Congressional candidate Leslie Coolidge was endorsed by Planned Parenthood, one of the nation’s leading providers of women’s health care, in her 6^th Congressional District race against anti-choice Congressman Peter Roskam.

“I am honored to receive the endorsement of Planned Parenthood,” said Coolidge.  “This endorsement illustrates the stark contrasts in this race on issues of women’s health.  I will strongly defend a woman’s right to choose, whereas my opponent believes in criminalizing abortion even for rape and incest victims.”

“I will fight efforts in Congress to restrict women’s access to contraception or to allow insurance companies to charge women more for health insurance than men,” Coolidge continued.  “I will fight attempts by extreme conservatives to redefine  rape and I’ll fight to expand – not roll back – the rights of all women.”

The Roskam record on women’s health issues is dangerous and extreme.  Congressman Roskam:

Voted to eliminate funding for women’s health checkups and mammogram screenings provided by Planned Parenthood. [House Vote 684, HR 3043, 7/19/07]

Supports employers’ ability to deny their female employees contraception coverage in their healthcare plans. [HR 1179, 112th Congress]

Wants to ban a woman's right to choose even in cases of rape or incest. [Chicago Daily Herald, 10/6/08]

Cosponsored  a measure to legally redefine rape to exclude statutory rape and some kinds of date rape. [HR 3, 1/20/11]

Co-sponsored a bill that would extend 14th Amendment civil rights to fertilized eggs, effectively banning all abortions and most forms of birth control. (HR 618, 110th Congress)

Planned Parenthood ‘s skilled health care professionals are dedicated to offering men, women, and teens high-quality, affordable medical care. One in five American women has chosen Planned Parenthood for health care at least once in her life.  Planned Parenthood operates nearly 800 health centers nationwide.