Alexi Giannoulias | Democrat for U.S. Senate

In the same week he begged Sarah Palin for an endorsement, Mark Kirk voted Palin's way on an amendment to the health care bill which prohibits private insurance in the proposed insurance exchange from covering reproductive health care for women.

Planned Parenthood, whose political action committee has repeatedly endorsed Kirk in his congressional races back when used to vote pro-choice, ripped the Stupak Amendment that Kirk voted for Saturday night, saying it would result in women losing health benefits they have today. (Roll Call Vote 887, November 7, 2009http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll887.xml)

"Simply put, the Stupak/Pitts amendment will restrict women's access to abortion coverage in the private health insurance market, undermining the ability of women to purchase private health plans that cover abortion, even if they pay for most of the premiums with their own money. This bill would also ban abortion from the new public option," said Cecile Richards, President of Planned Parenthood.

"Mark Kirk proved tonight he will abandon all of his principles to curry favor with right wingers like Sarah Palin. He flip-flopped on the Clean Energy bill because the right wing demanded it, and now he has abandoned his once pro-choice voting record to take private insurance coverage away from women. Mark Kirk has sold his soul in the pursuit of Sarah Palin's endorsement," said Kati Phillips, spokeswoman for the U.S. Senate campaign of Alexi Giannoulias.