PRESS RELEASES
NOW - NYS Supports Unintended Preganancy Act
July 19, 2005 |
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NOW- New York State President Marcia Pappas comments, “Women of New York State need Emergency Contraception! The Unintended Pregnancy Act would make Emergency Contraception available over the counter, thereby facilitating easier access for all women. This legislation would guarantee timely access to EC when it is otherwise unavailable, such as evenings and weekends when EC is most likely to be needed, and when medical offices are closed.
The benefits of the Unintended Pregnancy Act are overwhelming! A study conducted by the State Comptroller Alan Hevesi reveals that passage of this act into law will reduce unintended pregnancies by 122,000, reduce abortions by 82,000, and cut health care spending by $452 million dollars annually!”
Ms. Pappas dispelled some rumors about emergency contraception and stated, “What is further, contrary to what the religious right would have you believe, emergency contraception does not cause an abortion. The EC pill is a high dose of birth control and works in the exact same manner. If taken 24 hours after sex, emergency contraception is 75-89% effective at preventing pregnancy. If Governor Pataki vetos this legislation, as he is rumored to do, it seems we must ask, what is next? Are our rights to birth control going to be under siege? Sound ridiculous? Not really, it’s only the next logical step.
Furthermore, Governor Pataki ran as a pro-choice candidate and claims that he cares about women’s health. He claims to care about victims of rape and incest. He claims to be an advocate of family planning and reproductive health care. Then why is he wavering on such incredibly valuable legislation with virtually no drawbacks?”
Ms. Pappas calls for action to pressure Pataki. She states, “We must tell Governor Pataki that we will not allow him, or any other politician, to use our bodies to further their own selfish political goals. Governor Pataki is clearly catering to the right-wing fundamentalist faction of the Republican Party. We will not allow our rights to control our own bodies to become a pawn to be used for a politician’s personal gain.
NOW-New York State demands that Governor Pataki sign the Unintended Pregnancy Act and make emergency contraception more readily available to all women across New York State. To show our unwavering dedication to the passage of this legislation, NOW-New York State along with local chapters we will demonstrate at Pataki’s NYC office on 3 rd Ave. between 40 th and 41 st Streets. Join us as we tell Governor Pataki that we will not sit and watch as our rights go by the wayside! We will settle for no less from Governor Pataki than passage and support of this incredibly valuable legislation.”
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