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So, where are all the women? That's what Representative Carolyn Maloney asked when she walked into a congressional oversight hearing on contraceptive coverage, and all she saw were a bunch of men. On top of that, Maloney says Chairman Darrell Issa actually manipulated committee rules to block female witnesses from even testifying.
Congresswoman Maloney joining me live from New York this morning.
Congressman -- Congresswoman, rather, you and Representative Eleanor Norton were clearly disappointed during the hearing. You left. You came back. Tell me why you left that hearing initially.
REP. CAROLYN MALONEY (D), NEW YORK: Well, it was in conflict with a hearing on Financial Services on which I serve, a very important hearing, which was a markup on legislation, five bills. I had two amendments in that hearing. So I had to be two places at once. I did come back to listen and to ask questions of the panel.
PHILLIPS: And you --
MALONEY: But what I think is interesting, Kyra, is when two women leave, they say it's a walkout because there are so few women on the panel that if you leave, they think it's a walkout. People were walking in and out all through the hearing that took place for hours.
PHILLIPS: You also accuse Darrell Issa of manipulating committee rules to block female witnesses from testifying. Tell me why you were pushing so hard for Georgetown law student Sandra Fluke to testify.
MALONEY: Well, first of all, a woman is more qualified to speak about women's health care than anyone else. And for him to say she's unqualified is totally unjustifiable.
Also, the Democratic minority is entitled to select our witness. We selected Sandra Fluke. He said she was unqualified. It's not his role to say who the Democratic witness should be or what their qualifications are.
And when you have an important health care issue that affects tens of millions of women, it's very appropriate. And I would say necessary to have a woman on the panel.
PHILLIPS: And you make the point, this was a health care issue. Issa came back writing this letter to Democrats saying, quote, "As this hearing is not about reproductive rights but freedom of religion, Ms. Fluke is not an appropriate witness."
MALONEY: The hearing was about women, and women's access to preventive health care and insurance coverage to provide that health care on a whole range of areas, including reproduction and contraception. This was totally about women's access to health insurance. It was about insurance companies providing access to contraception, which happens to be the law, Kyra, in 28 states.
PHILLIPS: So what's next, Congresswoman?
MALONEY: What's next? We are going to go back and continue working for fairness and justice for women and all people.
PHILLIPS: Congresswoman Maloney, appreciate your time this morning.
MALONEY: And access.
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