Co-founded in 1979 by Gloria Steinem and Kristina Kiehl, Voters for Choice was the United States's largest independent, nonpartisan, pro-choice political action committee.[1][2] Its mission was to raise money and promote policies to maintain safe, legal and accessible abortion services for all women, regardless of geographical location, age or economic status.[3] Based in Washington, D.C., its main agenda was to elect candidates who support a person's right to make decisions regarding abortion, contraception, and child-bearing without government interference.[4]
As part of this work, Voters for Choice testified for and against candidates for the Supreme Court of the United States and endorsed candidates for public office.[5][6] During the 1991–1992 election cycle, Voters for Choice gave $265,000 to pro-choice candidates, 89% going to Democrats.[7] At their peak, they raised about $1.2 million per year.[8]
The Planned Parenthood Action Fund merged with Voters for Choice for the 2004 United States Presidential election.[9]
References
edit- ^ Abortion: Decade of Debate. CQ Researcher Online. 1983. pp. 25–44. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
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ignored (help) - ^ "Almanac of federal PACs". Almanac of Federal Political Action Committees: v. 1986. ISSN 0886-2567. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
- ^ Mann, Judy (July 7, 1982). "Woman Power". The Washington Post. pp. –1. ISSN 0190-8286. ProQuest 147461932.
- ^ "Collection: Voters for Choice records | Smith College Finding Aids". Archived from the original on September 8, 2019. Retrieved May 26, 2020. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 3.0 license.
- ^ "Kennedy Nomination Day 3, Part 4 | C-SPAN.org". Archived from the original on February 18, 2016. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
- ^ Ness, Immanuel (2000). Encyclopedia of Interest Groups and Lobbyists in the United States. M.E. Sharpe. ISBN 978-0-7656-8022-8.
- ^ Young, Lisa (2000). Feminists and Party Politics. Vancouver, CANADA: UBC Press. ISBN 978-0-7748-5070-4. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
- ^ Open Secrets. "Voters for Choice/Frnds of Fam Planning Summary | OpenSecrets". Retrieved May 26, 2020.
- ^ "About". Gloria Steinem. Archived from the original on December 7, 2019. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
External links
edit- Voters for Choice records at the Sophia Smith Collection, Smith College
- Archived copy of the Voters for Choice website at the Library of Congress
- C-SPAN interview with Kristina Kiehl about abortion in the 1986 United States House of Representatives elections
- C-SPAN footage of Kristina Kiehl testimony regarding the nomination of Anthony M. Kennedy to be associate justice of the United States Supreme Court