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For Immediate Release: Friday, June 17th
2005
Contact: Jordan Isenstadt (c) 516.991.3842 (w)
212.490.9535 (f) 212.490.2151
State
Senator Liz Krueger Outraged by Passage of Senate Bill to Eliminate Medicaid
Funding for Abortions
New York, NY
– Earlier this week, the Republican-controlled State
Senate passed a one-house bill to eliminate Medicaid funding for
abortion. State Senator Liz Krueger (D-Manhattan), a longtime champion of
reproductive rights, expressed indignation at this politically motivated
action. “The Senate Republicans showed
their true colors this week by displaying their devotion to the agenda of the
radical right-wing by attempting to deny poor women equal access to
healthcare,” said Krueger. “It is an absolute disgrace that the
Majority moves this legislation, while repeatedly refusing to bring a bill to
the floor that would actually reduce the number of abortions in New York State -- by expanding access to
emergency contraception through pharmacies.
Unfortunately, Senate Republicans have once again placed politics
before the needs of the people of New
York.”
According to Planned Parenthood Federation of America,
Inc., 42 million, or seven in 10 women of reproductive age, are sexually
active and do not want to be pregnant.
Nearly half of America’s
6.3 million annual pregnancies are accidental. The World Health Organization found that
when emergency contraception is used within 24 hours, the chances of becoming
pregnant is reduced by 95%. EC is
already available throughout Europe and in the United States and is considered
to be safer than aspirin. New York State law requires EC to be dispensed
in hospital emergency rooms to rape victims upon request, but it is not
available by request at pharmacies.
Emergency contraception has been available for 25 years. Its effectiveness is enhanced the sooner it
is administered, preferably within 72 hours of unprotected sex.
Giving women in New York
State easier access to EC pills
would result in an estimated 122,000 fewer unintended pregnancies and 82,000
fewer abortions every year and as a result cut health care spending in New York State by $452 million annually,
according to a 2003 study by State Comptroller Alan Hevesi.
“One day the leadership of New York State
will look back and wonder why it took so long for emergency contraception to
become accessible and commonplace,” stated Krueger. “Until that time,
I will continue to fight for women’s health initiatives, including access to
emergency contraception.”
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