As part of the Spy’s coverage of the Democratic Party’ primary race for the 1st Congressional District, we have asked the candidates to respond to specific questions from our readers. Each week, the Spy will be asking the candidates to provide a summary of their positions.
What is your position on the reproductive rights of women?
John LaFerla:
I am pro-choice. I believe that women have the right to all health care services. This includes contraception and abortion when necessary. We need to move beyond divisive issues to make sure that abortion remain safe and legal, but becomes more rare because we have taken the necessary steps to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies.
Wendy Rosen:
I staunchly support a women’s right to choose. This decision is incredibly personal to every woman who faces it and I do not think it is the place of the government to insert itself into a decision that should be between a woman and her doctor. I find it particularly disturbing that the other side continually uses issues such as choice to divert attention from the economy and the need to create jobs.
This election will ultimately be about the economic direction of our country; republicans such as Andy Harris continually turn to the issue of choice, and now the issue of contraception as well, in order to divide the population and convince hard working Americans to vote against their own self interest.
I have always, and will always, support a women’s right to choose and will strongly oppose any legislation that makes it harder for a woman to access affordable contraception. Unplanned pregnancies can wreak havoc on a women’s financial stability and future plans- this is an unacceptable cost that can be so easily avoided. A political party that constantly asks for deregulation across our economy should understand that the government has no place in our bedrooms or our doctors offices.
Do you support same sex marriage legislation?
John LaFerla:
I believe that all Maryland families deserve equal rights.
Wendy Rosen:
A decade ago not one state allowed homosexual marriage. Now, with recent legislation in Washington and the 9th Circuit’s ruling in California, over 1/5th of the United States population lives in a state where marriage equality is a reality. This shows not just how far we have come but how far we still have to go. I would support a repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act as well as legislation to affirm the rights of all people to marry their partner regardless of sexual orientation.
I would strongly urge anyone who has doubts about this issue to speak with younger members of their family. The laws we pass today are not just for ourselves they are also for our children and grandchildren. Our greatest responsibility is to pass on to them a country that respects the rights of all and recognizes that none of us should feel the burden of second class citizenship.
Carla Massoni says
Thank you for this follow-up! In our efforts to resolve our economic problems we cannot trample on the rights we take for granted – at least ones we used to take for granted. Contraceptives – who would have guessed in 2012?!
Joan Smith says
Well said, Carla! And thank you, John and Wendy, for your enlightened responses to questions we shouldn’t even have to ask.