Open Letter to Washington Voters
To Washington Voters:
Dino Rossi’s seven year voting record in the State Senate, clearly demonstrates that a Rossi Administration will be dangerous for women and all Washingtonians who want to protect our civil rights and social policies from conservative extremists.
Rossi is a slick salesman who is pitching himself as a moderate to hide his true conservative credentials. In fact, Rossi is a threat to a woman’s right to choose, women’s healthcare, civil rights and social policy in this state. He consistently dodges questions about his social policies because he knows that his extreme right-wing views are out of touch with Washington voters.
Since Rossi won’t tell the voters where he plans to lead Washington, we have examined his record for clues.
- Early in his political career Rossi campaigned against Initiative 120, which protects choice in our state. (Washington Law & Politics, April/May 2004; Spokesman Review, 12/10/03; New York Times, 4/22/04; File video)
- Rossi voted to allow insurance companies to discriminate against women by denying women coverage for birth control, even if they cover other prescription drugs like Viagra. (SB 5512,3/9/99; Seattle PI, 3/10/99)
- During his years in the Senate he has consistently voted against reproductive health care for women in our state, particularly low income women. (SB 5465, 3/16/99; SB 5186, 3/9/01)
- Rossi was a secondary sponsor of a bill seeking federal dollars to fund dangerous, abstinence-only sex education in Washington public schools.(SB 5592; Seattle PI, 3/17/97; Seattle PI, 7/24/97; SB 5592, 3/15/97)
- Rossi backed an initiative to end affirmative action and backs President Bush’s proposals to limit stem cell research and write discrimination against same-sex couples into our constitution. (Seattle Times, 10/14/2004)
Voters Beware: Washingtonians have a long tradition of protecting individual rights and keeping government out of private decisions. Rossi is a tool of conservative special interests and is in lock step with President Bush and Vice President Cheney on social policies. Don’t allow Dino Rossi and his right-wing forces to dictate the direction of your future. Vote!
Sincerely,
Karen S. Cooper, executive director, NARAL Pro-Choice Washington
Linda Mitchell, Chair, the Women’s Political Caucus of Washington
Christine Charbonneau, CEO of Planned Parenthood VOTES! Washington
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