Who we're watching
“In response to a question about outlawing the procedure, Critz said that would have to be taken up in the courts. ‘It is a legal issue,’ he said. But Critz reiterated that he strongly opposes abortion and has supported measures ensuring that ‘the American public is not paying for any abortions with their tax dollars.’” [The Tribune Democrat, 2/15/11]
About Mark Critz (PA)
Congressman Mark Critz first won office in a special election—it’s too bad that he is especially out of touch on women’s health issues.
As he campaigns in the Pennsylvania primary, women need to know that Mark Critz comes in second in a two-way race.
Even though Mark Critz initially voted against a Republican-led House resolution to prevent Planned Parenthood from providing health care, he later flip-flopped and voted against Planned Parenthood.
With this move, Critz’s priority was clear: women’s health is a political bargaining chip.
Critz also co-sponsored the so-called “Protect Life Act,” a bill that would prevent women from purchasing private abortion coverage, even in cases where the woman needs access to safe abortion care to prevent severe, permanent health damage. The bill proposes to further strip women’s health care access by allowing states to enact “refusal laws,” which would allow insurance companies to deny no-cost birth control to women as preventive care, and most dangerously, would allow hospitals to refuse to provide an abortion even to save a woman’s life.
Further, Critz voted in support of proposals that would prohibit comprehensive, medically accurate education—including training health professionals to provide safe abortion care.
But if you ask Critz, decisions about women’s health aren’t his job. Critz abdicates his legislative responsibility on reproductive rights by claiming it’s a “legal issue” for the courts. If it’s an issue for the courts, why is he consistently voting to restrict women’s rights?
After taking a closer look at his record, it doesn’t matter if Critz is vocal or silent on women’s health and rights. Unlike some of our other chumps, Critz hasn’t only turned his back on women by voting for this legislation—he has refused to take responsibility for his voting record.
We need to hold Mark Critz accountable—he needs to know that those votes won’t go unnoticed. Let him know that women are watching.