Vote NO on Amendment 48
This fall, Colorado voters will be asked to amend our constitution to redefine “person” and to grant constitutional rights from the moment of fertilization. The proposed amendment is vague, dangerous and simply goes too far. It seeks to restrict women’s access to health care, it invites government intrusion into our personal lives, and, if it passes, it’s permanent.
The Protect Families Protect Choices Coalition is leading the campaign to defeat this dangerous measure.
Who we are:
Protect Families Protect Choices is a broad-based coalition of nurses, doctors, religious leaders, community groups and pro-choice advocacy organizations including the League of Women Voters, Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains and many others.
What’s at stake:
Access to affordable health care is tough enough for many families in Colorado and this deceptively written ballot measure would make matters worse by putting women’s lives at risk and further restricting access to health care.
It is so vaguely worded that its true impact is impossible to predict but what we do know is bad enough.
• This amendment would ban all abortion, including in cases of rape, incest or when the woman’s life is at risk.
• If a pregnant woman were diagnosed with cancer, she may be denied access to life-saving medical treatment because it would endanger the fetus.
• This amendment is so extreme it could ban the most popular forms of birth control.
• This amendment attempts to place politicians and lawyers in the middle of our most personal, private medical decisions.
• The wording is so unclear it could open the door to government interference in decisions about birth control, infertility treatments and stem cell research.
The Colorado Constitution was created to protect us. Amending it should not be taken lightly and it should not be done at all for this deceptively written measure. If this proposed amendment were to pass, it would permanently change our constitution to restrict access to health care.
One Amendment. A million reasons to Vote NO on 48.
Amendment 48 threatens health care for
almost a million Colorado women, the women of childbearing age
“Almost 970,000* women in Colorado are in their childbearing years. And, more than a half million* are in need of birth control services. Amendment 48 would make it even harder for these women to get the care they need,” said Vicki Cowart, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains (PPRM).
PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS PRESS STATEMENT
Denver, CO (September 19, 2008)—Amendment 48 defines the term “person” to include a fertilized egg in the state constitution. Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains is a committed supporter of the NO on 48 Campaign. The agency provides basic reproductive health care for more almost 100,000 Coloradans, including cancer screenings and birth control services. Today, Vicki Cowart, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains (PPRM) issued the following statement detailing the effect that Amendment 48 could have on women’s health care in Colorado:
“Too many women and families in Colorado are struggling to get the health care they need. Almost 970,000* women in Colorado are in their childbearing years, and more than a half million* are in need of birth control services. Amendment 48 would make it even harder for these women to get the care they need.
“Last year, PPRM clients received more than 260,000 packs of birth control pills, which sometimes stop a fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus. Because of their potential action on fertilized eggs, Amendment 48 may make using birth control pills a crime. Women who use them could face criminal prosecution, so could the doctors who prescribe them, or even the pharmacies that dispense this common form of birth control. The same is true for IUDs and emergency contraception for rape and incest victims.
“Almost 18,000 women turned to PPRM for cancer screenings. Imagine a woman who discovers she is pregnant and is struggling to survive cancer. If treating the cancer damaged the fertilized egg, the woman and doctor could face criminal charges.
“As I’ve travelled the state talking about the dangers of Amendment 48, I’ve found that too many people assume this amendment is just about banning abortion. Amendment 48 does ban all abortions, without exception, even for the survivors of rape or incest or to protect the life of the woman. But, Amendment 48 is so extreme; it goes much further than that.
“Amendment 48 puts women of childbearing age—almost a million in Colorado-- in danger. All aspects of their health care could come into conflict with the legal rights that Amendment 48 affords fertilized eggs.
“One vote. A million reasons. And, only a few weeks left to defeat Amendment 48. That’s why PPRM is doing everything it can tell Coloradans to vote NO on 48.”
What you can do:
• Volunteer to help defeat the petition by contacting the Protect Families, Protect Choice Coalition: info@protectfamiliesprotectchoice.org.
• Contribute to the campaign to protect women’s health: info@protectfamiliesprotectchoice.org.
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