Progress Illinois

Rep. Jan Schakowsky isn't the only Chicago Democrat taking a stand in favor of reproductive rights. In a statement released this afternoon, Rep. Mike Quigley said he too will vote against a final health care reform bill if it contains the Stupak-Pitts amendment language:

On Saturday, we entered the final stretch of a 100-year march toward extending health care coverage to the millions of Americans who currently live without.  I’m proud that we were able to move historically forward on health care reform, but was very disappointed with the inclusion of the anti-choice language in the bill. As we continue to refine the bill, we must make sure that this progress does not come at the expense of the more than 150 million women in America.

The goal of overhauling the heath care system is equality – to give every American access to comprehensive coverage and make it affordable.  The Stupak amendment disrupts that very equality and does exactly the opposite.  It says only women who can afford insurance deserve access to reproductive health care and marks an unprecedented restriction on people who pay for their own insurance. It directly and unfairly attacks the rights of lower and middle class women.

I will continue to fight to remove this discriminatory language before a final bill reaches the President’s desk and ensure that women do not become sacrificial lambs on the path to health care reform.   I will not vote in favor of a final bill that contains language to restrict a woman’s rights any further than current law.  If choice is out, so am I.

Both Quigley and Schakowsky spoke out against the amendment on the House floor this past Saturday.  Letters signed by them and other opponents of the measure will soon be sent to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and President Obama.