Jon Tester’s Statement on 33rd Anniversary of Roe vs. Wade
On this 33rd anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, I want to reaffirm my commitment to a woman’s right to choose and access to reproductive health care.
I’m proud of my record of standing up on the issues that matter most to women and their families.
Montanans value freedom and choice. And I have and I will continue to support common-sense policies that protect and improve women’s health and that allow them to gain access to the health coverage they need without interference from politicians and the government.
It really is time that anti-choice activists, and their friends in government, understand – this is an issue that’s too important to leave to the politicians.
It’s simple:
Do we trust women, in union with their families, their doctors, and their consciences, to make these decisions?
Or do we trust the government looking over our shoulders and into doctors’ offices?
Do really we want to reduce the number of abortions through a commitment to education, prevention, and giving women good choices instead of bad ones?
Or do we want to keep doing what too many in Washington are doing now – cutting access for women’s health care and family planning, making birth control more difficult to get, and then blaming someone else when women see no other option?
As our Supreme Court fills up further with the wrong kind of judges making the wrong kind of choices for American women, it looks like we’ve got more rallies, and a lot more work to do in the future.
But I can promise you this. I will stand with you. And we will win.
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BACKGROUND
Senate President Jon Tester Asks for Clarification on Gender Insurance Issue
November 2, 2005
Contraception Coverage may be Required Under State Law
Montana Senate President Jon Tester has requested an advisory opinion from the state Attorney General to determine if Montana law requires insurance providers that cover prescription drugs to include contraception in their coverage.
“This is about fairness and basic health for Montana families,� Tester said. “Montanans value freedom and choice and consistently support common-sense policies that protect and improve women’s health. By guaranteeing coverage for contraception just like other prescription drugs, the state will help families prevent unintended pregnancies and abortion.�
Tester said federal and state laws have been interpreted to require that employers provide contraceptive coverage. Clarity in Montana’s law, Tester said, would benefit workers, employers, and insurance companies.
“I think offering coverage is the right and fair thing to do,� Tester added. “We’re talking about giving women and families access to health coverage they need and the ability to make decisions on their own.�
Tester was one of 31 Senators to vote on second reading during the 2005 Legislature to pass the measure (Senate Bill 203) that would have made a contraception requirement explicit in Montana law. The bill passed the full Senate but later died in the House.
Posted on Tuesday, January 24th, 2006 at 5:07 pm.
