Despite the growing threats to Roe v. Wade, Knute Buehler told OPB that “he doesn’t see access to abortion under threat in Oregon.” He also dismissed thousands of Oregonians who gained access to safe, legal abortion under the Reproductive Health Equity Act, which he opposed: “You know, there’s good access to abortion right now…. That’s not a big problem in my mind right now.”

The La Grande Observer analyzed the flaws of Knute Buehler’s signature legislative accomplishment: “While allowing pharmacists to prescribe contraceptives would remove what may seem like an unnecessary hurdle — a doctor’s visit — it may have created another burden…. There are rules the pharmacy must follow, which actually may not make it easier to attain contraceptives for their customers…. There is an age limit … this consultation costs the patient an out-of-pocket fee … there is no public registry where people can look up what pharmacies in their community are participating.”

In an interview with right-wing radio host Lars Larson, Knute Buehler criticized Planned Parenthood and other advocates for reproductive health care: “These groups are increasingly just focused on politics and not doing the right thing for women’s health.” He went on to highlight his vote against the Reproductive Health Equity Act: “Remember, I had a record in the Legislature of voting against Governor Brown’s effort to expand access to abortion.”

In a Republican debate moderated by right-wing radio host Lars Larson, Buehler made an inaccurate claim about his pharmacist-prescribed birth control legislation: “The law that I helped write and pass has decreased abortions almost 20 percent.” While the abortion rate in Oregon has reached a record low, most experts attribute the decrease in abortion to an increase in access to affordable birth control and accurate sex education. There is no evidence that Buehler’s legislation has made any significant impact. As of January 2017, Portland Monthly reported, “The vast majority of pharmacists in the Portland area appear to be either unaware, unable or uninterested in obtaining this training.” Meanwhile, The Bend Bulletin reported that pharmacist consulting fees “can leave women with significant out-of-pocket costs.”

In an interview with right-wing radio host Lars Larson, Knute Buehler shamed Oregon women for making personal medical decisions about their “unborn children.” He said, “We need to convince people in their hearts and minds that abortion is the wrong option.”

The Register-Guard reported that Knute Buehler wants to restrict access to safe, legal abortion. The editorial read, “He describes himself as pro-choice on abortion, though he favors marginal restrictions that pro-lifers would never get from [Governor] Brown.”

OPB reported that Knute Buehler doesn’t believe low-income Oregon women should have access to safe, legal abortion: “He said he opposed state funding except in cases where it is ‘medically necessary.’” Restrictions on reproductive health coverage can push women deeper into poverty and have profoundly harmful effects on public health.

Knute Buehler voted against the HOPE Amendment, a referral that would have made cost-effective and affordable health care a fundamental right in Oregon.

Knute Buehler opposed Measure 101, which protects health care for our most vulnerable Oregonians — especially women. More than 50 percent of Planned Parenthood’s patients rely on Medicaid for critical preventive healthcare services.

In a column for The Oregonian, Knute Buehler misrepresented his own pharmacist-prescribed birth control legislation and tried to take credit for decades of work led by Oregon women to reduce the unintended pregnancy rate to a historic low. He wrote, “Since the implementation of … the over-the-counter birth control law I wrote in 2015 … there has been a big drop [in teen pregnancies] due to increased access to contraception under Oregon’s pioneering new law.” Contrary to Buehler’s claims, Oregon does not have over-the-counter birth control, and he cited data that predated the implementation of House Bill 2879.

Knute Buehler voted against the Reproductive Health Equity Act, which safeguards no-cost contraception and the right to safe, legal abortion in Oregon. This was the single most important vote in Buehler’s legislative career to protect access to reproductive health care and Buehler voted NO. He went on brag about this vote against abortion access in a December 2017 radio interview.

When asked what he’s doing to improve access to safe, legal abortion — not just contraception — Knute Buehler admitted: “I’m not doing anything to work on access to abortion.”

At a town hall, when asked why he wasn’t defending Planned Parenthood in the face of relentless federal attacks — including the health center in his own legislative district — Knute Buehler dodged responsibility: “I don’t have much influence on federal policy. I can’t help on that.” That’s not showing leadership. That’s playing politics with women’s lives.

Knute Buehler voted against the Patient Privacy Protection Act, which ensures confidentiality in insurance communications. Without these protections, some women cannot seek the health care they need for fear of someone else receiving their medical information.

In his race for State Representative, Knute Buehler met with and earned the “recommendation” of Oregon Right To Life, a radical organization determined to restrict birth control and to outlaw all abortion, even in cases of rape and incest. According to The Bend Bulletin, Oregon Right To Life only offers a “recommendation” to a candidate who “agrees with us on the majority of the life issues.”