Women's Health and Reproductive Rights

I believe strongly that the Governments of this nation have no right to interfere in the relationship between a woman and her health care provider.

 

The decisions that a woman makes about her health are personal and belong to her own conscience, in some cases, her own religious convictions,  and in all cases, her own determination of what is best for her. 

 

Being one of 12 kids, it's obvious that my parents were not believers in family planning! As my mom would say: "there's nothing wrong with having a baby!" But, also as part of a large family, where I draw the line is at telling other people how to live their lives or what to believe. In our family, like Tim Walz says, we "mind our own business". And I think that we should do this in our country as well.   

 

The overturning of Roe v. Wade by the US Supreme Court opened the doors for extremists to hijack the legislatures in many states against the wishes of the vast majority of the American people.  Women have died and will die in the future for lack of proper medical care as a result of these extreme and brutal laws. ​ 

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The defunding of Planned Parenthood deprives millions of women of their lifeline for medical care, cancer screenings, birth control, prenatal care and postpartum support for women without health insurance or with inadequate coverage. 

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This country, the richest and most blessed in the world, has third-world levels of maternal and infant mortality rates. This is a national disgrace. If Republicans were really interested in "right to life", they would be much more interested in the health and safety of babies and mothers. 

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The way to protect the unborn is to protect women, make sure that they have access to proper nutrition and medical care, good paying jobs, child care and social supports. The very future of our country depends on the health of our mothers and children. 

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We must protect women and their right to decide what is best for them, as well as their access to necessary health care, if necessary by federal legislation.  

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