On this day in 1993, Maine’s Reproductive Privacy Act (RPA) was signed into law, officially codifying the right to an abortion in Maine. Since then, Maine has made tremendous progress in expanding abortion access, in large part due to the work of Governor Janet Mills over the last three years. However, with the Supreme Court poised to overturn Roe v. Wade and Paul LePage on the ballot in November, Mainers’ abortion rights are also facing the largest threat since the RPA was passed.
During his time as Governor, LePage viciously targeted abortion rights in Maine. LePage cut hundreds of thousands of dollars from the state family planning agency. He also spent years blocking access to quality health care for nearly 90,000 Mainers, which has since been expanded by Governor Mills and allows thousands to access life-saving care like family planning services, prescription drugs, mental health services, and prenatal care.
Worryingly, he expressed interest in restricting abortion rights even further, frequently joining anti-abortion rallies and signalling support for overturning Roe v. Wade. With the Supreme Court poised to overturn Roe, Republicans around the country passing draconian laws which criminalize abortion, and Maine Republicans building momentum to pass similar laws in Augusta, LePage might finally get his chance.
“If the Supreme Court effectively hollows out Roe v. Wade, then the reproductive rights of Maine people will be decided at the state level by the winner of this year’s gubernatorial election. Janet Mills, Maine’s first woman Governor, has been a champion for reproductive rights. Paul LePage, on the other hand, presents the biggest threat to abortion rights in Maine that we’ve seen in decades,” said Drew Gattine, Chair of the Maine Democratic Party. “If he’s re-elected, he will join forces with extreme Republican politicians to undo the progress that Governor Mills and Democrats in the legislature have made to expand access to reproductive health care. Ensuring that Paul LePage and Maine Republicans do not regain control is the best way that Maine people can defend their reproductive rights and safeguard access to reproductive health care.”
Since taking office, Gov. Mills has been recognized both in Maine and nationally as a champion for reproductive rights. By expanding health care access, allowing more qualified practitioners to perform abortions, and requiring MaineCare to cover the procedure, her administration has made Maine a leader in protecting abortion rights and access.
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