Planned Parenthood Condemns Most Extreme Abortion Ban in U.S.
For Immediate Release: March 6, 2013
NEW YORK, NY – Planned Parenthood Action Fund today condemned the most extreme abortion ban in the United States, passed today in Arkansas over the veto of Governor Mike Beebe. Arkansas’ 12 week abortion ban signals that 2013 may be even worse than the record-breaking years of 2011 and 2012 for state legislation that limits access to women’s health care.
Statement from Cecile Richards, President of Planned Parenthood Action Fund
“We are deeply disappointed that the Arkansas legislature voted to impose the most restrictive ban on safe and legal abortion in the country. The majority of Arkansans — and the majority of Americans — don’t want politicians involved in a woman’s personal medical decisions about her pregnancy. Governor Beebe rightfully vetoed this legislation and the legislature would have been wise to let the veto stand as this bill is clearly unconstitutional.
“People in Arkansas and across America know that abortion is a deeply personal and often complex decision for a woman to make. This extreme legislation would insert politics into women’s personal medical decisions.
“Women are counting on Planned Parenthood to protect their access to cancer screenings, birth control, and safe and legal abortion — and we will continue to fight for them in Arkansas and across the country.”
BACKGROUND:
- Despite consistent support by a majority of Americans, opponents of women’s health continue to work tirelessly to chip away at or limit access for women. In January, the Guttmacher Institute released a report showing that 43 provisions were passed in 19 states last year to restrict access to abortion — the second-highest number of such measures passed in a single year (behind only 2011).
- In a Pew poll released in January, more than six in ten (63 percent) respondents said they would not like to see the court completely overturn the Roe v. Wade decision.
- A Wall Street Journal/NBC poll released in January found that a majority of Americans (70 percent) oppose efforts to overturn Roe v. Wade — marking the highest percentage on this question since 1989.