WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Independent Women’s Voice (IWV) held a press call with OnMessage Inc., Rep. Marionette Miller-Meeks (IA-02), and Rep. Stephanie Bice (OK-05) to underscore the overwhelming support among Republican voters and lawmakers for safe and accessible contraceptives.
Heather R. Higgins, CEO of Independent Women’s Voice, opened the call by saying, “The truth is that Republican political leaders and Republican voters, including 80% of those who self-identify as pro-life, overwhelmingly support access to contraception, according to a new poll commissioned by Independent Women’s Voice and conducted by OnMessage, Inc.”
Brad Todd, co-founder of OnMessage, Inc., added, “[According to our findings] 86% [of very conservative voters] support legal access to contraception, including IUDs, injectable, and implantable contraception… 81% of Republican primary voters say Republican legislators and Republican members of Congress should continue to heed the Supreme Court decision and protect access to contraception. And they would be less likely to vote for them in a primary if they don’t.”
Rep. Marionette Miller-Meeks, a physician representing Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District, said, “The Democrat’s bill [H.R. 8373] is trying to distract people from the failures of this administration, whether they’re domestic with rising prices with gas that is over $4, was over $5, will probably again be over $5 a gallon, more in some states. Rising food prices, difficulty to purchase items and their repetitive failures in foreign policy, which have led to war between Russia and Ukraine, unprovoked and unprecedented. So in order to distract from that, they are putting forward an extreme bill.”
“Too often, Republicans are incorrectly told that we don’t care about women and that is simply not true. And it instills fear. I am pro-life. I support a women’s right to access contraception,” said Rep. Stephanie Bice (OK-05). “I will continue to advocate women in Oklahoma and across the country.”
Miller-Meeks added, “Providing over the counter contraceptives are safe. They’re effective. They were first approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1960. They pose fewer health risks than some drugs that are already being sold over the counter. And they’re one of the most popular methods for preventing conception and avoiding pregnancies.” Women use birth control pills or oral contraceptives “for a variety of other reasons, not just to avoid pregnancy. They’re used for regulating menstruation, to prevent anemia from heavy menstrual cycles, to prevent heavy, painful periods and to address acne in low doses.”
A replay of the call is available HERE.
The poll toplines and a memo summarizing the data are available HERE.
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Independent Women’s Voice is an advocacy 501(c)(4) that fights for women and families by effectively expanding support among women, independents, and millennials for policy solutions that aren’t just well intended, but actually enhance freedom, opportunities, and well-being.