Rick Hill: "He's Been Fighting Against Women's Health Issues for Years"
Helena, Mont. – Rick Hill, a former insurance executive and member of the U.S. House of Representatives, has stated that he wants to “move Montana forward” (1). But, throughout his career as a congressman, insurance executive and candidate for governor, Hill has led the charge against moving women’s health issues forward. And, Montana Democrats are calling attention to this important issue while folks all across Big Sky Country recognize National Women’s Health Week.
“Congressman Hill has led an assault on women’s health throughout his career as congressman, an insurance company executive, and as a candidate for Governor of our state,” said Montana Democratic Party Executive Director Ted Dick. “He supports letting insurance companies discriminate against women, has a history of publicly criticizing single women who are unable to have children because of health issues, and women’s health insurance rates skyrocketed while he was serving as an insurance executive. Montanans deserve better than Rick Hill as our next Governor.”
Examples of Congressman Hill’s Assault on Women’s Health Issues Include:
- Supports Letting Insurance Companies Discriminate Against Women: While campaigning for governor in 2012, Rick Hill has touted his support for repealing Montana’s “unisex” insurance law, which makes it illegal for insurance companies to consider gender when evaluating the risk of policy holders (2).
- Believes Single Women Without Kids are Unfit for Public Office: While running for re-election in 1999, Congressman Hill said that Nancy Keenan was not fit to be Montana’s lone U.S. Representative because she did not have children (3). Keenan rebutted by saying she “wanted to have children,” but was unable to because of a hysterectomy. She also noted that “nothing is more devastating when a doctor walks into the room and says you’ll never have children” (4).
- Said that Single Women without Kids Cannot Appreciate the “Intensity” of Columbine High School Tragedy: Hill alleged that Keenan, a career educator, could not appreciate the intensity of the shooting at Columbine High School because she wasn’t a mother (5).
- Failed to Stand Up for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program Funding: In 1997, Hill voted against amending an Agriculture Appropriations bill to increase funding for the WIC program – which serves as to safeguard the health of low-income pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, infants, and children (6).
- Health Premiums Skyrocketed While Hill Was Insurance Company Executive: While serving as a health insurance executive, Hill’s company increased rates by as much 35 percent (7). And, he believes that terminating a pregnancy should be a crime even in cases of rape and incest.
“We need to make certain that the voters across Montana know that when it comes to Rick Hill, he’s been fighting against women’s health issues for years,” said Dick.
Check the Facts (Sources):
1. YouTube. “Rick Hill: Moving Montana Forward.” February 23, 2012. Hyperlink: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMKQMrjP3L4.
2. Associated Press. “GOP Candidates Embrace Insurance Industry Bills.” April 19, 2012. Hyperlink: http://www.abcmontana.com/news/state/148174715.html
3. Roll Call. “Rep. Hill Blasts Challenger’s ‘Lifestyle.’” May 14, 1999. No Hyperlink Available.
4. Great Falls Tribune. “Hill Unleashes First Campaign Volley.” May 25, 1999.
5. Associated Press. “Hill Says Keenan’s Lifestyle Means She Can’t Feel Intensity of Columbine,” June 2, 1999. No Hyperlink Available.
6. CQ House Vote 308, HR 2160, July 24, 1997. Hyperlink: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/1997/roll308.xml.
7. Associated Press. “Insure Montana May Cut Benefits to Reduce Premium Increases.” October 23, 2007. No Hyperlink Available.
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Montana Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee:
