Boston– The Massachusetts Chapter of the National Organization for Women Political Action Committee (Mass. NOW PAC) is pleased to announce its endorsement of Maura Healey for Attorney General.
“After Hobby Lobby and the Buffer Zone ruling, it’s never been more important to have an Attorney General with the experience to take the fight for women’s rights all the way to the Supreme Court,” said Donna Denoncourt & Nancy Rosenblum, Mass. NOW PAC Co-Chairs. “In her seven years as a leader of the Attorney General’s office, Maura has been a tireless champion for women. As Attorney General, Maura will be ready on day one to advocate for equal pay, reproductive freedom, and access to health care.”
The Mass. NOW PAC works ensure that women’s rights and other social justice issues are given a voice on Beacon Hill. Healey has worked extensively to combat discrimination and domestic violence, and she oversaw the Commonwealth’s initial work defending the Buffer Zone Law and fighting against the claims made by Hobby Lobby. Before joining the Attorney General’s Office, Healey also worked as a litigator for a prominent Boston law firm and was a Special Assistant District Attorney in the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office. Healey has also won support from groups including the Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund, EMILY’s List, the Women’s Campaign Fund, the Feminist Majority, the Human Rights Campaign, and MassEquality.
In 2007, just days into her job at the Attorney General’s office, Healey immersed herself in legislative efforts to pass a buffer zone law to protect public safety outside reproductive health care centers. After the law was passed, she partnered with local law enforcement and District Attorneys to ensure it was properly implemented. Healey took personal responsibility for ensuring safety at reproductive health care centers, directly responding to the concerns and fears of doctors and staff who received hate mail, threats, and other forms of harassment.
On receiving the Mass. NOW PAC endorsement, Maura Healey said, “I am honored to have the support of Mass. NOW. As Attorney General, I will fight to ensure that every woman in our state has access to reproductive and sexual health care. I will lead an office that targets domestic and sexual violence, and takes on employers who pay women less for equal work. I’m proud to have led efforts in the Attorney General’s Office to enforce and defend the Massachusetts Buffer Zone Law, protect access to health care, and fight employment discrimination. As a civil rights attorney, I view tackling these issues as core and vital functions of the Attorney General’s Office. In a time when women’s rights are threatened by courts and legislatures, I am proud to stand with Mass. NOW and our allies.”
The Mass. NOW PAC endorses candidates who are committed to NOW’s mission and priority issue areas, including reproductive freedom, racial justice, constitutional rights, economic justice, LGBT Rights, and ending violence against women. In order to receive the support of the Mass. NOW PAC, candidates must go through a rigorous endorsement process, including a multi-issue questionnaire and an interview with PAC members.
The primary election is September, 9 2014. Please be sure to head to the polls and join the Mass. NOW PAC in supporting Maura Healey for Attorney General.
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