Letter to the Editor: Frustrated By Murphy on Reproductive Rights

To the Editor:

Follow up to a June 2 constituent meeting with Senator Terrence Murphy’s staff asking him to co-sponsor the Reproductive Health Act (S2796) and the Comprehensive Contraception Coverage Act (S3668). Senator Murphy sits on the committees for both of these bills.

June 9 – I followed up with John Winton, Director of Community Affairs & Special Projects. He indicated a letter of response would be sent out in about two days, specifically addressing the Senator's two main concerns discussed in our meeting, and would state his position.

June 14 - I left a message with Tom for Mr. Winton asking if the letter had yet been sent out. No response.

June 16 - I left a message with Alexandra for Mr. Winton asking what the status of the letter was. No response.

June 19 – I spoke with Jamie Sprague, Director of Constituent Services, who was in attendance at our June 2 meeting. I reviewed the history of my communication with Mr. Winton and asked what the status of the letter was. She said he was handling the letter so doesn’t know. I asked again, where is the letter that addresses the Senator’s two main concerns and states his position on these two very important bills? She said she did not know. I asked for a call back when Mr. Winton returned to the office that afternoon. No response.

June 20 – I spoke with Mr. Winton. The letter should go out this week, and he will call me when it did. They ran into some issues up in Albany and couldn’t get the letter out. I asked if the Senator was going to take action on these bills. He said he didn’t know.

As a constituent of Senator Murphy, what this looks like to me is that the Senator is disregarding the importance of these bills, that he is unwilling and unable to take a stand in support of full reproductive freedom, and that if he avoids stating emphatically what is position is long enough, that his pro-choice constituents will somehow just fade away.

So, what to do now? Persist.

Elise-Ann Konstantin

Cortlandt