Women's issues are economic issues

October 9, 2012

Politico reports, "Republican George Allen is well aware he needs to close the gender gap with women in order to win the Virginia Senate race. The severity of that challenge was on full display Monday night in his fourth debate with Democrat Tim Kaine. When asked about proposals in the GOP-led General Assembly's this year to require an ultrasound before women could get an abortion and to codify that life begins at conception -- so-called 'personhood' legislation -- Allen punted and pivoted."

Progressive Point: Women's issues are economic issues. George Allen's failure to support equal pay for equal work and his opposition to universal contraception coverage shows he just doesn't get it.

Thanks to Obamacare, when a woman or her child gets sick, she won't have to panic about how to pay the bill. But George Allen wants to repeal these common sense protections and even supports a federal personhood amendment that would criminalize some forms of birth control. Tim Kaine was right when he said, "You can't empower women in the economy if you take away their choices."

Get the Facts: Via the DSCC:

• Allen Maintained Silence On Lilly Ledbetter Act. Reported the Richmond Times-Dispatch in April 2012, "Democrats leapt at the soft endorsement, asking where Allen stood on the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, a law that helps women hold accountable employers who discriminate in the pay practices based on gender. . . . 'Allen should explain why he finds it easier to endorse Mitt Romney than he does standing up for the basic concept that women should receive equal pay for equal work,' said Del. Jennifer L. McClellan, D-Richmond." [Richmond Times-Dispatch, 4/17/12 ]


• Three Times, Allen Voted Against The Family And Medical Leave Act. As a Congressman, Allen voted three times against the Family and Medical Leave Act, which gives workers up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to care for a newborn or sick relative." [AP, 11/2/2000; HR 2, Vote 393, 11/13/1991 ; S5, Vote 390, 9/10/1992 ; S5, Vote 443, 9/30/1992 ]


• Allen: "[I] Support Legislation Declaring The Personhood Of Every Individual Life."[Allen website, "Virginia Values for Washington," accessed 7/1/11 ]


• After Personhood Legislation Passed VA House, Allen Campaign Said He Supported It. In February 2012, after personhood legislation passed in the Virginia House of Delegates, theTimes-Dispatch reported: " 'Does George Allen support the 'personhood' measure in the Virginia House of Delegates that is sponsored by his challenger, Delegate Bob Marshall?' Kaine's campaign asked in a press release. Later in the afternoon, Allen's campaign offered a simple answer: Yes. 'This measure is about protecting innocent unborn life. If a criminal hits a pregnant mother injuring or killing the unborn child, then there would be a cause of action for that child as well,' elaborated Allen spokeswoman Katie Wright. 'Democrats are desperately trying to make this a battle over contraceptives. As George Allen has often said he is opposed to the government prohibiting or banning contraceptives - and this bill doesn't do that,' she added." [Virginia Politics blog, Times-Dispatch, 2/14/12 ]


• Allen Supported The Blunt Amendment. In February 2012, after the Blunt amendment failed to pass in the Senate, George Allen announced his support for the amendment. Allen's spokesperson said, "While George Allen does not support banning contraceptives, Americans in this instance should not be forced to choose between following a government mandate or adhering to their own deeply held religious beliefs. The fact that we are even having this discussion shows the serious problems Obamacare imposes on Virginia families and small businesses, and it's another reason Tim Kaine should listen to the people of Virginia who want to see it repealed and replaced." The Washington Post described that the amendment, "would have rolled back the Obama administration's health coverage rule by allowing insurance companies and employers to opt out of covering prescriptions, such as contraceptions, or procedures they object to on religious or moral grounds." [Virginia Politics, Washington Post, 3/1/12 ]

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