Don’t believe there’s a Republican war on women’s health, or don’t think it’s relevant here in Virginia? Well, then, you might want to check out what George Allen believes:
Allen is an avid supporter of so-called “personhood” legislation, stating clearly on his campaign website his belief that “life begins at conception” and promising to fight for legislation declaring “the personhood of every individual life.” Numerous media organizations, health professionals, and legal experts have confirmed that personhood legislation could pose a legal risk to commonly used forms of birth control.
Allen has also been a vocal critic of the Affordable Care Act, including the law’s new regulations that extend contraception coverage to millions of women. Allen has said he would make repealing the Affordable Care Act his first action as a Senator, denying millions of women new access to affordable contraception.
Also recall that that this past February, the Republican-controlled Virginia House passed a “personhood” bill specifying that “unborn children at every stage of development enjoy all the rights, privileges, and immunities available to other persons, citizens, and residents of the commonwealth, subject only to the laws and constitutions of Virginia and the United States, precedents of the United States Supreme Court, and provisions to the contrary in the statutes of the commonwealth.” That phrase “every stage of development” would, of course, outlaw many forms of contraception. It would also, as Del. Jennifer McClellan explained, open up “families and doctors to a wide variety of criminal and civil lawsuits for health-care decisions not only in cases of unwanted pregnancies, but every pregnancy and even miscarriage” Any further questions?
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