For Immediate Release:

August 26, 2008

 Celebrating Women Voters on Women's Equality Day

Planned Parenthood President to address Convention, highlighting women's health

Madison, WI - On the 88th anniversary of Women's Equality Day, the day women won the right to vote in America, Planned Parenthood Action Fund President, Cecile Richards, will address the delegates at the Democratic National Convention in Denver. Her address, which will focus on the health care crisis facing women and the importance of women voters in the upcoming presidential election, comes 20 years after her mother, former Texas Gov. Ann Richards, delivered her keynote speech at the Democratic National Convention in Atlanta. Ms. Richards will also address the Wisconsin delegation at a breakfast tomorrow morning.

Over 19% of women ages 18 to 64 lack health insurance. In the midst of this national health care crisis, over 17 million women are in need of publicly funded family planning and over 300,000 of those women in Wisconsin. Even women who have insurance pay 68% more than men in out of pocket health care costs, mainly because common prescriptions like birth control are not always covered by insurance plans.

In the wake of this crisis, the Bush administration continued its attack on women’s health by issuing a proposed regulation that will jeopardize women’s access to basic health care services by denying women the information they need to make responsible decisions about their health and lives. Sadly, John McCain has consistently stood with President Bush against funding for family planning services for low-income women. Last month when asked about inequities of prescription coverage for Viagra as compared to birth control, John McCain could not articulate a position on the issue.

"For women, this is an absolutely critical election," stated Chris Taylor, Public Policy Director for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin (PPAWI). "We have a clear choice--to move forward and elect Barack Obama, who supports women’s health and access to preventative health services like birth control, or to move backward and elect John McCain, who even opposes rape victims having access to emergency contraception to prevent pregnancy. At PPAWI, we will be doing everything in our power to make sure women voters are educated about these candidates on these critical issues."

Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin is part of a national Planned Parenthood effort to mobilize one million voters to the polls in November to elect candidates who will advocate for women’s health and equality, with a special emphasis on women voters.

PPAWI will be engaging in a door-to-door canvass, mail and phone contacts and paid media to educate, activate and mobilize over 250,000 women across the state. Composing 53% of the Wisconsin and national electorate, women determine the outcome of elections. In the 2004 presidential election, there are five million single women who were registered but did not vote in the last presidential election.

"Women, single women in particular, have the power to shape this election and the course of our country," continued Taylor. "On this anniversary of women's right to vote, we must practice our right and vote for those who pledge to stand up for women's health."

For more information regarding the PPAWI One Million Strong Campaign, please visit www.ppawi.org.

Paid for by Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin, a 501 c4 qualified nonprofit organization, Lisa Boyce, Treasurer.

Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's agent or committee.

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Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin is the advocacy arm of Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin (PPWI). The mission of PPWI is to empower all individuals to manage their sexual and reproductive health through direct services, education, and advocacy.  www.ppawi.org