Newton State Representative Ruth Balser, a longtime “choice” activist, joined Vice President Kamala Harris and Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker in a bipartisan meeting to underscore broad bi-partisan support for Massachusetts’ new “Act expanding protection for reproductive and gender affirming care,” which Governor Baker signed into law in July. The new law is in response to the Supreme Court’s decision revoking the 49-year-old Roe v. Wade decision guaranteeing access to abortion. Massachusetts leaders on both sides of the aisle supported Roe v. Wade.
A coalition of elected officials — including Congresswoman Ayana Presley — and political activists attended the roundtable discussion, celebrating the overwhelming vote in Kansas favoring the state’s constitutional choice guarantee. As the Vice President noted, the size of the vote in Kansas indicated clear bi-partisan support for access to abortion in a predominantly Republican state. She also noted that Massachusetts’ strong bi-partisan political cooperation — with a Democratic-controlled legislature and a Republican governor — serves as a model for other states. Republican legislators overwhelmingly voted in favor of the new legislation.
Commenting on the meeting with the Vice President and the Governor, Rep. Balser said:
“It was particularly moving to hear both Vice President Harris and Governor Baker talk about the right of women to make personal medical decisions. This is clearly a nonpartisan issue. Just as in Kansas, where the people — Dems, Republicans, Independents — overwhelmingly voted NO to eliminating abortion rights, here in Massachusetts we have led the way by passing model legislation supported by overwhelming majorities from both parties and signed into law by a Republican governor. The message that I believe will resonate all across the country is – NO to government mandates when it comes to personal decisions. It was good to hear that message from Kamala Harris, from Charlie Baker, from the people of Massachusetts, and the people of Kansas.”
Echoing the Vice President’s message, Rep. Balser believes that abortion should be a personal not political decision, Rep. Balser praised her colleagues for once again advancing equality in the Commonwealth.
Provisions of the Act:
- Affirms legal protection for reproductive and gender affirming health care
- Reaffirms that reproductive and gender-affirming health care are protected under the Constitution and laws of the Commonwealth
- Requires full insurance coverage for abortion-related services, without deductibles, coinsurance, copayments and other costs.
- Prohibits MassHealth from charging additional costs for prenatal, childbirth and postpartum services
- Provides for abortions after 24 weeks in Massachusetts for “grave” fetal or maternal conditions as determined by treating physician and patient
- Requires the Department of Health “to authorize licensed pharmacists to dispense emergency contraception”
- Provides that vending machines may carry over-the-counter contraceptive drugs
- Ensures that public colleges and universities provide access to abortion medication
- Allows individuals providing services to reproductive and gender-affirming health care to enroll in the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Address Confidentiality Program
- Stipulates that a wide range or protections for Massachusetts providers and their out-of-state patients
