Blackwell Reveals Hypocrisy on Prevention Issue
Gubernatorial candidate dodges question on prevention issue;
Not only does he want to outlaw abortion but he opposes birth control, too Columbus, OH - NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio, the state’s leading advocate for personal privacy and a woman’s right to choose, said Ken Blackwell’s refusal to state a clear position on whether or not he supports increased access to birth control to prevent unintended pregnancies and reduce the need for abortion will give voters yet another reason to vote against a candidate who is so far out of the mainstream. In response to a question during the gubernatorial debate broadcast tonight on the Ohio News Network, Blackwell refused to state whether he supports increasing access to contraceptives. Instead, Blackwell said that the issue of birth control is “settled.” This clearly demonstrates that Blackwell is out of touch with the everyday realities of Ohio women and doesn’t know or care that Ohio insurance companies are allowed to discriminate against women by refusing to cover contraceptives, that women are too often turned away from Ohio pharmacies who have refused to fill their legal prescriptions for birth control, or that over 25% of Ohio hospitals refuse to give rape victims emergency contraception which can prevent pregnancy when taken up to 72 hours after unprotected sex. Ken Blackwell needs to understand that Ohioans don’t consider birth control to be a radical concept; rather they recognize that it is basic health care. “Blackwell’s refusal to answer a fair, direct question on prevention only reinforces for voters that he’s a weak leader who won’t take any position that risks upsetting his far-right base. Despite Blackwell’s remark that the issue of birth control is ‘settled,’ the issue of birth control will not be settled in Ohio until insurance companies are required to cover birth control, until all Ohio hospitals provide rape victims with emergency contraception and until Ohio women are guaranteed that their local pharmacies will fill their prescriptions for birth control without judgment or delay.” Copeland said. “Blackwell backs the proposed Ohio Abortion Ban, which would outlaw all abortions without exception—not even to save the life of the woman or in cases of rape or incest. The same groups behind this radical ban also oppose birth control, so voters are left to believe that Blackwell wants to restrict access to birth control. That’s the only conclusion they can reach, as long as Blackwell continues to dodge this question. Thankfully, voters in Ohio have the option of voting for Ted Strickland, who opposes the abortion ban and supports the Ohio Prevention First Act, a prevention-focused approach to preventing unintended pregnancies and reducing the need for abortion.” The Ohio Prevention First Act (HB 588 and SB 328), includes teen-pregnancy prevention, comprehensive sex-education, increased funding for family planning programs, an emergency contraception education program and requirements pharmacies to fill prescriptions for birth control and requires insurance companies to provide equal coverage for prescription contraceptives. ###
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