DLCC Zoom Press Conference featured Democratic Reps. Zooey Zephyr, Justin Jones, Jennifer Konfrst, Cyndi Munson, Trey Martinez Fischer, and Alabama House Special Election Candidate Marilyn Lands
WASHINGTON — Earlier today, DLCC President Heather Williams hosted a virtual press conference with Democratic legislators across “red states” who spoke about how fundamental freedoms are under attack in state legislatures controlled by Republicans. Montana Rep. Zooey Zephyr, Tennessee Rep. Justin Jones, Iowa Democratic Leader Rep. Jennifer Konfrst, Oklahoma Democratic Leader Rep. Cyndi Munson, Texas Democratic Leader Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, and DLCC spotlight candidate for the Alabama House Marilyn Lands spoke about how GOP extremism targeting LGBTQ+ people, IVF and reproductive freedoms, voting rights, gun violence, and immigration is interconnected and happening across states.
To watch a full recording of the Zoom press conference, click here.
DLCC President Heather Williams:
- “The leaders and candidates joining us on this call today have an important job, but it’s not easy. They must bring bold leadership and strategy to their work every day to face off against rising GOP extremism. The Republican machine is working hard to silence their voices, but they’re working harder – and our country is better for it.
- “The attacks we’re seeing from Republican legislators on our fundamental freedoms aren’t just one-offs – they are connected efforts across the country. We need strong voices and leaders at the state level to build the future we hope for as we head into this important election season.”
Montana Rep. Zooey Zephyr:
- “The vitriol coming out towards LGBTQ+ people is not narrowly focused… they’re looking to eradicate trans and LGBTQ people from public life entirely. Looking to put us back in the closet. It’s important to note that we fight back everywhere and we fight back in red states as well.”
- “There are very clear parallels between the anti-LGBTQ legislation we’re seeing and the anti-abortion legislation we’re seeing. We talk about this in the frame of bodily autonomy and we’re fighting for this in conjunction together, and it’s important to note that Republicans also are tying these fights together.”
Tennessee Rep. Justin Jones:
- “What we are facing in my state, as with many of my colleagues on this call, is a Republican opposition that really wants to take us backward in our history.”
- “These attacks are not about silencing us as individuals…[It’s about] silencing the voices of diverse communities, impacted communities who rise up time and time again and try to be heard in these committee hearings and in the galleries of our chamber.”
Iowa Democratic Leader Rep. Jennifer Konfrst:
- “The Iowa House passed a bill to define personhood as a life of conception…Because of the work we did in the Iowa House to point out the risk to IVF, to point out the risks that this bill would create, the Iowa Senate Republicans chose not to take up the bill…The only reason that bill is not law is because House Democrats hit hard on the legislation.”
- “None of this is a state-specific effort. This is a national effort to take advantage and to try to hold power in red states. I look forward to being on this call next year, on a purple state call, because we’re going to continue to hold them accountable for the work they’re doing to undermine what Iowans care about most.”
Oklahoma Democratic Leader Rep. Cyndi Munson:
- “Oklahoma has one of the strictest abortion bans in the country… It’s unfortunate that Republicans continue to attack women when they’re trying to get the health care they need.”
- “We’ve lost a precious life [with Nex Benedict’s passing]. Someone who should be here today with their friends and family and going to class or just enjoying spring break like every other student…We are working incredibly hard, not just trying to pass the policies that we know work for our constituents, but also fighting back against the extremism that continues to plague the work that we’re trying to do and accomplish.”
Texas Democratic Leader Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer:
- “There is madness and chaos when Republicans are leading as we sit on this call today… we are constantly in session defending bad laws, fighting against bad laws, letting our Republican colleagues know if they do this, we will end up in federal court and here we are on the taxpayer dime defending these bad ideas in federal court.”
DLCC Spotlight Candidate for the Alabama House Marilyn Lands:
- “I want to make it very clear that IVF access does remain restricted in Alabama. In Governor Ivey’s own words, the recent legislative fix is only a short-term measure. The law does not undo the far-reaching implications of the ruling.”
- “It’s truly shameful that women today have fewer rights than I did two decades ago. We must repeal Alabama’s no-exception abortion ban and if elected on Tuesday that’s exactly what I plan to do.”
The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) is the official Democratic Party committee dedicated to winning America’s state legislatures and building state infrastructure. Over the last decade, we have fought cycle-over-cycle to gain a dozen new legislative chamber majorities and we are leading the effort to bring national attention and investment to our ballot level. State legislatures are the building blocks of our democracy and have the closest connections to Americans’ day-to-day lives. From protecting fundamental freedoms and voting rights to growing the middle class, the DLCC and state legislators are moving the Democratic agenda forward and shaping the future of this country.
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