Minnesota NARAL Saddened by Ventura Retirement
Saint Paul, MN-- Minnesota NARAL, an affiliate of the National Abortion and Reproduction Rights Action League and the state’s largest pro-choice grassroots organization, is saddened by Governor Ventura’s announcement today that he will not seek reelection this November. "Minnesota NARAL regrets that we are losing one of the most pro-choice governors in the country. Governor Ventura has been an outstanding advocate for women’s reproductive freedom," stated Tim Stanley, Executive Director of Minnesota NARAL. "He understands that the women of Minnesota have the intelligence, integrity and judgement to make their own reproductive decisions." Governor Jesse Ventura championed reproductive rights by: Twice vetoing the so-called "Women’s Right to Know" bill that forced women to listen to insulting, state-scripted information about the abortion procedure and then wait 24 hours to obtain an abortion. The legislation was redundant, unnecessary, and an unreasonable hardship on working and rural women. Proposing an ambitious Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program that focused on educating teenagers on responsible choices. Anti-choice legislators killed the proposal during the 2001 session. Overseeing an administration that continuously advocated for reproductive rights, including seeking proper funding for family planning programs. Being an outspoken advocate on the importance of keeping the government out of women’s lives and their reproductive decisions. "During his term, Jesse Ventura has set very high standards for protecting women’s reproductive rights in the governor’s office," continued Stanley. "We can only hope that whoever becomes the next governor of Minnesota will fight as forcefully on behalf of reproductive freedom." Contact: Tim Stanley 651-602-7655 ###
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