State Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, Del. Cia Price: Youngkin Playing Games With Virginia’s Right to Contraception Act

From State Senator Ghazala Hashmi and Delegate Cia Price:

General Assembly’s Reproductive Justice Leaders Call Out Youngkin for Playing Games With Virginia’s Right to Contraception Act

Senator Ghazala Hashmi and Delegate Marcia “Cia” Price Send Clear Message to Youngkin: Stop Playing With Our Rights

RICHMOND, Va. – Senator Ghazala Hashmi (D-Chesterfield) and Delegate Marcia “Cia” Price today sent a united message in response to Governor Youngkin’s evasive statement to reporters this week that there are “other things I can do” aside from vetoing or signing Virginia’s Right to Contraception Act: stop playing with our rights.

Democrats in the General Assembly refused to entertain the governor’s proposed substitute to the bill during their April 17 reconvene session and sent it back to his desk in its original form. Youngkin’s proposal would have gutted the legislation by deleting the definition of contraception – including explicit protections for IUDs and emergency contraceptives – and removing its enforcement mechanism.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch previously reported that a legal historian at the Georgia State University School of Law “added that [Youngkin’s proposed substitute] … may also be a nod to people who see some forms of contraception as akin to abortion.”

The General Assembly sent the original bill back to the governor, who has until May 17 to sign the bill, veto the bill, or do nothing in which case it will become law. He can no longer amend the bill.

Bill patrons Senator Hashmi and Delegate Price issued the following joint statement in response to the governor’s comments:

“Governor Youngkin continues to live under the delusion that he can play both sides of this issue because he doesn’t want to anger the loud extremists in his party who equate contraception to abortion or anger the 81% of voters who support this simple and essential bill. He is not only playing games with voters but also with our health care. Contraception is not only used for family planning, but to also manage a wide variety of health conditions. Bans on contraception would hurt everyone, including people of color, people with low incomes, and LGBTQ people. Contraception cannot be played with: this bill is a matter of reproductive justice. It is time for Governor Youngkin to stop playing games and just sign the bill.”