Planned Parenthood Action Fund announces endorsement of Martha Coakley for U.S. Senate

Boston, MA -- The Planned Parenthood Action Fund today announced their endorsement of Martha Coakley in the race to serve as United States Senator from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

"Martha Coakley will be a leader in the Senate,"said Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts President and CEO Dianne Luby, "She has repeatedly demonstrated her commitment to protecting access to sexual and reproductive health services. We are proud that the Planned Parenthood Action Fund has made this endorsement."

"I am honored to receive the endorsement from the Planned Parenthood Action Fund," said Martha Coakley. "Planned Parenthood has been a tireless advocate for women's reproductive rights. I look forward to working with Planned Parenthood in Washington on the critical health priorities facing women, including access to affordable, quality healthcare and expanding access to affordable family planning and preventive care."

Coakley is a long-time champion for Planned Parenthood, and her record as a supporter of reproductive health care and freedom goes back decades. Coakley's involvement in issues of choice includes serving as a member of the Minors Lawyers Referral panel, testifying in support of the Buffer Zone Bill and the Archaic Law Repeal Bill, filing a lawsuit challenging the Bush Administration's so called "provider conscience rule" and most recently opposing the restrictive Stupak-Pitts amendment.

Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts
2008 General Election Legislative Endorsements

This year’s election provides numerous opportunities to protect and expand our supportive majorities in both the State House and Senate. That’s why the Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts is excited to announce our 2008 General Election Legislative Endorsements. All of these endorsed candidates have demonstrated strong support for sexual and reproductive health.

We have achieved significant policy victories in recent years, including passage of the Buffer Zones Law and the Emergency Contraception Law, funding increases for family planning and teen pregnancy prevention programs, and the state’s refusal to accept federal abstinence-only-until-marriage programs, but there is still much more to be done. Electing supportive leaders has been a key part of securing these victories, and is essential to ensuring continued progress in the future.

Endorsements were based on a combination of questionnaires and interviews.

Don’t forget to vote on Tuesday, November 4! If you are not sure where to vote, go to www.wheredoIvotema.com.

Endorsed Legislative Candidates

Incumbents

Senate
Senate President Therese Murray (D-Plymouth (Plymouth and Barnstable District)
State Senator Harriette Chandler (D-Worcester (1st Worcester District)
State Senator Susan Fargo (D-Lincoln) (3rd Middlesex District)
State Senator Anthony Galluccio (D-Cambridge) (Middlesex, Suffolk & Essex District)
State Senator Patricia Jehlen (D-Somerville) (2nd Middlesex District)

House
House Speaker Sal DiMasi (D-Boston) (3rd Suffolk District)
State Representative Will Brownsberger (D-Belmont) (24th Middlesex District)
State Representative Lori Ehrlich (D-Marblehead) (8th Essex District)
State Representative Mark Falzone (D-Saugus) (9th Essex District)
State Representative Sean Garballey (D-Arlington) (23rd Middlesex District)
State Representative Jay Kaufman (D-Lexington) (15th Middlesex District)
State Representative John Keenan (D-Salem) (7th Essex District)
State Representative Kay Khan (D-Newton) (11th Middlesex District)
State Representative Barbara L’Italien (D-Andover) (18th Essex District)
State Representative Jim O’Day (D-West Boylston) (14th Worcester-District)
State Representative Alice Peisch (D-Wellesley) (14th Norfolk District)
State Representative Denise Provost (D-Somerville) (27th Middlesex District)
State Representative Pam Richardson (D-Framingham) (6th Middlesex District)
State Representative Rosemary Sandlin (D-Agawam) (3rd Hampden District)
State Representative John Scibak (D-South Hadley) (2nd Hampshire District)
State Representative Carl Sciortino (D-Medford) (34th Middlesex District)
State Representative Ellen Story (D-Amherst) (3rd Hampshire District)
State Representative Marty Walz (D-Boston) (8th Suffolk District)
State Representative Alice Wolf (D-Cambridge) (25th Middlesex District)

Non-Incumbents

Senate
Ken Donnelly (D-Arlington) (4th Middlesex Senate District)
Jamie Eldridge (D-Acton) (Middlesex and Worcester Senate District)
Jennifer Flanagan (D-Leominster) (Worcester and Middlesex Senate District)
Sara Orozco (D-Needham) (Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex Senate District)

House
Jen Benson (D-Lunenburg) (37th Middlesex House District)
Bill Bowles (D-Attlebororo) (2nd Bristol House District)
Jim Dwyer (D-Woburn) (30th Middlesex House District)
Carolyn Dykema (D-Holliston) (8th Middlesex House District)
Danielle Gregoire (D-Marlboro) (4th Middlesex House District)
Jonathan Hecht (D-Watertown) (29th Middlesex House District)
Kate Hogan (D-Stow) (3rd Middlesex House District)
Jason Lewis (D-Stoneham) (31st Middlesex House District)

Your legislators. Your voice.
Our state legislators make decisions every year that affect reproductive health care, privacy and access to comprehensive sex education for our kids. Now more than ever, it is vital that we maintain our pro-reproductive health majority in the Massachusetts Senate and continue to increase our numbers in the House of Representatives.

Where does your legislator stand? Learn more about the 2007-2008 Massachusetts House and Senate!

Stay in touch with your local legislators through the Planned Parenthood Action Network - sign up today!

McCain's Health Care Plan: Worse for Women

The Planned Parenthood Action Fund's new TV ad, titled “Worse for Women,” points to a recent study that shows McCain’s health care plan would have an adverse impact on women’s health. Watch the ad.

Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John MCain Side-By-Side

Want to know exactly where Barack Obama and John McCain stand on the issues that affect women? The Planned Parenthood Action Fund has compiled a side-by-side comparison of the presidential candidates' stances on women’s health.

The choice for women in the 2008 presidential election is clear: Obama/Biden will defend women's health.

McCain Ducks Question About Insurance Coverage of Birth Control

Cecile Richards, president of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, questioned Sen. John McCain’s commitment to women’s health care after Sen. McCain could not answer when asked if he thought it was fair that insurance companies cover Viagra but not birth control.

Check out the televised video that Planned Parenthood Action Fund has launched against Senator John McCain in response.

McCain voted against an amendment that would have compelled iinsurance companies to match Viagra coverage with birth control coverage, arguing that it's the kind of mandate that makes health care more expensive.

Planned Parenthood Action Fund Endorses Barack Obama
Applauds Obama's Record of Standing Up for Women's Health Care
The Planned Parenthood Action Fund, the political and advocacy arm of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, today announced its endorsement of Sen. Barack Obama for president of the United States. Find out more about PPAF's endorsement.

Planned Parenthood's legislative agenda

An Act to Provide Health Education in Schools
Senate Bill 288, House Bill 597

This bill would insert health education, as defined by the Department of Education curriculum frameworks, into the core curriculum for Massachusetts Public Schools. Health education includes nutrition, physical education, mental health, safety and injury prevention, reproduction and sexuality, substance abuse and violence prevention. School districts would be required to teach age-appropriate health education in grades K-12. Find out more about this bill.

An Act Relative to Public Health
SB 831, HB 1734

On April 18, 2007, the Supreme Court upheld President Bush’s Federal Abortion Ban with no exception for a woman’s health. With increasing federal restrictions to reproductive health services, now is the time to repeal some of the unconstitutional abortion and contraceptive restrictions in Massachusetts. This bill covers three important areas: an unconstitutional, pre-Roe v. Wade abortion ban, an unconstitutional hospitalization requirement, and a contraceptive restriction to married couples. Find out more about this bill.

Recent Victories

An Act Relative to Access to Reproductive Health Centers

Also known as the Buffer Zones Law, the bill was signed into law by Governor Patrick on November 13, 2007.

The new law creates a fixed 35-foot buffer zone of the entrances and driveways of all of the reproductive health facilities in the state. Protestors would be prohibited from entering the buffer zone, thus protecting patients and staff from harassment and intimidation while entering the facility. Find out more about this bill.

An Act to Provide Timely Access to Emergency Contraception
HB 1643, SB 1319

Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts is pleased to announce that this important bill became law on December 14, 2005.  

Emergency contraception (EC) is a contraceptive method intended for use after contraceptive failure, unprotected sex, or sexual assault. EC can prevent pregnancy if taken within 120 hours after sexual intercourse, although it is most effective the sooner it is taken. This bill will require hospital emergency rooms to make emergency contraception (EC) available to rape survivors. In addition, the bill will allow pharmacists to dispense emergency contraception without a doctor's prescription, through a collaborative agreement with a physician. The Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund is a 501(c)4 organization that serves as the political arm of Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts. The Advocacy Fund endorses candidates for elected office at the state level and educates our supporters about the importance of defending reproductive health in the political realm. Advocacy fund staff also provide direct assistance in support of endorsed candidates facing challenging elections.

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