Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains Statement on HB-1130 and amendments to the Annual Long Appropriations Bill by VP of Public Affairs Cathy Alderman:
“Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains is pleased by today’s 5-2 defeat of HB-1130 in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
“PPRM supports existing Colorado laws that already prohibit and
severely punish criminal acts that result in the termination of a
woman’s pregnancy. Unfortunately, HB-1130 did not present a solution to
preventing violence against pregnant women. In fact, if passed, it would
have paved the path for difficult constitutional issues Colorado voters
resoundingly rejected in the 2008 and 2010 elections when Amendments 48
and 62, the so-called “personhood” amendments, were defeated. We are
grateful for the members of the Senate committee who recognized the
dangers of this bill and voted against it.
“HB-1130 was not the only issue affecting women’s health at the state
Capitol today. After lively discussions during debate on the annual long
appropriations bill, two amendments ensuring greater protections for
women’s health were cut short. One amendment, which would have made
men’s sexual health care subject to the same rigid funding prohibition
that women’s health care is subject to, was withdrawn while another
amendment failed which aimed to protect access to birth control.
“It is evident that the war on women has reached the Colorado General
Assembly. Planned Parenthood will continue to stand up and say ‘enough
is enough.’
“Unfortunately, with Senate Memorial 003 on the horizon, we know these
attacks are not yet over. SM003 would allow employers or health insurers
to deny employees health care services to anything they morally or
religious object. This dangerous initiative is a direct attack on access
to women’s health care services.
“PPRM firmly opposes SM003; it not only opens the door to
discriminatory practices but represents a complete invasion of privacy.
We will be educating our activists in the weeks to come about SM003 and
how it is the latest front on the war on women.”
