To Senator Jack Martins:
Over the course of our race thus far to represent the 7th district in the State Senate, I have sought to highlight my support for the Women’s Equality Act (hereafter WEA), which is languishing in Albany ever since you blocked it from coming to a vote.
Recently, I was proud to stand with Kathy Hochul, Congresswoman McCarthy, NARAL, Planned Parenthood and many others to give collective voice to this important issue. I’m writing this letter today to set the record straight about the WEA and to clarify the differences between us in this race.
After all, it’s hard to tell who the real Jack Martins is. Are you the Albany politician who pays lip service to women’s issues, or are you the anti-choice extremist who voted against the WEA?
Fact No. 1: I am the only candidate in this election who has declared his support for reproductive choice. I support the Women’s Equality Act because it will ensure that Roe v. Wade is the law of the land in New York, in case it is ever repealed by the Supreme Court.
Given the recent Hobby Lobby decision, we can’t rule out that possibility.
So I would ask you, Jack: why don’t you support this common sense legislation? Since you have accepted the endorsement of the openly anti-choice Conservative Party, it is clear that you do not support the reproductive rights that Roe v. Wade established.
You are the anti-choice candidate in this race.
Fact No. 2: By opposing the WEA, you have blocked important legislation on equal pay, workplace discrimination, and much more.
Your opposition to these measures was clear as soon as you were first elected: you voted against pay equity in 2011. How can voters trust you on these issues when you play these cynical Albany games?
What’s clear is that because of your continued opposition to reproductive rights, you and your colleagues in the Senate Republican caucus have stalled the entire women’s equality agenda.
The WEA was passed by the Assembly, and Gov. Cuomo has strongly urged the Senate to pass it.
Despite this broad support, it hasn’t even been allowed to come up for a vote in the Senate, and remains hostage to your radical anti-choice viewpoint.
In fact, not one of our nine Republican Senators on Long Island is supportive of the WEA. Not one!
I believe that this is not who we are. I am writing this open letter today because the voters need to understand the differences between us on these critical issues.
We don’t need another Albany politician like Jack Martins, who talks out of both sides of his mouth.
We need to pass the Women’s Equality Act, and if elected, I will fight every day to do just that.
Adam Haber
Candidate for State Senate,
New York’s 7th District
