FANWOOD – Forced to admit he does not support a woman’s right to obtain contraception, State Senator Leonard Lance stood by his vote to deny women access to birth control. A new ad from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee pointed out that Lance was one of only six State Senators to oppose Linda Stender’s bill in 2006 that guaranteed women the right to have their prescriptions filled despite a pharmacist’s personal beliefs. The bill was signed into law in November 2007.

The Lance campaign in a release denouncing the DCCC ad as “false” made no reference to his accurate vote on S1195, a bill requiring prescriptions for birth control and other medication to be filled despite philosophical or moral objections from pharmacists. “It is unconscionable to me that Leonard Lance opposes the right for women to have guaranteed access to their prescriptions,” said Stender. “My bill respected the rights of pharmacists to hold their individual beliefs, while still ensuring that women could not be denied basic health care. It was an extremely important bill for the women of New Jersey.”

Lance’s stance to deny women access to basic medical care parallels the Bush Administration’s assault on the rights of women. In July 2008, Bush’s Department of Health and Human Services issued a proposed rule that would require any health care provider to certify that none of its employees are required to assist in any way with medical services they find objectionable, which would include birth control. Stender said, “The Bush-Lance assault on the rights of women to make decisions about their health care is reprehensible. We must do everything we can to reduce unplanned pregnancies. Leonard Lance siding with Bush and right-wing extremists on such a key issue impacting the lives of thousands of New Jersey women shows he’s just more of the same.”

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BACKGROUND

Lance One of Six Senators to Oppose Right of Women to Access Contraception. In 2006, Lance voted to allow pharmacists to refuse dispensing medication to those with prescriptions based on subjective religious or philosophical concerns. Lance voted against the bill although it passed overwhelmingly through the Senate, 31-6. [S1195, Seq. 336, 6/26/06]

• New DCCC Ad Noted Lance’s Vote on S1195.

View Ad here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Umppkaxtzs

• Lance Campaign Release on Ad Does not Mention Accurate Vote on S1195. [Press Release, 10/2/08]

• Planned Parenthood Endorsed Stender, Noting Lance’s Anti-Woman Record. Planned Parenthood, in their endorsement of Stender, called for Lance to stop calling himself pro-choice as his record shows just the opposite. Planned Parenthood noted, “During his seventeen years in the New Jersey Legislature, Senator Lance aligned himself with the anti-choice extremists time and time again. In fact, Senator Lance was one of only six New Jersey Senators to oppose Linda’s bill that ensures women are able to get their prescriptions filled at local pharmacies. [NJ Planned Parenthood, 9/23/08]

Stender Introduced Assembly Version of S1195. Stender’s bill passed 55-19 in the Assembly. “Democracy guarantees us the right to hold our own moral or religious views, but under no circumstances should a pharmacist’s personal beliefs impede a patient’s ability to obtain their prescribed medicines,” said Stender. [S1195, 6/11/07; Press Release, 10/19/06]

• Planned Parenthood Applauded Passage of Bill as “Basic Health Care for Women.” “Birth control is basic health care for women,” said Jeffrey Brand, President & CEO of Planned Parenthood of Greater Northern New Jersey. “The governor’s signing of this bill into law guarantees families the right to have any legal prescription filled anywhere in New Jersey. We applaud Governor Corzine for his continued support of women’s health,” continued Brand. [Planned Parenthood NJ, 11/6/07]

Bush Administration Proposed Law to Limit Access to Contraception and Overrule State Protections. In July 2008, Department of Health and Human Services issued a proposed rule that would require hospitals receiving federal funds to certify that, in their hiring, they do not discriminate against people who refuse to provide forms of contraception, such as birth control pills, due to personal religious beliefs. 104 House members sent a letter to the Bush Administration denouncing the proposal and noting its threat to states such as New Jersey: “By distorting the scope of the laws, it would gut state and local protections of women’s right to safe and effective birth control.” [ABC News, 7/21/08]