Receives Support from Women Leaders from Across the Country; Announces Agenda to Address Issues Facing Women
Des Moines, Iowa – At a town hall in Des Moines today, Senator John Edwards launched “Women for Edwards” and laid out his agenda to ensure fairness and equality for women. Edwards also received support from 140 national women leaders from across the country, and more than 1,500 women from Iowa. Edwards encouraged women to join Women for Edwards at http://johnedwards.com/women.
“We need to make the idea of America – equality of opportunity, regardless of race, gender or income – real for all Americans,” said Edwards. “Today, too many women are separated from the opportunities of our country because of their gender. We need to ensure fairness and equality for all women and work to lift up working mothers.”
“I believe in John's deep and profound commitment to the issues that matter most in women's lives,” said Kate Michelman, President Emeritus of NARAL Pro-Choice America. “From health care, to Iraq, to poverty, to our environment, I know John is the most effective national messenger for the values we share and I have complete confidence that -- with our help -- he will win the White House and improve the lives of women everywhere.”
Women still make only 77 cents for every dollar earned by men and they are 45 percent more likely to live in poverty. Edwards believes we need to make a commitment to helping working women and strengthening our families. Today, he detailed his plans to improve the lives of women at work and at home. Specifically, Edwards called for:
- Guaranteeing that every woman has health insurance by providing universal health care.
- Ending poverty. Edwards has called for an end to poverty within 30 years, with policies rooted in the core American values of work, opportunity and responsibility.
- Helping women balance work and family by expanding the Family and Medical Leave Act to let parents take time off from work when they need it. Edwards also supports more resources for childcare and after-school programs to give children a safe place to learn while their parents are at work.
- Fighting discrimination by enacting the Paycheck Fairness Act to strengthen the remedies for sex discrimination and deter wrongdoing, and expanding resources for female entrepreneurs.
- Protecting a woman’s right to choose.
In addition to Michelman, prominent women leaders endorsing Edwards include Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin and former New Mexico Attorney General Patricia Madrid.
“Too many women are not getting the health care they need,” said Johnson. “John Edwards is the only candidate to outline a specific plan to provide universal coverage and I’m proud to be part of a campaign – the only campaign – with a detailed plan to cover all Americans.”
"John Edwards has laid out detailed proposals to strengthen families and help working women," said Herseth Sandlin. "John Edwards understands the need to prioritize families through good public policy that recognizes the contributions of America's women.
“I am proud to endorse my friend, Senator John Edwards,” said Madrid. “He has always stood to fight for real change in women’s lives – working tirelessly to raise the minimum wage, end poverty and guarantee universal health care.”
Minnesota women leaders endorsing Edwards for president are:
- Gail Dorfman, Hennepin County Commissioner (MN)
- Keesha Gaskins, Minneapolis DFL Chair (for identification purposes only)
- Alice Hausman, Minnesota State Representative
- Becky Lourey, Former Minnesota State Senator
- Erin Murphy, Minnesota State Representative
- Laura Nevitt, Minnesota Dean State Director 2004
- Ann Rest, Minnesota State Senator
- Marsha Swails, Minnesota State Representative
