Of the nearly 12 states, Citizen-led initiatives With abortion rights on the ballot this fall, Colorado has the most liberal abortion law yet. It is one of the few states that does not have pregnancy restrictions.
But Jessica Grennan, campaign director for Coloradas for Reproductive Freedom, said many people in the state face financial barriers to accessing abortion. A coalition of reproductive health and justice organizations is putting a constitutional amendment on the November ballot that would preserve abortion rights and repeal a 40-year-old law that prohibits Coloradans from paying for abortions with public insurance. I’m trying to get into it. As reported by Colorado Newsline, Proposed initiatives 89 The move would limit access for about 1 million people who work in public institutions such as hospitals, universities and Capitol Hill, as well as people covered by state Medicaid.
The coalition includes seven organizations that have sought to expand access to reproductive health in the state over the past decade, Grennan said: ACLU Colorado, Cobalt (Abortion Fund) and Colorado Latina. Organization for Opportunity and Reproductive Rights, Colorado Interfaith Alliance, New Era Colorado, Rocky Mountain Family Planning, and ProgressNow Colorado. The coalition needs to collect around 125,000 valid signatures by April 26th. What must be included At least 2% of the total number of registered electors in each of the 35 state senatorial districts. The campaign announced in a press release Friday that it had collected more than 225,000 signatures and now qualified in all 35 state Senate districts.
“The news of Arizona’s near-total abortion ban is a final reminder of how vulnerable every state is and will continue to be unless legislation is passed constitutionally guaranteeing the right to abortion.” exposed,” Grennan said in a press release.
petition asking for dueling voting initiative ban abortion in colorado It is due to April 18th.
A longtime campaign strategist, Mr. Grennan has worked on a variety of ballot initiative campaigns in various states, including campaigns related to medical debt and end-of-life choices. Abortion rights are a new issue for Glennan, an issue that cuts deep for her as she has struggled with medical debt for her own reproductive health care.
Grennan, who is based in Missoula, Montana, recently spoke with the State Newsroom outside a cafe on a rainy afternoon in Washington, D.C., to give an update on the abortion rights movement in Colorado and the prospect of becoming eligible to vote later this month. He said he has reached his goal. .
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This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
State Newsroom: Colorado is a blue state with liberal abortion laws. Why is this ballot measure necessary?
Jessica Grennan: Although Colorado is a state with legal access to abortion, there is no constitutional right to abortion access, and those enrolled in the state’s insurance plan do not have access to abortion. …So we’re lifting that ban and affirming that it’s a constitutional right. We are essentially saying that Coloradans have the right to access abortion, regardless of their source of insurance. Abortion is medical. It’s nothing special. It’s healthcare. I think we’re making T-shirts that say, “Abortion is medical, no asterisks.” That is the purpose of this measure.
SN: How close are you to being eligible to vote in November?
Glennan: We are well positioned to generate revenue far above legal requirements. But we have no intention of stopping collecting. … We feel really comfortable where we are, as if we went through the title board process. It went well. We are currently collecting signatures. I’m confident that passing something, whether it’s a bill or a ballot measure, is always harder than killing something. And I think we have a battle ahead of us. But I think if people listen to us, listen to our volunteers, listen to the people in the trenches – doctors and patients – we will win.
SN: Why do you think you can win?
Glennan: People are looking for our signature collectors and that’s really great. Like people are really excited. When they hear we’re in town, they say, “Is that about abortion?” And we’re like, “Yes!” A lot of people come up to me all the time and say, “I know, I’m with you,” and it’s like I and everyone else are the same way. …I think abortion is one of the issues where the people are ahead of the politicians right now. Politicians are risk-averse about it. But people want access to their own health care and don’t want others to tell them what’s good for them and their families.
SN: What were some of the challenges of this campaign?
Glennan: Yes, campaigning is always harder than not campaigning. Yes is more expensive. We must get 55% of the votes. But we have this killer volunteer (program). We have trained him to collect over 1,100 signatures so far. …I’m really excited about the volunteer program. I’m so excited for Colorado voters. You will receive reports (from volunteers) such as: “I’ve asked parents to sign the petition and they’re like, ‘No, I’m busy,’ and the kids are like, ‘Mom, dad, you have to do it.'” I get goosebumps when I hear it.
SN: Are you aware of how the anti-abortion voting movement campaigns? Proposed initiatives 81 Is going?
Glennan: I don’t know. We’ve seen them a little bit, but not that much. We’ll know whether it goes ahead on April 17th (the campaign’s petition deadline is April 18th).
SN: Is it possible that both bills will be on the ballot in November?
Glennan: Yes, hypothetically very likely. And the initiative with the highest turnout generally wins.
SN: Previously We carried out a campaign In Arizona, in connection with medical debt. How does that relate to the public insurance portion of Colorado’s ballot measure?
Glennan: As I was dealing with my own medical debt, I conducted a medical debt poll to try to find an in-network anesthesiologist. So I’m very focused on access to health care. Rights and access to health care are indistinguishable.
SN: You have helped run a variety of issue campaigns across the country. How did you become involved in the abortion rights movement in Colorado?
Glennan: In fact, one of our coalition members called me while I was outside a gynecologist’s office in Idaho.Because I have very severe endometriosis. often painful condition (can affect reproductive organs and make it difficult to conceive). And she asked me if I would consider this. So, I wonder if I have any chance of working on abortion policy? oh yeah. I am truly honored to be able to be involved in this work.
SN: How do you connect your experience with endometriosis to the fight for access to abortion?
Glennan: Because they didn’t receive the care they needed throughout their lives. I was admitted to her when she was 15 years old. It took him 26 years from his first hospitalization to his diagnosis. I have had 7 surgeries for problems that need to be treated. It wasn’t. Now I can do something to put medicine in the control of patients, and that’s a big deal to me.
I couldn’t make a decision. There are many people who cannot make decisions. And it’s really difficult when you don’t have the medical decision-making capacity to make the best decisions for yourself, for your life, for your family. I want to make sure that doesn’t happen. And I’ve been able to work with a really great coalition that knows what their true north is and cares about access to care.
