Hoekstra Also Supports Akin’s Extreme Position on Banning Many Common Forms of Birth Control
LANSING – Today Michigan Democratic Party Chair Mark Brewer denounced Peter Hoekstra for holding the same beliefs on women’s health issues as Congressman Todd Akin, including opposing abortion even in the case of rape or incest. Hoekstra’s fellow GOP Senate candidate Todd Akin’s recent comments on “legitimate rape” have sparked a national firestorm, but even more disturbing are the actual policies that men like Akin and Hoekstra would force on women if elected to the Senate. When it comes to women’s health issues, the policies Pete Hoekstra has supported are identical to Akin’s.
“Pete Hoekstra agrees with Todd Akin on women’s issues, including the belief that abortion should be outlawed even in cases of rape and incest,” said Michigan Democratic Party Chair Mark Brewer. “What’s more, Congressman Hoekstra even supports legislation that would make it illegal to use many common forms of birth control. This isn’t about whether Hoekstra will denounce Akin’s words, but whether he will denounce the anti-woman policies that he and Akin share. Women have a right to expect that the people they elect will stand up for them, not take extreme positions that put their health at risk.”
A video highlighting Hoekstra’s sponsorship of personhood legislation is available here:
HOEKSTRA’S RECORD
Over the course of his 18 years in Congress:
- Hoekstra co-sponsored seven so-called ‘personhood’ bills that would make abortions illegal, even in cases of rape or incest. [HR 881, co-sponsored on 2/04/09; HR 618, co-sponsored on 1/22/07; HR 552, co- sponsored on 2/02/05; HR 3069, co-sponsored on 5/05/04; HR 639, co-sponsored on 2/09/99; HR 641, co-sponsored on 2/06/97; HR 1625, co-sponsored on 1/03/96]
- Hoekstra’s legislation would also make it illegal for women to use many common forms of birth control. [Washington Post, 10/28/11] Personhood laws are so extreme that even conservative voters in Mississippi rejected the proposal 58 percent to 42 percent when personhood was on the ballot there last year.
- Hoekstra told the Grand Rapids Press that he opposed abortions in cases of rape or incest. [Grand Rapids Press, 10/26/2000]
- Hoekstra has voted in favor of outlawing abortions for female members of the Armed Services in overseas U.S. military medical facilities. [HR 2126, Vote #642, 9/07/95; Omaha World Herald, 9/10/95] He even voted against an amendment that would have allowed women in the military who were victims of rape or incest to at least have access to an abortion if they paid for the procedure themselves. [HR 2126, Vote #641, 9/07/95]
- Hoekstra also supports legislation that would deny women essential health care services like mammograms, maternity care and birth control by allowing any employer to deny health care coverage to employees for any medical service for any reason. [Lapeer Tea Party, 5/01/12; Washington Post, 3/01/12]
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