“Live Free or Die” is our state motto, but what happened at the State House when it came to a woman’s right to control her own body?

It was a fundamental freedom, almost removed. Women’s health was under attack. Republican-sponsored HB1248 would have limited abortion to 15 days, long before a woman knows she is pregnant. It also criminalized health care providers’ actions as a felony for doing their jobs. The bill was permanently postponed. The counterpoint, Democratic-sponsored bill CACR23, looked to enshrine a woman’s right to control her body within the state Constitution. That bill had a majority vote but required a three-fifths vote to pass, as 181 Republicans voted against it.

In New England, only New Hampshire doesn’t constitutionally protect a woman's right to choose. Just one vote over half can make the change to 15 days. Our Executive Council rejects women’s health as well. Planned Parenthood Northern New England (and others) provided those services in New Hampshire. Only about 2% of PPNNE’s budget goes toward abortion services; 98% is women’s health. Four Republican councilors voted against appropriating $1 million to those groups. PPNNE estimates that it hurt 12,000 New Hampshire women. Remember that when you vote, know where your councilor stands, and vote for women’s rights.

Don Rankin

Wilton