Below are the mean ratings from an abortion rights group for the year 2007-2008. The number of women in Congress at any given time is small, so the inclusion of two very moderate Republicans such as Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins in the class of Republican women has a large effect, but the contrast with the public still seems noteworthy. Both Republican and Democratic women support abortion rights more forcefully.
| National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association Rating | |
| All of Congress | 56.2 |
| Female | 80.4 |
| Male | 51.8 |
| Republican | 7.4 |
| Democratic | 91.2 |
| Republican & Female | 31.6 |
| Republican & Male | 4.7 |
| Democratic & Female | 99 |
| Democratic & Male | 89.3 |
The data is here.
I’m not surprised. Since women are the only ones who can get abortions, it only makes sense for them to be more concerned about that issue.
Since women are the only ones who can get abortions, it only makes sense for them to be more concerned about that issue.
why would women in congress care so much more than women in general? do women in congress get more abortions you think?
Here’s a copy of a letter I sent to both of my Senators yesterday afternoon. Keep in mind that both Senators of my state are liberal-left women:
Dear Senator …..,
I understand that the health care reform bill that was passed this weekend essentially incorporates the Hyde Amendment in a manner that could seriously reduce abortion rights for millions of young American women. The Hyde Amendment, as passed in the late 70’s, forbade the financing of abortion through federal programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. This has not had much affect because a relatively small number of young women have relied upon Medicaid for their health care and that Planned Parenthood has had the financial resources to cover the cost of abortion for these women. Also, most states have mandated that employer-provided insurance cover the cost of abortion.
I believe this bill in its current form will have a dramatic effect on availability of abortion for millions of young women. Many young people, especially women, will opt for coverage under the public option because they will not be able to afford private insurance. Many of these young women have incomes that are already too low to be able to afford to pay for abortion and other health services with out of pocket cash. Because the number of such young women on the public option plan is likely to be far greater than those currently on Medicaid, it is most certain that Planned Parenthood will not have anywhere near the financial resources to cover the cost of abortion for the women who need this option. I believe this represents a significant step backward in pro-choice rights for women.
I applaud your efforts to reform the health care system as it currently exists. However, being raised in a family whose mother, aunts, and grandmothers were on the forefront of the battle to bring the same rights and freedom to women as men have always enjoyed (my mother was the first female lawyer to practice in Spokane, WA, in the 1950’s!), I have to wonder what was going through the mind of Representative Pelosi when she made this Faustian bargain in order to get the health care reform bill through the House this weekend. I believe if this bill passes in its current form, it will significantly reduce the pro-choice option for millions of American young women and is an unacceptable price to pay for health care reform.
Sincerely,