OP-ED: The Harrisburg Bait and Switch

Courtesy Mike Hays:

A national election year is upon us, and Republicans are once again saying they want “to take America back.” Judging by the actions of Republicans in Harrisburg, they want to take women back to a time when they had less choice in their personal health decisions.

During the last election, we all listened as the radicals ran on "jobs, jobs, jobs," yet once they took control in Harrisburg, they pulled the old 'bait and switch' on us. Since taking office, their attention has not been focused on the priority of job creation. Instead, these radicals have made numerous attacks on the health and reproductive rights of women.

For example, Pennsylvania House Bill 1077, shrouded with the Orwellian title of the “Woman's Right to Know Act” would force pregnant women to receive an invasive ultrasound before exercising their legal right to make their own healthcare decisions. My opponent, state Rep. Tim Hennessey, co-sponsored this bill. Adding insult to an already atrocious proposal, Gov. Tom Corbett reminded women that they could “just close their eyes.”

Fortunately, the medical community, including the Pennsylvania Medical Society, wasn't willing to "close their eyes" to this legislation. The Society strongly opposed 1077 because it would damage the physician-patient relationship. Family planning decisions should be made between women and their doctors – not men in Harrisburg.

HB 1077 is not all. My opponent has also supported legislation aimed at shutting down Planned Parenthood Clinics by imposing unreasonable and unequal standards for these facilities. My opponent's fellow radicals have introduced legislation to eliminate funding for Planned Parenthood.

My opponent is directly attacking women's healthcare with the legislation he supports. Ninety percent of Planned Parenthood's services are preventative, such as providing affordable access to mammograms and contraception. These clinics make health care more affordable for college-age women and those living on low incomes.

The majority of Pennsylvania's voters, and voters nationwide, support the vital services provided by Planned Parenthood. According to journalist Stephanie Mencimer, 63 percent of Catholic voters think insurance policies should cover birth control. Rep. Hennessey and his cohorts are out-of-touch with a majority of voters on these issues.

As the extreme agenda on social issues has sprouted up in state capitols across the country, we are left to wonder, "What happened to jobs and the economy?"

As a legislator for the 26th District, I will respect the privacy of my constituents and stand up for the priorities of those I represent. The state government already has a large enough role in the lives of individuals. Lawmakers should not be imposing government into the private lives of their constituents. However, they should be focused on the economic growth and job creation that Pennsylvanians want and need.

The Commonwealth must respect the health decisions of women and get on with the business of reducing the unemployment rate, strengthening our schools, and improving our aging infrastructure. As your representative, this will be my priority.

Michael Hays
Spring City
Candidate for State Representative, 26th District