MENDIVE: Assault on women's health

In response to Rep. Mendive: As a mother, woman, and person able to make my own medical decisions, I must say that linking abortion and prostitution is beyond offensive, disgusting, and inexcusable.

Unfortunately, politicians like Rep. Mendive are the same folks who want to end access to birth control and family planning, which can prevent unintended pregnancies in the first place. This is part of a much larger and unrelenting attack on women’s health care. Even though we saw in the last election that the public wants women to have access to birth control and safe and legal abortion — and the national rebuke of politicians like Rep. Mendive who demean and dismiss women and their health — it looks like some in Boise just won’t stop.

I am a mother to a 15-month-old daughter. My pregnancy was complicated and I had to be monitored at least 2-3 times a week. Did I once consider abortion? Absolutely not. Do I support abortion? Positively yes! No politician should be making medical decisions for a woman, or making irresponsible, outlandish comments about constitutionally legal abortion that is entirely unrelated to the illegal act of prostitution.

I suggest you do the embarrassed women of this city and all others like me a favor and refrain from speaking anymore of women’s health.

ALY MOWBRAY

Coeur d’Alene