2018: Does your state legislator support or oppose legislation that benefits women? These are Cape & Islands Senators’ and House Reps’ grades and endorsements regarding women’s issues

These ratings are from organizations that advocate for, or against, legislation for women. Grades are based on sponsorship of legislation and voting records. In the coming weeks we will be sharing more about our legislators’ support or opposition important to women. Planned Parenthood has not updated their ratings for 2018, but they have listed their endorsements, noted below.

MA Citizens for Life is pro-life and anti-choice regarding both abortion and end of life.  They take applications for endorsement, and both State Represetative Randy Hunt and State Senator Vinny deMacedo have received endorsements in exchange for their commitments to vote against right-to-choose legislation.  Remember that. They committed to work to ensure women don’t have the right to make these difficult choices themselves. 

Planned Parenthood Advocacy of MA and National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL) of MA support more than legislation related to abortion, they support legislation related to women’s health and women’s rights.

Poor ratings from PP and NARAL will mean positive ratings from MA Citizens for Life.  People representing us, should not have positive ratings from MA Citizens for Life, and should absolutely not be endorsed by MA Citizens for Life.

What will you do if your Senator or Rep is not representing you?

Regarding Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund (PPAF):

The scorecard assigns each Massachusetts state representative and senator a rating of: “Champion”, “Ally”, “Mixed”, “Opponent”, or “NEI” (not enough information) based on each legislator’s lifetime voting record, co-sponsorship history, public statements, and other factors.

SENATORS

Senator Julian Cyr (D) Cape and Islands

2018 – ENDORSED BY PLANNED PARENTHOOD.

*Endorsed by the National Organization for Women

Abortion

  • 2017 Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts – Champion

Abortion and Reproductive

  • 2017 Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts – Champion

Health and Health Care

  • 2017 Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts – Champion

Senator Virito (Vinny) deMacedo (R) Plymouth and Barnstable (some of these ratings are from his earlier position as a House Rep.)
*Endorsed by MA Citizens for Life – ANTI-CHOICE

Abortion

  • 2017 Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts – Opponent
  • 2015 Massachusetts Citizens for Life – Positions (Beginning of Life) 100%
  • 2015 NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts – Positions 0%
  • 2014 Massachusetts Citizens for Life – Positions 100%
  • 2013-2014 NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts – Positions 0%
  • 2011 NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts – Positions 0%
  • 2010 Massachusetts Citizens for Life – Positions on Pro-Life Policy 100%
  • 2009-2010 NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts – Positions on Reproductive Rights 0%
  • 2005-2006 Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts – Positions on Reproductive Rights Opponent
  • 2005 NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts – Positions 0%
  • 2004 Massachusetts Citizens for Life – Positions 33%
  • 2002 Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts – Positions on Reproductive Rights Opponent
  • 2000 Massachusetts Citizens for Life – Positions on Pro-Life Policy 100%
  • 2000 Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts – Positions on Reproductive Rights Opponent

Abortion and Reproductive

  • 2017 Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts – Opponent
  • 2015 Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts – Opponent

Health and Health Care

  • 2017 Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts –Opponent
  • 2015 Massachusetts Citizens for Life – Positions (End of Life) 100%
  • 2011-2012 Progressive Massachusetts – Positions 37%

Health Insurance

  • 2011-2012 Progressive Massachusetts – Positions 37%

Unemployed and Low-Income

  • 2010 Neighbor to Neighbor Massachusetts – Positions 40%
  • 2007 Neighbor to Neighbor Massachusetts – Positions on Progressive Policy 25
  • 2005-2006 Neighbor to Neighbor Massachusetts – Positions 0%
  • 2004 Neighbor to Neighbor Massachusetts – Positions 25%
  • 2001-2002 Neighbor to Neighbor Massachusetts – Positions 50%

Women

  • 2015 Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts – Opponent
  • 2005 Massachusetts National Organization for Women – Positions 29%
  • 2002 Massachusetts National Organization for Women – Positions 50%
  • 2001 Massachusetts National Organization for Women – Positions 20%

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

Timothy Whelan (R) 1st Barnstable District

Abortion

  • 2017 Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts – Mixed

Abortion and Reproductive

  • 2017 Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts – Mixed

Health and Health Care

  • 2017 Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts – Mixed

William Crocker (R) 2nd Barnstable District

Abortion

  • 2017 Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts – Opponent

Abortion and Reproductive

  • 2017 Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts – Opponent

Health and Health Care

  • 2017 Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts – Opponent

Dylan Fernandes (D) Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket

2018 – ENDORSED BY PLANNED PARENTHOOD

Please note that Senator Cyr’s designation as a “Champion” is partially the result of advocacy work done prior to public office, in addition to his voting record as a lawmaker. Representative Fernandes has an equally strong pro-choice voting record, but due to Planned Parenthood’s ranking formula must finish his first term before earning the “Champion” designation. If his current voting record holds steady, he is expected to earn the title.

Abortion

  • 2017 Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts – Ally

Abortion and Reproductive

  • 2017 Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts – Ally

Health and Health Care

  • 2017 Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts – Ally

David Viera (R) 3rd Barnstable District

Abortion

  • 2017 Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts – Opponent
  • 2014 Massachusetts Citizens for Life – Positions 100%

Abortion and Reproductive

  • 2017 Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts – Opponent
  • 2015 Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts – Opponent

Health and Health Care

  • 2017 Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts – Opponent
  • 2011-2012 Progressive Massachusetts – Positions 32%

Health Insurance

  • 2011-2012 Progressive Massachusetts – Positions 32%

Women

  • 2015 Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts – Opponent

Sarah Peake (D) 4th Barnstable District

2018 – ENDORSED BY PLANNED PARENTHOOD

Abortion

  • 2017 Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts – Champion
  • 2015 Massachusetts Citizens for Life – Positions (Beginning of Life) 0%
  • 2015 NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts – Positions 100%
  • 2014 Massachusetts Citizens for Life – Positions 0%
  • 2013-2014 NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts – Positions 100%
  • 2010 Massachusetts Citizens for Life – Positions on Pro-Life Policy 0%
  • 2009-2010 NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts – Positions on Reproductive Rights 100%

Abortion and Reproductive

  • 2017 Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts – Champion
  • 2015 Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts – Champion

Health and Health Care

  • 2017 Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts – Champion
  • 2011-2012 Progressive Massachusetts – Positions 74%

Health Insurance

  • 2011-2012 Progressive Massachusetts – Positions 74%

 Unemployed and Low-Income

  • 2010 Neighbor to Neighbor Massachusetts – Positions 100%

Women

  • 2015 Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts – Champion

Randy Hunt (R) 5th Barnstable District
*Endorsed by MA Citizens for Life

Abortion

  • 2017 Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts – Opponent
  • 2015 Massachusetts Citizens for Life – Positions (Beginning of Life) 0%
  • 2015 NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts – Positions 0%
  • 2014 Massachusetts Citizens for Life – Positions 100%

Abortion and Reproductive

  • 2017 Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts – Opponent
  • 2015 Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts – Opponent

Health and Health Care

  • 2017 Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts – Opponent
  • 2011-2012 Progressive Massachusetts – Positions 37%

Health Insurance

  • 2011-2012 Progressive Massachusetts – Positions 37%

Women

  • 2015 Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts – Opponent

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