The assault on women's reproductive rights continues with a vengeance. As Congress struggled to pass health care reform to improve the lives of America's families, anti-choice forces took advantage of the situation to mount yet another assault on abortion. They were willing to sacrifice health care reform -- even though millions of people would now be able to receive coverage, even though the bill would finally begin to lower health care costs, even though lives would be saved -- to enact anti-abortion provisions to take away reproductive rights from millions of women.
The effect of the Stupak/Pitts Amendment would be to deny the millions of women who get covered through the exchanges access to comprehensive reproductive health care that includes abortion services. These women would be denied coverage available today in private health plans. The Amendment effectively bans private insurance companies that participate in insurance exchanges from providing coverage of abortion. It tries to camouflage the impact by providing an "abortion rider" that women could choose to pay extra for to cover costs if they have an abortion.
How gullible do they think we are? Women don't expect to have an unintended pregnancy or a dangerous pregnancy that jeopardizes their health. And few if any insurance plans would actually choose to provide such a rider. Five states now have provisions to provide abortion riders. But folks have been trying to find a plan that actually provides one -- and they're still looking.
Make no mistake about it: the Stupak Amendment will deny millions of women access to safe, affordable reproductive health care. It puts an expensive price tag on women's ability to act on their reproductive rights. This outrageous provision must be stricken from the legislation before health care reform becomes law.
In 2008 the country elected a pro-choice Congress and a pro-choice president. The president has repeatedly told the country that health care reform would not take away benefits from those who currently have insurance. Now it's up to the President and the Congress to make certain that women do not lose their benefits or rights as a result of health care reform. There's no point in passing a health care reform bill that makes women less healthy, less safe and less able to exercise their constitutional rights.
Ellen R. Malcolm is the president of EMILY's List, an organization that helps elect pro-choice Democratic women to office.
Killing the Stupak Amendment Wouldn't Have Killed the Bill
Now more than ever we need to support Lois Herr in her race against Joe Pitts in Pennsylvania! Please support her at http://www.herr2010.com/ We need women like Lois in Congress to protect the rights of all women.
Don't worry though ladies... he'll be back to smile and chant Hope and Change at rallies and expect you to vote for him and the Dems in 2010 and 2012....
We all know why "The Morning After" pill isn't available....It's a political issue Republicans use to rally their base.
J
If YOU do not want to use birth control, then don't (but then have the decency to care for and support the 'babies' you force a woman to give birth to, against her will and personhood.) However, do not assume you have the RIGHT to force others — of other religious and philosophical beliefs — to follow your personal religious 'morality' (which is all for embryos, but cares little for women, girls, or actual children,
Time for the Catholic Church to take a long hundred year walk into the wildernes to cleanse themselves.
Whatever the basis for supporting the anti-abortion amendment in the House, the passage represents a real threat to the right of choice for women -- particularly those of modest income.
Now is the time for pro-choice Americans to organize a vigorous lobbying effort in the Senate and among Congressional leaders who will participate in the reconciliation process.
www.herr2010.com
What are the ramifications for men? Why are there no consequences to them for a pregnancy in any of these situations? Why are they not held responsible? Why doesn't society put a scarlet letter on them?
Women are the downtrodden majority in this country. And as the majority, I think we deserve to put a couple of terms on men to bring a real balance on consequences - impregnate a woman by crime or by accident - lose your ability to reproduce. (And that procedure is not covered by insurance either). Let's call erectile dysfunction a lifestyle problem - since many people mistakenly assume abortion is a lifestyle decision. Treatment for it should NEVER be covered by insurance.
Its time, ladies, to take over.
It's time the women of this country declare war on those good old boys. Cut off their viagra. Cut off the convenient sex. I suggest that we practice the abstinance they endorse so whole heartedly until they scream!!
Can we do that? I'd even go for the non-coverage of penile implants and Viagra if we could.....and, with several hundred million, if not more than a billion dollars spent annually on unnecessary and non-medically indicated male "circumcisions"....this money could fund a whole lot of medically necessary abortions.....
There's glaring irony in this debate-women continually bristle at any real or perceived threat to their "bodily integrity", privacy rights, reproductive rights, and choice, and readily lash out at men-yet are completely and blissfully blind to the very real reality that men haven't and don't enjoy these very same rights in America, and simply don't care, and can't be bothered. There is no quid pro quo.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/118399/more-americans-pro-life-than-pro-choice-first-time.aspx
Ah, I love conservative projection: they complain that any "government takeover" of health care will lead to rationing, reduction in care, government making doctor-patient decisions and all other kind of "Marxist/Maoist/Hitlerist/Stalinist/Carrot Toppist" horrors.
So what's the first substantive thing they add to the health care bill? A provision prohibiting PRIVATE insurance companies, operating in the FREE MARKET from covering a PERFECTLY LEGAL and MEDICALLY APPROPRIATE procedure.
That's why conservatives fear a "gubmint takeover" of anything: they're afraid someone else might abuse that power they way they do.
There are only 12 states with any prohibitions on insurance coverage. You can buy insurance anywhere you want.
http://www.guttmacher.org/statecenter/spibs/spib_RICA.pdf
Clip, "A handful of states prohibit private insurers from covering abortion services, except in cases of life endangerment; more extensive coverage may be purchased at an additional charge"
To who?
More Americans self identify as conservative; 40%. There are 37% independent and 20% liberal. (Gallup)