News · Press Release

As Central New Yorkers #StandWithPP, Reminder That John Katko Broke Promise to Support Planned Parenthood

Katko, who represents a pro-choice district, recently voted to defund Planned Parenthood

Today, just two days away from when many extreme Republicans would shut down the government over funding for women’s health programs, allies across the country and in Syracuse are rallying in support of Planned Parenthood and the critical, life-saving services it provides to Central New Yorkers. Although local Congressman John Katko is in Washington this week, it’s clear he wouldn’t be joining the rally if he were back in the district — since he recently voted to defund Planned Parenthood, breaking a promise he made to Central New York voters during his 2014 campaign.

Beyond breaking his word, nearly seven in ten voters in New York’s 24th congressional district self-identify as pro-choice, according to a poll conducted earlier this year by Civis Analytics, putting Katko squarely at odds with his constituents. The popularity of Planned Parenthood in Katko’s district was also apparent this August, when dozens of advocates gathered in Syracuse to urge John Katko to reject House efforts to defund the women’s health program.

Further, the National Republican Congressional Committee’s own polling suggested that even when voters in districts like NY-24 do support defunding Planned Parenthood, they do not support tying that issue to funding the entire federal government. Yet, Katko has gone out of his way to toe the line with his colleagues leading the charge to shut down the government over Planned Parenthood.

“With yet another Syracuse rally in support of Planned Parenthood, plus the polling that shows this is a predominately pro-choice district, it should not have been that hard for John Katko to get it right on this issue,” said Meredith Kelly of the DCCC. “Central New Yorkers, especially those who rely on Planned Parenthood for life-saving health services, will not forget that Katko and his colleagues were perfectly willing to bring us to the brink of a government shutdown over women’s health funding.”

 





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