Maura Healey & Alex Morse
5-6-14-HOLYOKE- Mayor Alex Morse and Democratic Attorney General hopeful Maura Healey greet patrons at Fernandez Family Restaurant in Holyoke. Healey announced Morse's endorsement as she campaigned in the region and detailed her plan to combat the state's growing opiate addiction epidemic.
(Republican Photo / Robert Rizzuto)
Democratic candidate for attorney general Maura Healey on Thursday released her platform regarding women's rights, which includes plans to protect a woman's right to choose and expand access to family planning and abortion services across Massachusetts.
"Family planning is essential to achieving pay equity and professional advancement because it allows women across Massachusetts to stay in school, achieve professional success and plan their families accordingly," Healey said in a statement. "It is also a civil rights issue because lack of access to high quality reproductive and sexual health care has a disproportionate impact on low income women and women of color."
Healey, who was previously endorsed by the Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund, said her other priorities in the AG's office would include strict enforcement of the state law mandating protesters respect a buffer zone outside facilities which perform abortions. Healey says she would also work to shut down crisis pregnancy centers which prey on vulnerable women and advocate for teaching medically accurate and comprehensive sexuality education in the commonwealth's schools.
"Young people must be educated so they can make mature decisions on delaying sexual activity, using contraceptives, and preventing unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS," Healey said in a statement. "Schools should have the resources to teach students about how to be safe and how to form healthy, respectful, and non-violent relationships."
Healey's plan also earned her the support for former state rep. Carl Sciortino, who resigned to take on the job of executive director of the AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts.
"Having worked with Maura on the Buffer Zone Law which I co-authored as a legislator, I know firsthand her knowledge, passion, and commitment to ensuring freedom of reproductive health choices," Sciortino said. "I applaud her for laying out a clear, progressive agenda which includes protecting our reproductive freedom and strong advocacy for comprehensive health education. I am proud to support her in this campaign."
Healey's Democratic challenger, Warren Tolman, previously laid out his platform relating to women's issues. Tolman said if elected, he plans to use the office to be an advocate on issues including gender equity and violence against women.
The two Democrats are also facing a challenge by Republican John Miller.