The following highlights recent election-related news on women's health issues.

• Illinois: Gubernatorial candidate Judy Baar Topinka (R) on Tuesday announced that if elected she plans to require insurance companies to cover mammograms, Merck's human papillomavirus vaccine Gardasil and genetic testing and treatment for women with family histories of breast cancer, the AP/Belleville News Democrat reports (Bellandi, AP/Belleville News Democrat, 9/18). Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) in May announced that the income eligibility limit for the Illinois Department of Public Health's Breast and Cervical Cancer Program -- which provides some uninsured women with no-cost screenings for the cancers -- will be raised from 200% to 250% of the federal poverty level. The program provides eligible women between ages 40 and 64 with mammograms and breast exams at no cost, and it provides eligible women between ages 35 and 64 with no-cost pelvic exams and Pap tests. Uninsured younger women who have annual incomes too high to qualify but show symptoms of breast or cervical cancers also can be considered for the program on a case-by-case basis. Blagojevich's plan also allows eligible women who were diagnosed with cancer outside the program to receive treatment services at no cost. Such women previously were not allowed to participate (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 5/17). Barr Topinka said she plans to ensure all women who need mammograms are covered by insurance. She also said she would increase breast cancer research funding in the state and give women and parents of minor girls the option of receiving the Gardasil vaccine (Baar Topinka release, 9/18). "Women are frightened about breast cancer and cervical cancer," Baar Topinka said, adding, "It has a high and unnecessary mortality rate because we don't get out there and do the prevention that we need." Blagojevich spokesperson Shelia Nix cited the governor's record and said Baar Topinka is "coming late to the game" (AP/Belleville News Democrat, 9/18).
  

• North Carolina: North Carolina Right to Life's political action committee, which opposes abortion rights, recently endorsed the re-election of Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.), who faces Richard Carsner (D) in November, the Charlotte Observer reports. According to an NCRTL release, McHenry has supported bills aimed at reducing abortions and banning human cloning and opposed a measure that would have expanded federal funding for human embryonic stem cell research. "The government has no business funding research that ends life while carrying the banner of scientific progress," McHenry said, adding, "This is not progress" (Mitchell, Charlotte Observer, 9/13).