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It's Not Just Mourdock and Akin: Here in Florida, Ellyn Bogdanoff is Out of Touch With Women

TALLAHASSEE, FL — It’s not just national Republicans like Richard Mourdock and Todd Akin who are out touch with women — here in Florida, State Senator Ellyn Bogdanoff  has repeated voted against the interests of women and families and shown she supports an extreme Republican agenda that is out touch with Florida’s values. Bogdanoff voted to place onerous restrictions on women’s access to lifesaving healthcare — even in cases of incest or rape — and even voted to require women to view ultra-sounds before receiving an abortion four years in a row. And when she’s not voting for extreme legislation, she’s voted to cut funding for vital healthcare programs that women rely on while voting to eliminate Medicaid coverage for low income, pregnant women.  

“Across the country, Republicans are showing us that they are out of touch with the values that are important to women, and here in Florida Ellyn Bogdanoff is no exception, said Brannon Jordan, Spokeswoman for the Florida Democratic Party. “Bogdanoff has pushed an extreme Republican agenda that limits access to lifesaving healthcare for women, and even supported slashing programs like Medicaid that provide assistance for low income pregnant women. The residents of Palm Beach deserve a leader who is focused on growing our economy and helping businesses create jobs — not supporting these radical attacks on women’s healthcare which are increasing the cost of healthcare for Florida’s middle class families and hurting our sisters, daughters and mothers.”  

BACKGROUND:

Bogdanoff Voted for Budgets Which Made Severe Cuts to Healthcare Programs Women Rely on. In March of 2010, Bogdanoff voted for the $70.4 billion budget for 2010-2011, which “slashes Medicaid reimbursement for larger hospitals by 7 percent and lowers spending on mental-health treatment and substance-abuse programs by more than $10 million. Funding for Healthy Start, which provides prenatal care to indigent women, and Healthy Families, which prevents child abuse, was cut by $12.6 million combined.” The budget was passed by a vote of 77-43.  [HB 5001, 3/23/10; Tallahassee Democrat, 5/01/10]

Bogdanoff Voted to Eliminate Optional Medicaid Coverage for Low-Income Pregnant Women, Which Dem. Rep. Geraldine Thompson Called The “Most Sexist Cut in the Budget.” In April 2010, Bogdanoff voted in favor of a House budget which eliminated “optional Medicaid coverage for low-income pregnant women.” Democratic Rep. Geraldine Thompson called it “the most sexist cut” in the bill.  [HB 5001, Vote Seq. 1122, 4/30/10; Tampa Tribune, 4/02/10]

In 2011, Bogdanoff voted to restrict access to lifesaving healthcare for women and require women seeking an abortion to undergo an ultrasound first. On May 5, 2011 Bogdanoff voted to pass HB 1127, which would require women to undergo an ultrasound before receiving an abortion. [Palm Beach Post, 05/06/11; HB 1127, 2011]  

…And in 2010. On April 30, 2010 Bogdanoff voted for House Bill 1143, which required “women seeking an abortion to pay for an ultrasound and hear a doctor give a description of the fetus. “[St. Petersburg Times, 5/01/10; HB 1143, 2010]  

 … And in 2008. In April 2008, Bogdanoff voted for the Florida Unborn Victims of Violence Act, a bill to “require pregnant women to undergo ultrasound exams before getting an abortion … All women seeking to terminate their pregnancy would be required to pay for an ultrasound procedure – and view the results unless they signed a waiver – before having the abortion. The bill defined a “person” as any fertilized egg or beyond in a “fetal homicide” bill as a separate murder charge for anyone who caused a pregnancy to be terminated through an act of violence against a pregnant woman. The bill’s language would have changed the definition of a “viable” fetus and was criticized by abortion-rights advocates as opening an argument to set the same standards for abortions. The Orlando Sentinel reported, “‘It elevates a fetus and an egg, frankly, to the status of an adult person,’ said Adrienne Kimmell, executive director of Florida’s Planned Parenthood affiliates. ‘The purpose of this bill is to create tension with Roe v. Wade. It’s a chipping-away strategy we’ve seen for years now.’”  [HB 513, Vote Seq. 387, 4/02/08; Orlando Sentinel, 4/03/08]

…And in 2007. In 2007, Bogdanoff voted for a bill that required physicians to perform an ultrasound on any woman seeking to have an abortion with no exceptions for incest and rape and to wait 24 hours before receiving the procedure [HB 1497, 2007

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