AUGUSTA – Senate President Troy Jackson, D-Allagash, earned a perfect score from Planned Parenthood Maine for his voting record to improve access to quality affordable health care and safeguard Mainers’ reproductive rights. Pres. Jackson is one of 22 senators to earn a perfect score for their 2021 voting record from Planned Parenthood Maine.
“It’s simple – access to health care is about the freedom of Mainers to live healthy and fulfilling lives. This includes reproductive health care. In the wake of national efforts to undermine access to care and erode reproductive rights, I want to be clear – the Maine Senate Democrats are not interested in going backward,” said President Jackson. “Our constituents – Maine people – sent us to Augusta to improve access to health care, lower health care costs and ensure they can exercise their reproductive rights. And that is exactly what we will continue to do – uphold, protect, and advance Mainers’ basic human rights.”
This year, President Jackson supported efforts to lower prescription drug costs, improve access to prenatal health care for expectant mothers and children, and require health insurance plans to cover midwife services. He also voted against a measure that would have allowed “junk insurance” plans to be sold in the state, efforts to undermine access to reproductive health care and a proposal considered by health care professionals to be medically dangerous and, in some cases, life-threatening.
Despiting overwhelming public support for abortion access across the country, states enacted more than 100 abortion restrictions in a single year, including the draconian Texas abortion ban. Although Maine Legislature debated similar proposals, state lawmakers stood together to reject harmful proposals and protect Mainers’ access to abortion and reproductive health care.
Planned Parenthood provides reproductive and other health care services, including abortion care, immunizations and cancer screenings. The organization’s advocacy arm scored Maine legislators on six bills that sought to undermine access to abortion in the state.
###