DSCC: George Allen Doubles Down on Far Right, Anti-Women Agenda, Campaigns with Governor Bob 'Ultrasound' McDonnell

WASHINGTON, Oct. 23 -- The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee issued the following news release:

George Allen is putting his far right, anti-women record on full display today as he's campaigning with Governor Bob McDonnell who shares his extreme views. McDonnell is the same Governor who signed a controversial piece of legislation earlier this year that required women to undergo invasive ultrasounds before accessing reproductive care, a plan that was derided nationally as a gross invasion of privacy. Allen, on the other hand, refused to speak out against McDonnell's ultrasound legislation, but instead vowed to push Virginia's "personhood" bill at the federal level that could outlaw contraception.

"If Virginia women want to know who George Allen will stand up for in Washington then they ought to look at who he's standing with today," said Shripal Shah, spokesman for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. "The extreme Allen-McDonnell 'personhood' and 'ultrasound' agenda would set women back decades by threatening to outlaw contraception and rolling back healthcare and privacy rights for women. George Allen's policies represent a dangerous shift back to a 1950s mindset that Virginia women simply can't afford."

Allen's anti-women record is well documented. In addition to supporting the controversial personhood legislation and pledging to implement it nationally, Allen has also pledged to cut funding for Planned Parenthood and he even voted against measures to protect women from workplace discrimination. He has also refused to support measures to ensure women receive equal pay for equal work. Allen's record on women's issues was recently highlighted by a DSCC ad that is airing across Virginia.

"George Allen is wrong for Virginia women. His far right agenda that aims to roll back healthcare rights for women, outlaw contraception, and even opposes equal pay for equal work is the last thing Virginia women need in the Senate," added Shah.BACKGROUND:

ALLEN SUPPORTED PERSONHOOD BILL IN VIRGINIA AND PROMISED TO PUSH SIMILAR LEGISLATION ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL

Allen Said He Supported The Personhood Legislation Passed By Virginia's House Of Delegates And Would Push For Similar Legislation In The U.S. Senate. In an interview on WLNI's Brian and Mari Show, Allen was asked: "The Virginia House of Delegates has passed the so-called fetal personhood bill that defines life as beginning at conception. You said that you support this measure. Would you push for the same kind of measure in the U.S. Senate?" Allen responded: "Well, I think that human life does begin at conception and I think that we ought to have policies that try to protect innocent unborn life - one of the more - yes and I would at the federal level as well for national policy." [WLNI, The Brian and Mari Show, 2/15/12]

* Bill Did Not Include Language To Guarantee That It Would Not Be Interpreted As A Ban On Birth Control. In February 2012, theCharlottesville Daily Progress reported that the Virginia House of Delegates voted to reject an amendment to the personhood legislation that would have made it clear that the bill would not be interpreted as a ban on birth control. The report noted that "the state personhood legislation is sponsored by Del. Bob Marshall, R-Prince William, a social conservative competing with Allen in the Republican primary. Del. Vivian Watts, D-Fairfax, proposed an amendment stating: 'Nothing in this section shall be interpreted as affecting lawful contraception.' The House voted 64-34 to not consider Watts' amendment. Watts has said that forms of birth control that prevent the implantation of a fertilized egg could be on shaky legal ground if Marshall's bill were to pass, a claim which he has denied." [Charlottesville Daily Progress, 2/13/12]

...AND WAS SILENT ON ULTRASOUND BILL

Allen Was Silent On Controversial Bill "To Require Women To Undergo A Vaginal Ultrasound Before Getting An Abortion." The Washington Post wrote, "Allen did not take a position on the controversial bill in the General Assembly to require women to undergo a vaginal ultrasound before getting an abortion." [Washington Post, 6/24/12]

* 2012: Virginia Ultrasound Law Requires Women To Pay For The Procedure. The Associated Press reported, "The ultrasound mandate for abortions drew large Capitol Square protests that, in March, resulted in the arrest of 30 protesters during a Capitol steps sit-in. It also brought ridicule for Virginia officials, including Republican legislators and Gov. Bob McDonnell, from 'Saturday Night Live,' 'The Daily Show with Jon Stewart' and other cable and late-night television personalities. Initially, the GOP-backed legislation would have compelled women to undergo a vaginally invasive form of ultrasound, which opponents labeled state-mandated sodomy. Republicans countered that 'transvaginal ultrasounds' are common practice in very early term abortions. . . . Democratic amendments that would have required insurance companies to pay the costs or have the state pay the bills for uninsured women were also rejected." [Associated Press State & Local Wire, 6/29/12]

ALLEN REFUSED TO SUPPORT PAY EQUITY

Allen Maintained Silence On Lilly Ledbetter Act. Reported the Richmond Times-Dispatch in April 2012, "Democrats leapt at the soft endorsement, asking where Allen stood on the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, a law that helps women hold accountable employers who discriminate in the pay practices based on gender. . . . 'Allen should explain why he finds it easier to endorse Mitt Romney than he does standing up for the basic concept that women should receive equal pay for equal work,' said Del. Jennifer L. McClellan, D-Richmond." [Richmond Times-Dispatch, 4/17/12]

Allen Refused To Take Position On Pay Discrimination Bill. "The Senate will take a key procedural vote on a gender pay equity bill when it returns from recess next month, and the Virginians battling to join the chamber in 2013 are squabbling over the measure. Timothy M. Kaine (D) has made clear he supports the Paycheck Fairness Act, which is designed to update the 1963 Equal Pay Act. Fellow former governor George Allen, the likely Republican nominee in the race to succeed retiring Sen. James Webb (D), won't say how he would vote if he were in the Senate now, though his campaign says he is clearly the better choice for women." [Virginia Politics blog, Washington Post, 5/25/12]

ALLEN VOTED AGAINST FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE ACT THREE TIMES

Three Times, Allen Voted Against The Family And Medical Leave Act. As a Congressman, Allen voted three times against the Family and Medical Leave Act, which gives workers up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to care for a newborn or sick relative." [AP, 11/2/2000; HR 2, Vote 393, 11/13/1991; S5, Vote 390, 9/10/1992; S5, Vote 443, 9/30/1992]

ALLEN SUPPORTED MEASURE THAT WOULD ALLOW EMPLOYERS TO DENY WOMEN BASIC HEALTH CARE SERVICES

Allen Supported The Blunt Amendment. In February 2012, after the Blunt amendment failed to pass in the Senate, George Allen announced his support for the amendment. Allen's spokesperson said, "While George Allen does not support banning contraceptives, Americans in this instance should not be forced to choose between following a government mandate or adhering to their own deeply held religious beliefs. The fact that we are even having this discussion shows the serious problems Obamacare imposes on Virginia families and small businesses, and it's another reason Tim Kaine should listen to the people of Virginia who want to see it repealed and replaced." The Washington Post described that the amendment, "would have rolled back the Obama administration's health coverage rule by allowing insurance companies and employers to opt out of covering prescriptions, such as contraceptions, or procedures they object to on religious or moral grounds." [Virginia Politics, Washington Post, 3/1/12]

ALLEN REPEATEDLY VOTED AGAINST MEASURES TO PROTECT WOMEN FROM DISCRIMINATION IN THE WORKPLACE, HOUSING, AND OTHER AREAS

1991: Allen Opposed Civil Rights Act of 1991. In 2000, Allen's opponent Chuck Robb attacked Allen for his opposition of the Civil Rights Act of 1991, a strengthening of the 1964 act, which provided greater access to the courts to fight employment discrimination based on race, gender and other bias. [PBS Newshour, 11/5/00]

1987: Allen Voted Against Human Right Act To Safeguard All Individuals Against Discrimination. In February 1987, Allen voted against creating a Human Rights Act. The act was, "A comprehensive human rights act to prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, marital status, or disability in areas of employment, public accommodations, educational institutions, and housing; and to establish a state human rights commission to enforce the act." The measure passed, 77-20. [SB 666, 2/25/87, Journal of the House of Delegates, p.1229; Senate Bill Summaries p. 40]

1984: Allen Was One Of Only A Few Members To Vote Against Protecting Single Mothers From Discrimination In Housing. In February 1984, Allen was one of only eight members of the House to vote against a bill that would have outlawed housing discrimination based on the tenant's "parenthood or handicap" - protecting single mothers and persons with disabilities from discrimination. The measure passed the House, 90-8. [HB 645, 2/12/84, Journal of the House of Delegates, p. 661-2; House Bill Summaries p. 79]

ALLEN OPPOSED RIGHTS FOR WOMEN WHO WERE SEXUALLY ASSAULTED IN THE WORKPLACE

1988: Allen Opposed Right of Employees to Retain A Right to Sue In Cases of Sexual Assault. Allen voted against legislation to allow a woman or other employee who is sexually assaulted in the workplace to retain common law right to sue for damages. He was one of just twenty members of the House to vote against this legislation. [HB 137, 2/15/88, Journal of the House of Delegates, p. 823; House Bill Summaries p. 17]

ALLEN PLEDGED TO PROHIBIT FUNDING FOR PLANNED PARENTHOOD

Allen Pledged To Vote To Prohibit Funding To Planned Parenthood And Other Organizations.. In the "Virginia Values for Washington" section of his campaign website, George Allen pledged to "vote to prohibit any federal funding from going to organizations that operate Abortion clinics (not bonafide hospitals) such as Planned Parenthood." [Allen website, "Virginia Values for Washington," accessed 7/1/11]

Allen Said That "Czars" And Funding For Public Broadcasting, And Planned Parenthood, Should Be Among The Government Spending Cuts. [Martinsville Bulletin, 5/10/11]

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