Democrats’ New Abortion Plank
The Democratic party unrolled a new abortion plank last week. Where the old plank simply emphasized women’s privacy and the endurance of Roe v. Wade, the new plank added phrasing about family planning, stating,
The Democratic Party also strongly supports access to affordable family planning services and comprehensive age-appropriate sex education which empower people to make informed choices and live healthy lives. We also recognize that such health care and education help reduce the number of unintended pregnancies and thereby also reduce the need for abortions. The Democratic Party also strongly supports a woman’s decision to have a child by ensuring access to and availability of programs for pre and post natal health care, parenting skills, income support, and caring adoption programs.
The new position also cuts out the assertion that “Abortion should be safe, legal, and rare.”
Both commentators and pro-choice advocates are hailing the new platform, as it reinforces the vision that while Roe v. Wade will always be the bedrock of reproductive rights, we also need access to expanded services and options, like health care equality to sex ed. As President of NARAL Pro-Choice New York and the National Institute for Reproductive Health Kelli Conlin told the LA Times yesterday, “It’s high time that Americans start looking at the reproductive health movement as much broader than just abortion focused…This really underscores that nicely.”
By Tara Sweeney