Governor John Bel Edwards’ nominee for Secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals is already stirring controversy for her women’s health advocacy.
On Jan. 5, Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards announced Dr. Rebekah Gee as his nomination for Department of Health and Hospitals Secretary. She was the state Medicaid medical director and taught health policy and health systems’ management at LSU. Edwards needs Gee’s expertise if he plans to expand Medicaid as promised.
Two days later, anti-abortion groups trying to hold health care expansion hostage for low-income women raised concerns about Gee’s “alarming” resume. The Louisiana Family Forum finds her advocacy for women’s health–specifically abortion, emergency contraception and Planned Parenthood — alarming.
Nothing is more pro-life than seeking to deny healthcare to poor women.
In a state ranked 49th in women’s health according to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, Gee’s knowledge on women’s health makes her an important part of our new governor’s team. Edwards should defend Gee instead of cowering to anti-choice groups.
These anti-choice groups are upset because their junk science on abortion isn’t the norm at most medical schools. Most schools use real science, and Gee received her Masters in Public Health from Columbia and her M.D. from Cornell. Archaic views and expectations of women do not dictate curriculum there.
The response from Edwards’ transition staff is more puzzling than these groups’ backlash. They sent a written statement to The Advocate stating the governor spoke with Gee about her personal stance on abortion and she understands the governor can fire her at any time.
Edwards’ transition team publicly threatened their own nominee for having the audacity to stand up for a woman’s constitutional right to have an abortion. Social conservatives and the de-facto leader of the Louisiana Democratic Party both agree attacking women’s health is good politics, leaving Louisiana women in their crosshairs.
No wonder a 2013 Center for American Progress report analyzed the treatment of women and found Louisiana ranked dead last on the issues of leadership, health and economics. Gee could be the advocate Louisiana women need to reverse these trends. She wouldn’t kowtow to the whims of social conservative groups who believe women should be constrained to 1950’s social expectations.
The anti-choice groups who want to restrict health care at every turn will never be pleased. Why should the governor dignify these groups with a response? Edwards even scored a 100 percent rating from the Louisiana Right to Life from 2012 to 2015 but nope, still not good enough for them.
Gee is an excellent choice for DHH Secretary, even if she is stymied by Edwards’ anti-choice views. Louisiana women deserve better; they deserve health care that’s right for them and their families. State government officials should reflect these values.
Louisiana women are counting on you to fight these extreme groups, Governor Edwards. Their health depends on it.
Michael Beyer is a 22-year-old political science major from New Orleans, Louisiana. You can reach him on Twitter at @michbeyer.