Cuomo, Westchester Leaders Rally For Reproductive Rights

Westchester County leaders and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo held a rally in Yonkers about protecting women's right to have an abortion. Specifically, they called on state senators to return to Albany to codify Roe v. Wade into New York State law.

The Assembly has passed legislation to codify the protections of Roe v. Wade for the last six years, including during the 2018 legislative session. Senate leadership hasn't brought it up for a vote.

The rally followed the Trump Administration's announcement Monday night nominating Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.

"Women's rights are under attack," Senate Democratic Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said at the rally. "We should be in a space in New York where we have made sure that women never, ever have to worry about being in back alleys or worry whether or not they will have contraception.

"With a Republican governor and senate, New York state passed women's health laws in 1970, and in 1970 people understood that it was not a partisan issue. In 2018 I don't have one Republican colleague who will raise their hand and say 'we have to protect women's rights.'

"We will not go back," she said. "We've got to stand up."

New actions were announced by Cuomo on Monday to protect reproductive rights. The updated DFS regulation mandates that health insurers:

• Expand coverage requirements for contraceptive drugs, devices or other products for women approved by the Federal Food and Drug Administration. Require coverage for emergency contraception with no cost sharing when acquired in any lawful manner including on an over the counter basis from an out of network pharmacy;
• Permit a woman to fill 12 months of a prescribed contraceptive at one time, removing the previously required three-month trial period;
• Cover voluntary sterilization procedures for women and over-the-counter contraceptives without cost-sharing; and
• Do not place restrictions or delays on contraceptive coverage not otherwise authorized under the regulation. This provision would prohibit quantity limits and other such restrictions.

In addition to Stewart-Cousins, a Westchester Democrat, a number of local politicians and community leaders attended, including:

• Senator Shelley Mayer
• Senator Jamaal Bailey
• Senator David Carlucci
• Assembly Member Sandy Galef
• Assembly Member Gary Pretlow
• Assembly Member Ken Zebrowski
• Assembly Member David Buchwald
• Assembly Member Ellen Jaffee
• Westchester County Executive George Latimer
• City of Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano
• Yonkers City Council President Mike Khader
• Yonkers City Councilmember Shanae Williams
• Yonkers City Councilmember Corazon Pineda-Isaac
• Westchester County Legislature Vice Chair Alfreda Williams
• Westchester County Majority Leader Catherine Parker
• Westchester County Legislator Catherine Borgia
• Westchester County Legislator Christopher Johnson
• Westchester County Legislator Terry Clements
• Westchester County Legislator MaryJane Shimsky
• Mamaroneck Town Supervisor Nancy Seligson
• Ossining Town Supervisor Dana Levenberg
• Pound Ridge Town Supervisor Kevin Hansan
• Yorktown Town Supervisor Ilan Gilbert
• Larchmont Village Mayor Lorraine Walsh
• Ardsley Village Mayor Nancy Kaboolian
• Pleasantville Village Mayor Peter Scherer
• Teamsters Local 456 President Lou Picani
• Westchester Putnam Central Labor Body President Tom Carey
• Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic CEO Vince Russell
• YWCA of White Plains & Central Westchester CEO Maria Imperial
• Montefiore Nyack CEO Dr. Mark Geller
• NOW-Westchester Co-President Liz Zimmerman
• NOW-Westchester Co-President Jon Wegeniek

"Given all that is happening in Washington, these actions will protect women's reproductive rights," said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, who attended the event. "As President of the State Senate, I'm also calling on Senate Republican leadership to protect the women of this state and pass the Reproductive Health Act and codify Roe v. Wade. No one should tell us what to do with our bodies. Not now, not ever."

PHOTO/ Gov. Cuomo's Office via Flickr

SEE: Judge Brett Kavanaugh Is Trump's Pick For Supreme Court