RNC Women

Yesterday, on the floor of the United States Senate, Harry Reid likened Republican efforts to stand up to the government takeover of health care to blocking women’s right to vote. 

Yet it is Reid himself who would block women from a fundamental right – the right to make their own health care decisions with their family and doctors.  It was just days ago when Reid voted in favor of Barbara Mikulski’s (D-MD) amendment that would put the force of law behind government panels like the one which made the determination that women under age 50 should not undergo mammograms or breast self examinations.  Passage of the health care bill that Reid is pushing through the Senate would pave the way for government rationing of mammograms and other medical care that could save lives. 

Senator Reid should be embarrassed to have lowered the debate to such a level.  But even worse, he should be ashamed for working to make it more difficult for lower income women to gain access to potentially lifesaving procedures like mammograms.  Fortunately, the voters in Nevada have taken note of Majority Leader Reid’s failures.   New polling numbers show that just 38% of Nevadans approve of Senator Reid’s performance, and he trails two GOP contenders in potential general election matchups. 

With numbers like that, it’s no wonder that Harry Reid has women voters on his mind.  If he continues his drive to put the federal government in charge of health care, it’s those women who will make sure Nevada elects a Republican to the United States Senate in 2010.