June 22, 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Cathy Alderman, Vice-President of Public Affairs, Planned Parenthood
Votes Colorado, 303 319-9155
Planned Parenthood Votes Colorado Releases Legislative Scorecard
Common sense went out the window this year
Planned Parenthood Votes Colorado today released its 2015 legislative scorecard,
following a contentious legislative session that suffered from an unprecedented
number of attacks on reproductive health care.
Common sense went out the window this year, with an escalation of attempts to
infringe on the rights of women and health providers. Even teen pregnancy
prevention, counseling and sex education were under fire, said Cathy Alderman,
Vice-President of Public Affairs for Planned Parenthood Votes Colorado. Luckily, we
have champions who will stand up to this bullying and we were able to defeat all of
the bad bills.
DEMOCRATS SCORE HIGH ON CHOICE BILLS
Senate Republicans fared the worst on the PPVC scorecard, with 17 of the 18 scoring
0, while 15 of the 17 Senate Democrats scored 100. All 35 Democrats in the House
scored 100, with Republican scores varying on the House side.
The votes are based on six defeated bills that would have created obstacles to health
care and abortions in Colorado, two right to discriminate bills that would have
allowed discrimination based on personal religious beliefs, a bill that pitted parents
wants against childrens needs and two bills to expand teen pregnancy programs.
(See scorecard for bill reference numbers)
PPVC releases the scorecard annually to educate and inform Colorado voters who
have repeatedly defeated anti-choice personhood ballot initiatives - about their
state lawmakers positions on issues that impact women and families everyday
lives.
BAKE SALE FOR TEEN PREGNANCY PREVENTION
One exception to the legislative successes was a loss of $5 million funding for an
award-winning program to provide long-term reversible contraception such as IUDs
for low-income teens and young women. The program cut teen pregnancies 40%
statewide and would have saved Colorado $50 million in Medicaid and public
assistance costs. Senate Republicans killed the funding in two separate votes.
PPVC will join the Stand with Women coalition Tuesday on Denvers Civic Center in
a bake sale to raise funds for this critical program that gives teens the opportunity

to finish school and become financially independent while preventing unintended

pregnancies. Its disgraceful this successful program is in jeopardy, said Alderman.
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