LITTLE ROCK — For AR People announces the formation of Arkansans for Limited Government, a ballot question committee (BQC) in support of the Arkansas Reproductive Healthcare Amendment.
Government overreach is killing Arkansas women. The Arkansas Reproductive Healthcare Amendment, a proposed constitutional amendment currently before the Attorney General, would
limit government interference in the personal healthcare decisions of Arkansans.
Arkansas is the most dangerous state in the country for pregnant women and girls, with a maternal mortality rate twice the national average.1 Fifty percent of Arkansas counties have limited or no access to maternity care services.2 This is a healthcare emergency for our state;
Arkansas’s total abortion ban, which prohibits access to lifesaving healthcare for women, has worsened the crisis by preventing doctors from providing necessary care. The Arkansas Reproductive Healthcare Amendment will restore personal liberty, permit doctors to properly
care for patients, and make our state safer and healthier for everyone.
“When it comes to personal healthcare, Arkansans know what’s best for their families, and the state shouldn’t pretend to play ‘doctor’ or know better,” said Hershey Garner, Chair of Arkansan for Limited Government and a spokesperson for the group. “These matters are deeply personal and should be between an individual and their medical provider.”
Specifically, The Arkansas Reproductive Healthcare Amendment will prevent the state from restricting access to abortion within 18 weeks of conception, in cases of rape or incest, in the event of a fatal fetal anomaly, or when abortion is needed to protect the pregnant female’s life or health.
“Doctors and patients are the only decision-making team needed for families to make healthcare decisions that allow them to flourish in Arkansas,” said Jim McHugh, Treasurer for Arkansans for Limited Government. “The influence of politicians in the most personal, and often the most devastating, moments of Arkansans’ lives must end.”
For more information on Arkansans for Limited Government and how the public can support passage of the Arkansas Reproductive Healthcare Amendment, visit ARliberty.org.
About Arkansans for Limited Government (ARliberty.org): AFLG is led by Hershey Garner,
MD, JD (Chair), a board-certified physician, attorney, and native Arkansan with nearly 40 years
of experience as a medical provider. Jim McHugh, JD, serves as Treasurer and is licensed to
practice law in 14 states where he helps families hold nursing homes accountable for neglecting
and abusing the elderly. For AR People, a nonprofit grassroots advocacy group that advocates
for good governance and forward-thinking policy, serves as an organizational member.
About For AR People (forARpeople.org): For AR People is a nonprofit organization that
advances a responsible democracy in Arkansas by educating the public about issues that
impact our daily lives. We provide opportunities for Arkansans to speak up for their values, like
transparency and accountability in state government, and build a stronger state that works for
everyone.
1 (Patel, 2023)
2 (Report, 2022)
ReferencesPatel, R. (2023, June 5). Arkansas' maternal mortality rate one of the highest according to
UAMS. Little Rock Public Radio. Retrieved November 25, 2023, from
https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2023-06-05/arkansas-has-one-of-the
-highest-maternal-mortality-rates-according-to-dr-manning-of-uams
Report: Nearly Half of Arkansas Counties Are Maternity Care Deserts - ACHI. (2022, November
1). Arkansas Center for Health Improvement. Retrieved November 25, 2023, from
https://achi.net/newsroom/report-nearly-half-of-arkansas-counties-are-maternity-care-de
serts/
ARliberty