Senator Kelly Ayotte’s record on women’s health ignores the hard working families of New Hampshire. Siting heavily edited and misleading video footage, Ayotte voted once more last night to defund Planned Parenthood and the care it provides women in the Granite State. Ayotte’s record on women’s health is down right embarrassing.
But this is hardly the first time Ayotte voted against Planned Parenthood and commonsense women’s health programs.
Instead of voting for New Hampshire women and families, Ayotte has stood by Hobby Lobby and sponsored legislation to allow employers to refuse employee contraception coverage and other preventive care. Last night is another example of Ayotte’s shameful past on on women’s health.
Background:
Planned Parenthood
2011: Ayotte Twice Voted To Eliminate Federal Funding For Planned Parenthood. In April 2011, Ayotte voted for prohibiting any funds appropriated in the recently-passed bill funding the government through the end of fiscal year 2011 from being made available to Planned Parenthood or any of its affiliates. The vote was on a continuing resolution that, according to the Congressional Research Service, “[d]irect[ed] the Clerk of the House of Representatives to make a correction in the enrollment of H.R. 1473 (Department of Defense and Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011) to prohibit any funds under such Act from being made available to Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. or any affiliate of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc.” That change would have been made prior to sending H.R. 1473 – which had already passed both the House and Senate – to the president. The Senate rejected the concurrent resolution by vote of 42 to 58. In March 2011, Ayotte voted for prohibiting any funds in the remainder of FY2011 from being used to fund Planned Parenthood. The provision was part of a continuing resolution to fund the federal government until the end of FY 2011 that, according to Congressional Quarterly, “would prohibit any funds in the bill from being made available to Planned Parenthood Federation of America Inc. or its affiliates.” The bill was rejected by the Senate by a vote of 44 to 56. The bill number was later used as the vehicle for another piece of legislation. [Senate Vote 60, 4/14/11; CRS Summary, H Con Res 36, 4/14/11; Senate Vote 36, 3/9/11; Congressional Actions, H.R. 1; Congressional Quarterly, 3/1/11]
Blunt Amendment
2012: Ayotte Was An Original Co-Sponsor Of The Blunt Amendment In The 112th Congress. [Congressional Record, 2/9/12]
2012: Ayotte Effectively Voted For The Blunt Amendment, Which Would Have Allowed Employers And Insurance Companies To Avoid ACA Requirements They Found Morally Objectionable. In March 2012, Ayotte effectively voted for the Blunt Amendment that, according to CNN Wire, “would establish that an entity refusing coverage on religious or moral grounds is not in violation of the law.” The vote was on a motion to table the amendment, with 48 senators voting against the motion – keeping the amendment alive – and 51 senators voting for the motion. [Senate Vote 24, 3/1/12; CNN Wire, 3/1/12]
Published: Aug 4, 2015 | Last Modified: Jan 18, 2024