Sen. Bailey earns perfect score for voting record on reproductive rights

AUGUSTA – Sen. Donna Bailey, D-Saco, earned a perfect score from Planned Parenthood Maine for her votes to protect reproductive rights and improve access to health care. Sen. Bailey is one of 21 senators to earn a perfect score for their 2021-2022 voting record.

“I’m proud to fight alongside my colleagues in defense of the right to reproductive health care,” said Sen. Bailey. “As we face down a seemingly imminent repeal of Roe v. Wade, it will come down to the states to protect this fundamental right. In Augusta, we’re taking the necessary steps to ensure everyone can make the health care decisions that are right for them, and we won’t let anyone take that ability away.”

Planned Parenthood scored Maine legislators on their votes on nine bills, including six anti-abortion bills. This year, the Legislature passed a new law that requires state-regulated health insurance plans to cover contraceptives that best meet a patient’s health needs as determined by the patient and their trusted health care professional. Lawmakers also took action to better protect patients’ safety when accessing care. 

In recent months, there have been an unprecedented number of attacks on abortion access around the country, including several states that have enacted near-total bans on abortion without exception for rape or incest. With the Supreme Court expected to repeal Roe v. Wade, as indicated in the leaked draft opinion last month, the responsibility to protect abortion access will fall to state legislatures. In Maine, Democratic lawmakers have blocked the passage of extreme anti-abortion laws, similar to laws that have already been adopted in other states. Every Democrat in the Maine Senate received a 100 percent score from Planned Parenthood.

Planned Parenthood provides reproductive and other health care services, including abortion care, immunizations and cancer screenings.

The complete Maine Senate legislative scorecard can be found here.

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