The following is a letter to the editor submitted by Judy Jerome. If you have a letter you’d like published on FingerLakes1.com send it to news@fingerlakes1.com.
I recently read an editorial by Congressman Brandon Williams (NY22) published by the Syracuse Post Standard and Syracuse.com on September 5, 2024. It’s entitled “Where I Stand on Abortion.”
Talk about trying to take a middle road on an issue which he knows where the majority of Americans stand i.e. that of a woman’s right to makes choices about her own health care and her right to privacy with that choice.
This is his italicized statement: “I am personally pro-life, with exceptions, I do not support a national abortion ban, and I think we can be doing more to help women and working families.”
I took a look at his voting record and although he purports to “doing more to help women and working families”, he consistently voted against any legislation which would provide that help.
For instance, H.R.7 (https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/7) would codify a ban on abortion coverage in health programs like Medicaid and effectively end private insurance coverage of abortion.
Williams cosponsored this bill. Does this “help women and working families”?
Another example is H.R.26 (https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/26) which would politicize abortion and criminalize doctors for failing to comply with vague and unnecessary requirements. This bill was deliberately misleading and offensive to pregnant people and the doctors and nurses who provide their care.
Williams voted FOR this bill. Does this “help women and working families”?
One more example is H.Amdt.989 to H.R.8070 (https://www.congress.gov/amendment/118th-congress/house-amendment/989?s=a&r=8). This was a Department of Defense policy supporting access to abortion for military servicemembers and their families by reimbursing expenses for those forced to travel to access reproductive healthcare.
Williams voted to OVERTURN this policy. Does this “help women and working families”?
There are many more examples. Briefly, he refuses to support either the Right to Contraception Act or the Right to IVF Act, or either of their discharge petitions. Please note that four other NY Republicans are cosponsors of these bills.
Do these examples “help women and working families”?
The answer of course is NO. Brandon Williams is not pro-family. Even though he and his wife, exercised their choice to maintain their pregnancy, he does not support the same choice for other American families. His voting record is proof.
I encourage you to vote this November for John Mannion who does in fact and in reality support helping women and working families.
Judy Jerome
Syracuse, NY
This content is brought to you by the FingerLakes1.com Team. Support our mission by visiting www.patreon.com/fl1 or learn how you send us your local content here.