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Planned Parenthood PAC of Oregon Endorses Governor Kate Brown

October 25, 2017

"Now more than ever, Oregonians need a women's health champion like Governor Kate Brown," said Becca Uherbelau, Board Chair of Planned Parenthood PAC of Oregon. "She recently signed the Reproductive Health Equity Act, the most comprehensive reproductive rights bill in the country. Thanks to her bold leadership, no-cost contraception is safeguarded in Oregon, despite the ongoing attacks from right-wing politicians in D.C. 

"Governor Brown's likely opponent, Knute Buehler, has repeatedly played partisan political games with Oregon women's health and rights. In contrast, Kate Brown has shown decades of leadership in standing up for Planned Parenthood and protecting access to health care, even in the toughest of economic and political times. Oregon women will not be fooled." 

Brown began her career in the 1980s as an advocate working with the Women's Rights Coalition to pass numerous bills promoting women's health, protecting against domestic violence and improving economic fairness for women in the family and in the workplace. Because of her leadership, Oregon became one of the first states in the country to allow parents to stay home with their sick family members without fear of losing their jobs. 

Shortly after joining the Legislature in 1991, Brown helped found the Oregon Women's Health and Wellness Alliance, a coalition that has passed multiple laws to improve the lives and health of women and their families across the state. Since then, she has consistently defended and expanded reproductive freedom in Oregon: 

  • Governor Brown was an early pioneer of the movement for contraceptive equity for Oregon women. In 2007, after a 14-year battle with the far right and the insurance industry, she succeeded in prohibiting insurance companies from excluding prescription contraceptives if they cover other prescription drugs. For Brown, it was a matter of basic fairness. At the time, women of reproductive age paid an average of 68% more for out-of-pocket healthcare coverage than men. 
  • Governor Brown led the effort to require hospitals to offer emergency contraceptives to women who seek them after sexual assault. 
  • Governor Brown sponsored legislation that made Oregon the seventh state to establish felony charges for blocking access to medical facilities. 
  • Governor Brown introduced legislation aimed at preventing so-called "Crisis Pregnancy Centers" from spreading false or misleading information to women. 
  • Within her first few months in office, Governor Brown signed two landmark bills to protect patient privacy and expand access to birth control.
  • Governor Brown received Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon's 2012 Champion Award and has earned a 100% rating from Planned Parenthood PAC of Oregon for her entire career. 
  • Her likely opponent, State Representative Knute Buehler, claims to be "a rare pro-choice Republican," but has a long history of questionable actions regarding women's health and rights: 
  • In 2014, Knute Buehler met with and accepted the "recommendation" of Oregon Right To Life, a radical organization determined to restrict birth control and to outlaw all abortion, even in cases of rape and incest.
  • In 2015, Knute Buehler voted against the Patient Privacy Protection Act, which ensures confidentiality in insurance communications. Without these protections, some women cannot seek the health care they need for fear of someone else receiving their medical information. 
  • In 2017, Knute Buehler voted against the Reproductive Health Equity Act, which safeguards no-cost contraception and the right to safe, legal abortion in Oregon. 
  • In 2017, Knute Buehler refused to defend Planned Parenthood in the face of relentless attacks from federal Republicans - including the health center in his own legislative district.

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