In last night’s debate, Congressman Coffman once again tried to run away from his 20-year record of opposing a woman’s right to make her own health care decisions, bizarrely claiming that “he has a record in Congress of not being opposed to birth control.” Once again, Congressman Coffman is saying one thing in Colorado, and doing the opposite in Washington.
Just last year, Congressman Coffman joined his party leaders and voted for a bill that would raise costs for Colorado women by requiring them to pay more out of pocket for birth control.
“Already in this debate season, Congressman Coffman showed he can’t remember what birth control is, and now in the latest debate, he tried to get voters to forget his 20-year record of votes that hurt women, like just last year when he voted to raise costs on Colorado women and restrict access to birth control,” said Emily Bittner of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “Congressman Coffman can say whatever he likes in Colorado, but the voters won’t forget that in Washington, he’s a reliable vote to restrict a women’s ability to make her own health care decisions.”
BACKGROUND:
Congressman Coffman Voted for Budget Resolution Restrict Women’s Access to Care. In 2013, days before the government would shut down, Coffman voted for a continuing resolution that would fund the government through December 15 but added an amendment would delay the Affordable Care Act by one year as well as a “conscience clause” for employers and insurers. According to CNN, the so-called “conscience clause” would “allow employers and insurers to opt out of preventative care for women which they find objectionable on moral or religious grounds. That prominently includes birth control, which most insurers are required to provide for free under current Obamacare rules.” The motion passed 231-192. [HJ Res 59, Vote #498, 9/29/13; CNN, 9/28/13]
“Personhood” – Congressman Coffman supported the Personhood measure, even though it would outlaw abortion even in the case of rape and incest and restrict women’s access to the most common forms of birth control.
Colorado Right to Life Said Congressman Coffman Supported Personhood Amendment. According to Colorado Right to Life, Coffman was “on record supporting Personhood.” [Colorado Right to Life blog, 10/2/10]
Congressman Coffman Supported the Personhood Amendment. In 2008, Coffman responded to a Colorado Right to Life Candidate Questionnaire stating “Yes” in response to the question “Do you support the 2008 Colorado Personhood amendment effort to define “person” to include any human being from the moment of fertilization?” [Colorado Right to Life, Candidate Questionnaire, 2008]
- Personhood Amendment Would Ban Many Forms of Birth Control. According to a 2008 Denver Post Editorial, the personhood amendment “goes far beyond banning abortion and many forms of birth control.” [Denver Post, 6/2/08]
“Hobby Lobby” – Just this year, Congressman Coffman agreed with the five men on the Supreme Court who ruled in the Hobby Lobby decision that employers could interfere with women’s access to birth control.
Congressman Coffman Supported the Hobby Lobby Decision. In 2014 KDVR reported: “Tyler Sandberg, Coffman’s campaign manager, explained after the debate that Coffman supports the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Hobby Lobby case, which allows religious corporations exemptions on subsidies that cover their employees’ birth control under the Affordable Care Act; and, Sandberg said, Coffman also supports access to birth control.” [KDVR, 8/14/14]