WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Are you a woman in Washington? This is a great place for you….

Our little northwest corner of the nation is a pretty progressive place. We cultivate anwomen state environment of individuality, creativity, and personal freedom. Other states look to us for leadership on defining issues of our time, such as women’s access to health care.

With great foresight, voters of Washington passed Referendum 20, in 1970. This legalized abortion in the first few months of pregnancy, three years before Roe vs. Wade.

In 1991, our voters affirmed a woman’s right to choose with Initiative 120. With even greater fortitude, it said that any health benefits provided by the state must include a full range of maternity care services, including abortion, so that women have the tools to ensure they can exercise that right.

Fast forward to today; private, religious hospital systems are creating new partnerships with public hospitals. This is great for increasing access to care, which we desperately need. But as religiously-sponsored institutions, they retain the right to not provide abortion and end of life services.

So what does this mean for Washington women? Late this summer, Attorney General Bob Ferguson weighed in on this emerging issue, affirming the provisions of Initiative 120. He said public hospital districts that receive public funding and tax exemptions must provide women with the full range of maternity care options. Way to honor the right of women to make their own health care decisions.

Add that to the list of reasons Washington made the top 10 list of women-friendly states.