Planned Parenthood Votes! Washington

Washington State Legislature Prevents 19 Family Planning Clinic Closures Statewide, Keeps the Safety Net Intact. Read more here.

The Washington State Senate and House introduced companion bills that would protect women’s health by improving accuracy, transparency and privacy at limited service pregnancy centers. Read more here.

Planned Parenthood Votes! Washington Launches Voter Education Ad on Abortion Restrictions

Planned Parenthood Votes! Washington has launched a voter education ad called "Insurance" to educate voters about health care reform abortion restrictions in the House and Senate health insurance reform bills. To view the ad, click here. To learn more, click here.

The Governor’s budget, released December 9th, does nothing to address a family planning funding crisis which will result in more clinic closures and unintended pregnancies. Planned Parenthood applauds the Governor for recognizing the budget she was required to put forward yesterday as "balanced but unjust." Read more here.

2009 was a banner election year for reproductive health and rights in Washington.

Planned Parenthood and Reproductive Rights Supporters Claim Election Victories for Equality and Health Care Access. Read more here.

Susan Hutchison has directed nearly $600,000 in recent years to anti-choice groups

Hutchison’s anti-choice activism includes funding so-called "crisis pregnancy centers" - now we know why she won’t answer the question about where she stands on choice. Read more here.

Federal Appeals Court Rules in Favor of Patients’ Right to Medication in WA Board of Pharmacy Case

The case involves a challenge brought by two pharmacists and a pharmacy to Washington State Board of Pharmacy rules requiring all licensed pharmacies to fill patients’ prescriptions, regardless of an individual pharmacist’s personal beliefs about a particular medication. Read more about the ruling here.

Legislature takes strong policy steps but punts to 2010 on family planning funding.

Although the final budget contains a 70% cut to family planning in 2010 which could leave 14,000 Washingtonians without access to life saving family planning services, and cost taxpayers $16 million in unintended pregnancy costs - without the 25,000 contacts made to legislators by Planned Parenthood supporters and constituents like you - the cuts could have been much worse. In fact because of your support legislators actually included language in the budget that says if federal funds for family planning don’t increase they commit to making sure family planning receives no more than a 10% cut.

You’ve been with us every step of the way this session and your support made a huge difference! This session garnered major policy victories and, with your help, we were able to ensure that tens of thousands of Washingtonians will retain access to vital family planning services.

Here are some highlights:

SB 5629- Originally known as the Proven Programs Act, this bill ensures that state apply for funding for sexual education programs that are medically accurate and proven effective. Also, this bill eliminates the requirement that the state apply for discredited federal abstinence-only-until-marriage program funds.

SB 5945- This health partnership bill sets a goal for Washington to work with the federal government on health care reform to cover all Washingtonians by 2014. SB 5945 also tells the Department of Social and Health Service (DSHS) to apply to the federal government for increased eligibility for full-scope Medicaid and the Take Charge Medicaid family planning program.

E2SSB 5688- This bill provides couples who register as domestic partners with all the state rights and responsibilities that come with legal marriage.

To read more about the outcome of the 2009 Legislative Session, click here.

The November 2008 election was a huge step forward for our nation and our state. One resounding message is clear: Women’s Health Matters.

Not only do we now have in the White House a pro-choice pro-family planning, pro-women’s health President in President Barack Obama, but we know that he will have a valuable partner in his efforts to change this country because you re-elected Governor Christine Gregoire.

The Planned Parenthood Votes! Washington team and our amazing volunteers worked tirelessly to make sure Governor Gregoire could protect the health and safety of women in Washington State for another four years.

In the end, after...

125,000 phone calls

25,000 conversations with voters at the door and over the phone

100,000 pieces of mail to women across the state in targeted districts

2500 volunteer hours logged by fantastic supporters just like you

Our message was heard loud and clear.

Exit polls showed that women favored Governor Christine Gregoire over Dino Rossi by 13 percentage points. Women in the state of Washington want leaders who believe in common sense solutions to the health care problems we face - not politicians who want to restrict access to basic health care for women.

Thank you so much for your support, and your vote.

Legislature takes strong policy steps but punts to 2010 on family planning funding. Despite over 25,000 contacts to legislators made by Planned Parenthood supporters and constituents advocating to retain cost effective and life-saving family planning funding, the final budget adopted by the legislature cuts family planning services funding for over 14,000 low-income Washingtonians and could result in taxpayer costs of over $16 million dollars in new state funded unintended pregnancy care. Read more here.

The Proven Programs Bill (SB 5629) has passed the House and Senate in its final form and is heading for the Governor’s desk! The bill provides more support for proven, comprehensive sex education in Washington State. This is another important step toward getting all Washington youth the comprehensive, evidence-based sex education they need to make responsible decisions and protect their health. The bill removes a requirement that the WA State Department of Health apply for federal funds for abstinence-only-until marriage programs. Read more here.

Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice Washington's annual Reproductive Health & Rights Lobby Day is set for Monday, February 23rd. Almost 500 activists - representing every one of Washington’s 49 legislative districts - plan to attend. To learn more about the event, click here.

The Governor’s office, along with House and Senate leadership, have worked with the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) to reinstate the Community Service Office (CSO) Family Planning Nurse program through June 30th, 2009. Read our press release here.

Poll Shows Overwhelming Support for Patients’ Rights and Access to Health Care: Washingtonians want prescriptions filled without discrimination or delay. Read our press release here. Read the results of the poll here.

“Abortion: It's an issue of social justice” By Carol Towarnicky. The Philadelphia Inquirer

“Denial of contraception is immoral” By Catherine Fransson And Jamal Rahman. The Seattle Times

U.S. Abortion Rate Continues Long-Term Decline, Falling to Lowest Level Since 1974. Guttmacher Institute. January 2008. Check out the report.

Emerging Answers: Research Findings on Programs to Reduce Teen Pregnancy and Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Douglas kirby, Ph.d. November, 2007 Check out the report.