Cheers to AZ Lawmakers Who Stand Up for Women...and Jeers to Those Who Let Us Down!

Hundreds of bills moved through the Arizona Legislature this past spring and into the summer; some of which will drastically impact women’s access to reproductive care. Planned Parenthood Arizona fought diligently for the reproductive rights of all Arizona women and families.

Our elected officials need to hear from us!  TAKE ACTION TODAY by sending a JEER to those Legislators who voted to restrict a woman’s right to access abortion care in Arizona by voting for HB2564, the Omnibus Abortion Bill.  Please feel free to personalize your email to them with YOUR story on how this will impact YOUR life and the lives of your sisters, daughters, and friends.

As well, we must CHEER the Legislators who stood up to protect women’s health in Arizona.  Click here to add your name to our note of thanks to these Legislators.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: You Let Us Down!

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

As an Arizona voter, I am writing to you today to express my disappointment in your YES vote on HB2564, the Omnibus Abortion bill, this legislative session. HB 2564 was a broad, far-reaching bill designed to restrict women's access to reproductive health care, including abortion and birth control.

This bill will do absolutely nothing to prevent one unplanned pregnancy or one sexually transmitted infection. You have succeeded in increasing costs, preventing access and erecting barriers to reproductive health care. If you are really interested in making a difference in the number of unplanned pregnancies and STIs in Arizona, we must provide people with the vital information necessary to prevent unintended pregnancies from occurring in the first place.

I want you to know that I and other pro-choice voters will be watching the votes of all Arizona Legislators in the 2010 session very closely and plan to use this information to inform our votes in the next election.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
August 18, 2009


Background Information

HB2564:

HB2564 mounts multiple ideologically-driven attacks on women’s right to choose safe, legal abortion and even on access to contraception. Under the guise of protecting the health and safety of women seeking abortion care, this bill creates numerous obstacles to women's ability to access the full range of reproductive-health options.

This bill will create an undue burden for women attempting to access care in rural areas by adding additional costs such as child care, travel and lost wages.  For instance, a woman coming from Yuma County to access care would spend over $500 in additional costs as abortion care would no longer be available in that county.  Additional costs include travel (362 miles roundtrip), lodging and meals, child care, lost wages; all costs associated with the lack of providers and the 24 hour waiting period, necessitating an overnight trip or two roundtrip visits.

This bill requires government interference in the doctor/patient relationship and will mandate the health care information women receive.

As a result of these restrictions, women may delay their abortion care, increasing their health risks.

This bill does not solve any problems.  These legislators want to dissuade women from accessing abortion care and they want it to be more expensive and less accessible.  This bill goes too far, is too extreme and puts women at risk with no regard for their health and well-being.