W's Parting Gifts to Women

It's gift-giving time again, and our President is sure in the spirit -- of the Grinch, that is. Good old George W. is being particularly nasty to women in this season of good will. He's giving the women of the country some new regulations that will keep on giving us trouble for years to come. It's not new that outgoing Presidents try to change national policy at the last minute through rule changes at the various cabinet departments that don't have to go through Congress. But W is set to set a record.

Knowing that the country is not inclined to support new laws against abortion because a clear majority of women (and men) are pro-choice and value their medical privacy, the Prez has decided to curb our rights through deputizing health workers as watchdogs. Under the guise of "anti-discrimination" against the anti-choice beliefs of employees at medical facilities, Health and Human Services has crafted a sneaky new rule that allows any worker in a medical facility to deny a rape victim access to emergency contraception if that worker does not believe in contraception.

What's more, these self-selected gatekeepers to our choices can also remain mum about nearby hospitals that might be more inclined to offer this common medical treatment that is accepted, legal, and safe. Never mind that the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, the American Hospital Association, the American Medical Association, 28 senators, more than 110 representatives and the attorneys general of 13 states have urged the Bush administration to withdraw the proposed rule -- it's the thought that counts.

Gift number two -- taking effect just four days before W leaves office -- is a weakening of our already very weak Family and Medical Leave (FMLA) laws. Shamefully, we're the only industrialized country on the planet without some kind of paid pregnancy leave or paid family leave -- though workers at large companies can take unpaid leave of up to 12 weeks if they can afford it.

With the new regs, even that will be much more difficult. Workers will have less time to give notice of their need for leave, while employers get more time to let them know whether the request for leave has been approved -- making it harder for workers to exercise their rights under FMLA. And one more little thing -- employers will have more direct access to the health care providers and health information of workers and their family members -- again jeopardizing workers' medical privacy.

Not wanting to leave anyone out of his year-end largesse, President Bush is also "giving" to poor women, in the form of new premiums and higher co-payments for Medicaid, the medical care of last resort for these women and their children. According to the New York Times, the new rule represents a sea change in Medicaid, and many experts predict it will cause Medicaid patients to go without medical services.

The Bush Administration admits this, blatantly citing the cost savings that will accrue because people can't afford the co-pays and new premiums. In their own words, "Some individuals may choose to delay or forgo care." Another little giftie in the package robs the taxpayers to feed the large pharmaceutical companies. Under the new rule, states can use the co-payments to push the use of expensive brand-name drugs instead of the cheaper generics.

Some will say none of this matters, that a new President can just overturn these onerous new regulations. True enough, but with the economy in shambles and two wars to worry about, these concerns will most likely be pushed to the bottom of the pile for at least a couple of years. After that, the process itself could take up to a year and a half. So thanks George -- and a happy holiday to you too.

Comments

[Rockerbabe]

This too shall pass. Let them have their short lived "fun", it will be changed after January 20, 2009.

[Frannyvida]

That's right folks, one more for the record. As Rainbow Phoenix wrote "right of conscience" rule makes this one just many tips of the iceburg. Dubya is obviously tring to see just how many steps backwards he can take our Country. Backwards for Women's Rights, Women's Health, Human Rights and on and on. Post your blogs, then take some action!!! Get on change.org and vote. Under Women's Issues vote up "stop Bush from passing right of conscience rule". This is not just a "Woman's" issue. It affects the right of all Americans and could involve many procedures, depending on who's conscience is being questioned. There are many other issues you can vote up along with this one. Realizing Obama will have much on his plate, but we can't let this one fall through the cracks. I was angry enough to get this on change.org, please take some action.

[rozboy]

The term Pro-life is misleading, as it only considers the "sanctity of human life" as it relates to the fetus, but neglects the needs of humans after birth. Where are the Pro-life coalition members when it comes to advocating protection of women and children from violence, and support of programs that educate on sex, sexual harrassment, sexual violence, and protection of conception rights?

I know - they are posted outside Planned Parenthood showing posters of so-called "aborted babies", shouting at traumatized women who may or may not be getting abortions or abortion counseling. Hypocrites - so many of them .

[rozboy]

It is a tragedy, to say the least, and anyone who knows a woman who was in this situation can attest to this. Not only is this a blatant attempt to allow someone the opportunity to foist their views on your private life, it is an opportunity for the Christian Right to inject religion into government. As a Christian, I am saddened and appalled that compassion for women and victims of violence is no longer a topic, and that once again, Bush has pushed a decrepit agenda on the public.

This is more reason than ever to become an activist, to take the opposition to this madness beyond blogging, and get it into the forefront of the dialog. Challenge these cruel restrictions beyond just arguing, and let's put facts and logic up against false religious ideology and so-called "moral principle".

[Binski]

I am absolutely sickened by this. The outgoing president should NOT be allowed to pass these outrageous rules without any oversight whatsoever. He complete disregard for what the American people need and want is shameful. It is stuff like this that makes the US look like some underdeveloped, third-rate country. Only a dictator does things like this.

[mamiel]

I am flabbergasted. Every time I think he can't get worse, he gets worse. There should be a law that every woman to enter a rape crisis center be informed about the emergency contraception and that it be made available to her immediately.

[cylindar]

In fact if it wasn't for the woman's vote George Bush would not have been elected president. Many women voted for him and it is a disgrace. They deserve what they got. Maybe they will be more on the ball in future elections.

[ThatOne4Me]

You make it sound like ALL women voted for him. Not so! Men voted for him also, does that mean all men are also guilty?

Stop hating.

[skibiketrash]

George leaves more goodies on his way out.

[MomfromTexas]

I used up my word limit on my last post, so I'll continue here :). I'm hoping Ms. Burk may be able to tell me whether or not this law is truly legal, for it seems to me that it's a backhanded way of sending choice back to the states. In rural areas, for example, there may only be only one physician. If that physician refuses to supply birth control or perform abortions, then that county is pro-life. I am sure there already are rural physicians, who refer a woman to another hospital or physician for an abortion, but at least the physician makes a referral. Now, the doctor doesn't have to, and doesn't even have to supply birth control. I easily can see pro-choice and pro-life counties popping up all over the country. Am I seeing this incorrectly?

[MomfromTexas]

I live in a burb that is about forty minutes outside a very large city. The city is in one county, and the burb is in another. In my county, we only have one hospital that has rape kits. If a woman is raped, she must go to that hospital for her exam. With this new Bush "law," if the physician at that hospital is "morally" opposed to the "morning after pill," then the physician does not have to give one to the rape survivor OR tell her where she can get it. Since this pill is sold over the counter, she could go to one of the many local pharmacies and buy it, IF she knows she can buy it over the counter, and IF she is at least eighteen, for anyone under the age of eighteen must have a prescription. If a rape survivor in my county, who is under eighteen, goes to that hospital and is refused the "morning after pill," then she must get in the car and drive to a hospital in another county and HOPE that doctor will write a prescription for her. Remember, she's already traumatized from the rape. She's not thinking very clearly. And this doctor has the right to not only refuse to write the prescription but ALSO has the right to withhold any information about where she can get a prescription--which local doctor or which hospital in the next county will write her one.

[carrieanna]

Why don't the "pro-life" people step up and help offset the Medicaid co-payment charges for the people who need monetary help? That would certainly show that they are actually interested in the health of the baby instead of just politicizing women's rights.

[Grundoono]

Because they are only interested in the baby *before* it's born, not after.

[Toonadude]

Correction: Pro-lifers are not interested in the baby at all. They have one objective: They want to be able to say "God bless America" and believe in their minds that God would actually bless America in response to the request. For them, that means an America with zero abortions. If their neighbor's 15 year old daughter gets pregnant by date-rape and has to go to Canada to "get it taken care of" ........ so what !!!!.........God bless America !!

[RainbowPhoenix]

The so called "freedom of conscience" act goes farther than abortion and birth control. Could a homophobic doctor refuse to help the victim of a gay bashing? Could a mormon doctor refuse to help a native american? Could a scientologist pharmacist refuse to dispense antidepressants? Could a Jehovah's Witness doctor refuse to supply a blood transfusion? Could an evangelical pharmacist who believes that AIDS is god's retribution refuse to dispense antiretrovirals? Someone is going to die because of this.

[Alethea]

Well said.

[OneLiberalLady]

Bush seems to have such utter disregard for the electorate. He barely got elected in 2000, had a fairly narrow margin in 2004 yet he continues to the bitter end to disregard the beliefs and feelings of most of the populous. What an absolute creep the man is!

[exflatlander]

First, I'm sorry that at the end of the day - literally - I'm the only person to have commented on this issue, and second, I am sorry that so many women in this country voted not only for Bush, but for McCain after seeing what a disaster Bush has been.

Makes you wonder if it's time to bring back intelligence tests for voters.

[BSERIUS]

Paid pregnancy or family leave? Who should pay that????? How about if it is a combination of union and employer and tax payer ????

[11907281]

Civilized societies have paid maternity leave as well as universal health care.