Pro-Choice Americans Watch Key Votes from Senators in Minnesota, New Hampshire and Oregon

Washington, DC – In a closely divided Senate, every vote counts – and this week all eyes are on a handful of senators whose votes could decide the fate of a budget bill that boosts the national investment in health programs like family planning.  Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, said pro-choice Americans nationwide are calling on their senators to support this budget resolution.

This budget measure includes a significant increase for overall health spending, which if enacted could translate into a boost for long-starved programs like family planning.  For six years, anti-choice politicians in Congress, in conjunction with President Bush, refused to support efforts, like family planning, that would prevent unintended pregnancies.

"Under new leadership, Congress is finally starting to reflect America's values and priorities. This year's budget resolution is a big change from past  ones ," Keenan said. "I urge lawmakers  on both sides of the aisle to give these programs the full funding they need. Senators like Norm Coleman, John Sununu, and Gordon Smith should know that their constituents are watching. For years, these senators voted for divisive attacks on safe, legal abortion while they also opposed increases in family planning. It's time for this hypocrisy to end.   This week, will these senators make investments in health-care programs like family planning a priority?"

Sens. Coleman, Sununu, and Smith represent states where pro-choice forces made gains in the 2006 midterm elections. In November, Oregonians rejected an anti-choice ballot measure and restored pro-choice control to their state House. NARAL Pro-Choice America contacted 13,700 member activists about Sen. Smith's pivotal role in this vote. NARAL Pro-Choice America also is urging 22,700 and 3,780 activists, respectively, in Minnesota and New Hampshire to contact Sens. Coleman and Sununu. Pro-choice groups made similar gains in those states.

"The recent elections showed that the public is tired of divisive political attacks on critical health-care programs like family planning," Keenan said. "Senators like Norm Coleman, John Sununu, and Gordon Smith must decide whether they'll stick with the divisiveness of the past or support a budget that emphasizes commonsense policies that improve health care and family planning."

Contact:
Ted Miller, 202.973.3032