Did you think the legislature passing our year-long supply of birth control bill meant they were finally done attacking women’s health? Think again. Last week the Virginia General Assembly passed a bill to defund Planned Parenthood (you know, the place where you get affordable birth control). Thankfully, the buck stops with the Governor and he won’t stand for such nonsense.
Planned parenthood defunding denied
This morning, Governor Terry McAuliffe vetoed HB 2264, Delegate Ben Cline’s bill aimed squarely at defunding the vital work Planned Parenthood does for women and families across the commonwealth. Without this veto, women and families, especially those with a low income or no health insurance, would have a more difficult time accessing much-needed health care services, like family planning, contraceptive counseling, STI testing and treatment, and cancer screenings. Delegate Cline’s bill is a blatant attempt to insert Richmond politicians in the doctor-patient relationship. We won this battle, but there is still a bigger war.
In Virginia, legislators choose their voters.
According to the Washington Post, Governor McAuliffe has vetoed more bills than any other Virginia governor since 1998. Because the voting districts in Virginia are rigged by the politicians who draw the lines, it’s hard to hold those elected officials accountable. It’s no surprise then the legislature doesn’t actually represent the will of the people. They continue to pass bills that erode access to women’s health care, prevent our gay friends and neighbors from feeling comfortable being themselves, and cause immigrants in Virginia to live in fear on a daily basis. Conservative lawmakers are out of touch with our values and that is not a Virginia I want to live in.
Virginia conservative lawmakers continue to pass bills to erode access to women’s health care, prevent our gay friends and neighbors from feeling comfortable being themselves, and cause immigrants in Virginia to live in fear on a daily basis.
Governor McAuliffe is the only person who stands between us and the conservative politicians who attempt to control, discriminate against and intimidate hard-working Virginians. The. Only. Person. Governor McAuliffe’s term ends next year making it imperative another progressive takes his place.
North Carolina’s sister bride
A conservative in the Governor’s mansion would mean they control all branches of government. This imbalance of power would create legislation reflecting stale ideas and concepts from a time long past. Bills that threaten to defund Planned Parenthood, erase protections for LGBT individuals or allow guns on school grounds would become law. Virginia would run the risk of becoming like North Carolina–the laughing stock of the Nation. We can’t let that happen.
Protecting our values
Shockingly, most Virginians don’t even know we are in an election year.
We need to change that.
That means having conversations with our friends, coworkers, families, and neighbors. Voting in the primary in June. Coming together around a nominee and canvassing, making phone calls, and getting out the vote. Virginia is the first place we have a chance to stop the conservative and Trump agenda. We won the battle, but there is still a war to win.
Clear eyes. Full hearts. Can’t lose.