Abortion becomes issue in Maine governor race

Jun 18 2014

Elsewhere, Planned Parenthood fights to keep an Iowa law allowing telemedicine abortion in rural areas on the books.

The Associated Press: Abortion Raised As Issue In Maine's Governor's Race
Abortion rights supporters sought to elevate the issue in the governor's race by throwing their support behind six-term Democratic U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud on Monday. The Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund PAC said the state "cannot afford another four years" of Gov. Paul LePage, pointing to his rejection of a bill that would have expanded Medicaid coverage for birth control and cancer screenings, among other things (Durkin, 6/16).

Des Moines Register: Telemedicine Abortion Ban May Put Women's Health At Risk
A ban on an innovative telemedicine abortion system used in Iowa could put women's health at risk if it stands, a Planned Parenthood attorney argued in court on Monday. Iowa Board of Medicine members who approved the ban cited safety concerns, such as the pills being administered to the women without a doctor present. But banning the system would take away a fast and safe opportunity for women in rural areas to get the abortion pill by forcing them to travel to Des Moines or Iowa City, said Alice Clapman, an attorney for Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, during a hearing at Polk County District Court on Monday (Rogers and Leys, 6/17).