From the Democratic Party of Virginia:
Richmond, VA – Tomorrow Virginia Republicans will gather in Richmond to finalize their statewide ticket for the 2013 elections.
While the names of the candidates for Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General are yet to be determined, one thing is certain: No matter who runs on a ticket with Ken Cuccinelli, that trio will pose the greatest danger to women’s health care rights Virginia has ever seen.
“While Virginians worry about jobs, schools and transportation, Republicans are preparing to nominate a ticket led by a man who cares more about outlawing a woman’s right to make her own decisions than he does about Virginia’s economy,” said DPVA Chair Charniele Herring. “From his ‘personhood’ legislation that would have banned the birth control pill to his backdoor abortion ban regulations, Ken Cuccinelli has always put injecting his extreme agenda into decisions women make with their doctors ahead of what’s best for Virginia families.”
Virginia Delegate Jennifer McClellan continued, “Even before the ballots are counted tomorrow, Virginians can be assured that the Republican nominees for statewide office this year will follow Ken Cuccinelli’s lead and do everything in their power to roll back the clock on women’s health. Some have already tried by voting for the backdoor abortion ban regulations that Cuccinelli bullied through the Board of Health and supporting more than one ‘personhood’ ban on abortion and birth control.
“Putting Ken Cuccinelli and any of the people vying to run on a ticket with him in a position to impose their extreme agenda on our families is the clearest example we can get of how far out of touch Republicans are with mainstream Virginia.”
Virginia Senator Barbara Favola said, “By nominating Ken Cuccinelli and any of the candidates for down ballot statewide races, Virginia Republicans are sending women a clear message: ‘We don’t trust you to make your own health care decisions.’
“Virginians aren’t looking for a Governor who will ban common forms of birth control like the pill. Nor are they looking for a Lieutenant Governor or Attorney General who will walk in lockstep with Ken Cuccinelli’s extreme anti-women’s health agenda. Mainstream Virginians want leaders who are focused on making their lives better, not on Ken Cuccinelli and his radical allies’ lifelong efforts to outlaw our right to make our own decisions.”
Background:
Cuccinelli Cosponsored Personhood Bill in 2007
In February 2007, Sen. Cuccinelli cosponsored legislation introduced by Del. Bob Marshall that would prove that “the right to enjoyment of life” guaranteed by Article 1, § 1 of the Constitution of Virginia applies to “preborn human beings from the moment of fertilization.” The bill failed in the House. [HB 2797, 2/5/07]
American Congress Of Obstetricians And Gynecologists: Personhood Defined at Moment of Fertilization Would “Deny Women Access To The Full Spectrum Of Preventive Health Care, Including Contraception”
In February 2012, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists released a statement: “Although the individual wording in these proposed measures varies from state to state, they all attempt to give full legal rights to a fertilized egg by defining “personhood” from the moment of fertilization, before conception (ie, pregnancy/ implantation) has occurred. This would have wide-reaching harmful implications for the practice of medicine and on women's access to contraception, fertility treatments, pregnancy termination, and other essential medical procedures.” [American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 2/10/12]
American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: Under Personhood Law Defined at Moment of Fertilization “Most Effective and Reliable Forms of Contraception such as Oral Contraceptives” Could Be Banned
In February 2012, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists issued a statement: “These ‘personhood’ proposals, as acknowledged by proponents, would make condoms, natural family planning, and spermicides the only legally allowed forms of birth control. Thus, some of the most effective and reliable forms of contraception, such as oral contraceptives, intrauterine devices (IUDs), and other forms of FDA-approved hormonal contraceptives could be banned in states that adopt ‘personhood’ measures.” [American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 2/10/12]
Hormonal Birth Control Makes It Less Likely For A Fertilized Egg To Attach To The Uterus
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, “hormonal birth control methods work by releasing hormones to prevent ovulation. The cervical mucus thickens, making it hard for a sperm to reach the egg. The endometrium thins, making it less likely that a fertilized egg will attach to it.” [American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, June 2012]
Virginians For Life: HB 2797 Would “Dismantle The Tragic Roe V. Wade Decision”
In February 2007, the Petersburg Progress-Index published a letter to the editor from Bob Kline, a member of Virginians for Life. The letter praised the Virginia Life at Conception Act, saying that it “would dismantle the Tragic Roe v. Wade decision that legalized the murder of innocent children on demand.” [Petersburg Progress-Index, letter to the editor, 2/5/07]
Virginians For Life: HB 2797 Would End Planned Parenthood’s “Lucrative And Grisly Trade In Human Flesh”
In February 2007, the Petersburg Progress-Index published a letter to the editor from Bob Kline, a member of Virginians for Life. The letter said: “I believe the 20,000 unborn babies who die every year in Virginia deserve our continued sacrificial efforts. Planned Parenthood fully understands that a Virginia Life at Conception Act can end their lucrative and grisly trade in human flesh.” [Petersburg Progress-Index, letter to the editor, 2/5/07]
Cuccinelli's Bill Similar to Mississippi Personhood Bill that Defined Life As Beginning From Fertilization
In November 2011, the Huffington Post reported: “Mississippi voters Tuesdaydefeated a ballot initiative that would've declared life begins at fertilization, a proposal that supporters sought in the Bible Belt state as a way to prompt a legal challenge to abortion rights nationwide.” [Huffington Post, 11/8/11]
Cuccinelli Pushed for Passage of 2012 Personhood Bill
In February 2012, the News and Advance reported, “Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli and Mat Staver, dean of Liberty University's law school, spoke at a rally Wednesday supporting the “personhood” bill making its way through the General Assembly. They urged a crowd on Capitol Square to contact state senators who will soon vote on House Bill 1, passed by the House of Delegateson Tuesday. The measure extends fundamental rights claimed in the Declaration of Independence to unborn children, both Cuccinelli and Staver said. ‘This personhood bill recognizes a scientific reality. Life begins at conception,’ said Cuccinelli, a candidate for governor. ‘Make sure you talk to your senators. Advocate for this issue.’” [News and Advance, 2/16/12]
National Infertility Association: Under Personhood Bill, In-Vitro Fertilization “Will Be Unlawful”
In February 2012, Barbara Collura, executive director of the National Infertility Association issued a press release that said: “Even though assisted conception is currently lawful in Virginia and even mentioned in Virginia Code Section 20-156, HB1 is designed to change that and to make any action that risks a microscopic embryo unlawful. So, Section 7's supposed exemption for assisted conception is really no protection at all; IVF as practiced to the standard of care will be unlawful.” [RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, 2/16/12]
AP: Personhood Bill “Would Effectively Outlaw All Virginia Abortions”In February 2012, the AP reported: “Del. Bob Marshall's House Bill 1 would effectively outlaw all Virginia abortions by declaring that the rights of persons apply from the moment sperm and egg unite.” [AP, 2/15/12]
Cuccinelli Opposed Abortion “Even In Cases Of Rape Or Incest”
In August 2002, the Washington Post reported that Cuccinelli “imbued the campaign with his antiabortion message. Cuccinelli opposes the procedure even in cases of rape or incest.” [Washington Post, 8/7/02]
Paid for by the Democratic Party of Virginia
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