Zeldin continues to cozy up to extreme House colleagues over Suffolk County women and families
Today, Congressman Lee Zeldin voted once again to defund Planned Parenthood, which would limit affordable access to quality health coverage for women and families in Suffolk County. Zeldin went out of his way last month to toe the House Republican party line and vote to defund Planned Parenthood.
Health care experts have recently argued that Planned Parenthood provides a critical and unique role in communities for providing access to quality and affordable health care for women and families.
“Once again, Zeldin has cozied up to the extreme far-right of his party by voting to defund Planned Parenthood, which would limit affordable access to quality health coverage for Long Island women and families,” said DCCCC Spokesman Bryan Lesswing. “Not only does Zeldin’s vote today makes it perfectly clear that he is out of step with Long Island, but also that he can’t be trusted to stand up for women’s health.”
Today’s vote is a reminder that Zeldin continues to cozy up to extremist groups and far-right wing leaders who are out of step with Long Island.
Last month, Zeldin endorsed Tea Party radical Trey Gowdy for House majority leader, who supported shutting down the government over funding for Planned Parenthood. Zeldin has met twice with the Long Island Oath Keepers, an extreme right wing militia group notorious for espousing anti-government conspiracy theories involving martial law and anti-American concentration camps. The Southern Poverty Law Center flagged the group as “particularly worrisome.”
And earlier this year, Zeldin rushed to the defense of House Republican Whip Steve Scalise following reports that Scalise spoke at a white supremacist rally organized by former KKK Grand Wizard David Duke.
Background:
Gowdy Signed Letter Pledging To Oppose Any Spending Bill That Contained Planned Parenthood Funding. “On top of the Freedom Caucus, there are a number of lawmakers who have signed onto a letter circulated before the August recess by Rep. Mick Mulvaney, R-S.C., pledging to oppose any spending bill that funds Planned Parenthood.” [Roll Call, 9/10/15]
June 2015: Lee Zeldin Attended A Meeting Hosted By Right Wing Militia Group.[Oathkeepers.org, 6/19/2015]
Numerous Anti-Hate Groups, Including The Southern Poverty Law Center, Have Stated The Oath Keepers Are On Their Radar. “In a lengthy profile on the group – part of a growing ‘Patriot’ movement across the country that warns against impending takeover by Barack Obama through the suspension of Constitutional rights and martial law – Mother Jones says the group is on the radar of hate watch groups, including the Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center.” [Atlanta Journal Constitution, 8/11/15]
January 2015: Zeldin Defended Fellow Republican Over Ties To David Duke, Said He Would Not “Harm” The Party.“The sole Jewish Republican in the incoming Congress said a speech by a party leader to a white supremacist group would not harm the party. Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.) responded on Dec. 30 to revelations that Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.), the majority whip in the incoming U.S. House of Representatives, spoke in 2002 to a group with ties to white supremacist David Duke.” [Jewish Telegraphic Agency, 1/2/2015]
Rep. Gowdy Has A Track Record Of Extremism And Controversy Out Of Step With Long Island