The Arizona Republican Congressional Delegation (Debbie Lesko, Andy Biggs, Paul Gosar, and David SchweikertDebbie Lesko, Andy Biggs, Paul Gosar, and David Schweikert,) with their recent unified votes against choice, the freedom for pregnant women to travel, same-sex travel, and public safety, have done it again in demonstrating their desire to turn the clock backward on social and medical progress in voting against House Bill (HB) 8373: The Right to Contraception Act.
191 of their fellow reactionaries in the former Party of Lincoln voted with Arizona’s most decadent.
Aida Ross, a spokesperson with the Arizona Democratic Party issued a statement relaying:
“A recent opinion by a conservative Supreme Court justice made it clear: Now that the Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade, Arizonans’ right to access contraceptives could be next. With their vote today, Arizona Republicans Andy Biggs, Paul Gosar, Debbie Lesko, and David Schweikert showed that they would allow states to threaten access to contraceptives and family planning options for Arizonans. After the vast majority of House Republicans already voted in the past two weeks against legislation to protect the right to an abortion, protect women traveling to another state to seek reproductive health care, and protect same-sex and interracial marriage, it’s clear that Democrats are the only party interested in securing Arizonans’ freedoms.”
Democrats running for a seat in the next House session were quick to comment on the Republican backward vote.
Congressional District Six Candidate Kirsten Engel offered:
“With their “no” vote on a bill that would protect Arizonans’ ability to access contraceptives and contraception, Arizona Republican U.S. House members joined just about all other Republican U.S. House members in voting once again to deny Americans freedom over their own healthcare choices. Andy Biggs, Paul Gosar, Debbie Lesko, and David Schweikert all voted against ensuring that Americans can access contraceptives and that health care providers can continue to provide them. This vote follows their “no” vote against legislation to codify abortion protections into federal law. It is clear that the Republican U.S. House members have little respect for personal autonomy or for the rights of women to make their own healthcare decisions. It is also clear that they do not represent Arizonans, as the majority of citizens in our state support access to abortion services and contraceptives. We need to replace these Republican members with Democrats so the will of the people is reflected in federal policy.”
Congressional District One Candidate Adam Metzendorf posted on social media:
Our @repdavid voted against protecting the right to use contraception. This is no longer about red & blue, what’s at stake is about right & wrong. This doesn’t represent who we are as Americans – stripping away rights to score political points is unacceptable
— Adam Metzendorf (@adammetzendorf) July 22, 2022
Congressional District Five Candidate Javier Ramos commented:
“An attack on contraception is yet another invasion of our freedom, liberty, and privacy. Most obviously, it interferes with a couple’s right to responsibly plan and adequately prepare for the incredible and life-changing experience of starting a family. The strain that this will place on future parents, children, and frankly the economy, is unimaginable. Second, this is one more blatant attack on a woman’s right to choose the course of her own life. In addition to being cruel and backward-thinking, it will also be catastrophic to the workforce and the future of American innovation. And lastly, have we forgotten about STIs? Banning life-saving protection is just another example that either Republicans aren’t thinking this through, or they just don’t care about human life.”
Democratic and Independent leaning voters should take note of the votes the Republicans are casting and consider do they want candidates in positions of power that do not believe in privacy, choice, freedom of movement, public safety, and safe sex.
Election Day is in 107 days.