PPSNE Applauds RI Governor's Decision to Veto License Plate Bill

Providence, RI – Below is a statement from Judy Tabar President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Southern New England on Governor Chafee’s Decision to veto the “Choose Life” License Plate Bill

“Planned Parenthood of Southern New England applauds Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee’s decision to veto the recently passed ‘Choose Life’ License Plate Bill (H 5053). We stand in agreement with Governor Chafee who believes that state participation in the transmission of funds to this organization would violate the separation of church and state. This organization does not provide women with accurate information about all of her pregnancy options. Information should support a woman, help her make a decision for herself and enable her to take care of her health and well-being.

Planned Parenthood of Southern New England understands that the decision a woman makes regarding her pregnancy is deeply personal and often complex and ultimately must be left to a woman, her family, and her faith, with the counsel of her health care providers. Information regarding family planning decisions should not be provided with the intent of coercing, shaming, or judging.

We stand with and support Rhode Island women, advocating for investments in preventive reproductive health services and sex education that further informed decision making. We stand with Governor Chafee, urging support from the House and Senate.”

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Planned Parenthood of Southern New England (PPSNE) is one of the region’s largest providers of family planning and reproductive health care services. Since 1923, PPSNE has evolved into an organization with 18 health centers in Connecticut and Rhode Island, delivering care to nearly 70,000 patients annually, and 90 percent of the services provided are preventive.