1,300 doors and made 13,000 calls in support of Ed Markey in the weeks leading up to the primary.
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 sexuality 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.