Statement by Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund, on the results of the 2012 Florida Republican Presidential Primary

Contact: Planned Parenthood Action Fund Media Office, 212-261-4433

For Immediate Release: 02.01.12

“The Republican presidential primary has become a race to see which candidate is the worst for women’s health. Mitt Romney — the winner of the Florida primary — has pledged to end access to birth control, both by promising to eliminate the national family planning program and by prohibiting women from going to Planned Parenthood for birth control and cancer screenings.

“He has also pledged his support for ‘personhood’, extreme legislation that could ban birth control, in vitro fertilization, and abortion in cases of rape or incest.

“In contrast, the Obama administration recently announced a decision that ensures that millions of women — regardless of their employer or their faith — will have access to birth control covered with no expensive co-pays or deductibles.

“Women are expected to make up approximately 53 percent of the vote, and will likely decide the next election. Women’s health is a key issue to women voters. The more Mitt Romney and the GOP presidential candidates attack women’s health, the more out of sync they are with women voters.”

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Planned Parenthood Action Fund is an independent, nonpartisan, not-for-profit membership organization formed as the advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. The Action Fund engages in educational and electoral activity, including voter education, grassroots organizing, and legislative advocacy.