Across the nation, politicians in other states have employed strategies to restrict affordable reproductive healthcare access.  Women face increasing danger as multiple states enact bans and stringent restrictions.  Abortion is currently legal and safe in Maryland. We have the opportunity to support the brave health care providers offering crucial care, ensuring that they can continue without fear of legal repercussions or threats to their professional licenses. This includes physicians, clinicians, and pharmacists.

Montgomery County NOW is steadfast in our support for reproductive justice.  Although we watch attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA), enact TRAP laws, abortion bans, and rollbacks in access to birth control in other states, Marylanders must ensure this never happens in our state.

Maryland’s Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment is up for a vote this year.  In November, your ballot will include Question #1.  This measure adds a new section to the state constitution that guarantees a right to reproductive freedom. This right is defined as “the ability to make and effectuate decisions to prevent, continue, or end one’s own pregnancy:”

Question 1- Constitutional Amendment
(Ch. 245 of the 2023 Legislative Session)

Declaration of Rights - Right To Reproductive Freedom

The proposed amendment confirms an individual's fundamental right to reproductive freedom, including but not limited to the ability to make and effectuate decisions to prevent, continue, or end the individual's pregnancy, and provides the State may not, directly or indirectly, deny, burden, or abridge the right unless justified by a compelling State interest achieved by the least restrictive means.

(Adding Article 48 to the Maryland Declaration of Rights)

You will be asked whether you want to vote -
For the Constitutional Amendment OR Against the Constitutional Amendment

 This amendment is important.  Do not let anyone tell you it is not necessary in Maryland. We have had state leaders in the past who:  

• refused to fund abortion providers and vetoed measures to expand abortion access.

• refused to support judges who will uphold abortion rights.

• refused to commit to opposing judges who would further threaten Marylanders’ reproductive rights.

• refused to oppose a 15-week abortion ban

• refused to say they would support federal legislation “guaranteeing the right to abortion” in a March 2024

• refused to explain why they vetoed legislation to expand abortion access in Maryland during a February 2024 interview

• opposed Maryland’s 2024 ballot measure protecting abortion access for women, saying it “wasn’t really necessary” and that abortion is “an emotional issue for women” during a February 2024 interview with CNN.

Get the Facts on Republican
Larry Hogan’s Real Anti-Abortion Rights Record

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Larry Hogan is calling himself pro-choice, but his record of opposing abortion rights in Maryland speaks for itself.

As Governor, Hogan refused to fund abortion providers. He vetoed measures to expand abortion access. In the Senate, he will caucus with Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans. He will give them the majority they need to pass an abortion ban. He will not support judges who will uphold abortion rights.

From Maryland Democratic Party Spokesperson Lindsay Reilly: “Mitch McConnell recruited Republican Larry Hogan to give them a Senate majority, which will pass a national abortion ban. Hogan’s record has been clear and consistent — he opposes reproductive freedoms. That’s why he vetoed legislation to protect abortion access in Maryland. Larry isn’t fooling anyone with his desperate attempt to cover up the threat he poses to a woman’s right to privacy and to make her own health care decisions.”

Facts on Hogan’s Anti-Choice Record:

• Hogan refused to fund abortion providers. Axios: Maryland governor says he won’t release money for abortion training. “Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) said he will withhold $3.5 million in state funds budgeted to train new abortion providers in the state.”

• Hogan vetoed measures to expand abortion access. CBS News: Maryland’s GOP Governor Larry Hogan vetoes bill to expand abortion access. “Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan vetoed a measure Friday that would expand access to abortion in the state by ending a restriction that only physicians can provide them and requiring most insurance plans to cover abortion care without cost.”

• Hogan refuses to support judges who will uphold abortion rights. New York Times: After winning Maryland’s Republican Party nomination, Hogan refuses to commit to opposing judges who would further threaten Marylanders’ reproductive rights. “On Thursday, Mr. Hogan said that he would not… use a judge’s prior rulings or views on abortion as a ‘litmus test’ when deciding whether to confirm nominees.”

• VIDEO: The day before the Maryland primary, Hogan once again refused to say he would support federal legislation codifying Roe v. Wade.

• AUDIO: Less than one week before the Maryland primary, Hogan refused to oppose a 15 week abortion ban during an interview with WTOP News.

• VIDEO: Hogan refused to say he would support federal legislation “guaranteeing the right to abortion” in a March 2024 interview with WJLA.

• VIDEO: Hogan refused to explain why he vetoed legislation to expand abortion access in Maryland during a February 2024 interview with WBFF Fox 5 Baltimore.

• VIDEO: Hogan opposed Maryland’s 2024 ballot measure protecting abortion access for women, saying it “wasn’t really necessary” and that abortion is “an emotional issue for women” during a February 2024 interview with CNN.

Source: https://mddems.org/news/get-the-facts-on-republican-larry-hogans-real-anti-abortion-rights-record/

May 21, 2024