Democratic Governor and House Speaker Fulfill Promise to Protect Access to Reproductive Healthcare for Mainers
For Immediate Release: June 11, 2019
Contact: [email protected]
Following Maine Governor Janet Mills signing LD 1261, which would protect access to reproductive healthcare for Mainers by removing unnecessary barriers to allow qualified and trusted providers to perform abortion care services and was championed by Maine Speaker of the House Sara Gideon, NARAL Pro-Choice America President Ilyse Hogue released the following statement:
“While other states are launching full-blown attacks on reproductive freedom and pushing extreme and unconstitutional bans on abortion, Governor Janet Mills and Speaker of the House Sara Gideon are leading the way to protect access to reproductive healthcare. By passing LD 1261 and signing it into law, Governor Mills and Speaker Gideon sent a strong message that all Mainers deserve access to care from a trusted provider in their community.
“We know that elections have consequences, and NARAL is proud of our work in 2016 and 2018 to elect Governor Mills and make sure that Speaker Gideon had a strong pro-choice majority in the House. Their work in this session illustrates the tangible legislative victories for Mainers that are possible when we have strong, pro-choice leadership at the helm. Heading into 2020, we’re ready to keep fighting for progressive, pro-choice champions like them who will stand up for reproductive freedom and protect the rights of all Mainers to access reproductive healthcare.”
With a new wave of extreme bans on abortion sweeping the country, NARAL was proud to work with a strong coalition of reproductive freedom and justice groups in Maine to pass this crucial legislation. This work followed NARAL’s involvement in the 2016 and 2018 elections to elect a pro-choice majority in the state legislature and send a pro-choice governor to Augusta. NARAL members have continued to build on that work during the 2019 legislative session and are heading into the 2020 election cycle in Maine with strong momentum.
A recently-released poll showed U.S. Senator Susan Collins’ (R-ME) approval rating plummeting 17 points since this time last year following her votes to confirm anti-choice Supreme Court justices like Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch, continuing a downward trend. According to the poll, Senator Collins’ approval rating is now underwater in the state, with more Mainers disapproving of her job performance than approving.