From NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia:
Gov. Bob McDonnell has stayed quiet on reproductive rights issues so far this legislative session, but now his anti-choice agenda is back in action with proposed amendments to restrict Virginians’ access to abortion.
Gov. McDonnell is working behind the scenes in Richmond to push for a ban on health-insurance coverage for abortion care in plans participating in the new health- insurance exchange. It’s an unacceptable attempt to further restrict abortion access by meddling in the coverage private insurance plans can offer.
The House of Delegates and state Senate are considering bills to get Virginia ready to implement the new health-insurance exchange system set out under the federal Affordable Care Act. Gov. McDonnell is pushing for amendments on these bills that would ban abortion care from being covered by any plans sold in the exchange.
The governor’s amendments would prevent private companies from selling plans that cover abortion care – coverage that nearly 90 percent of plans already offer. It could keep Virginians from being able to use their own
private dollars to buy insurance coverage that includes abortion care.Virginia already restricts abortion access for women who get their health insurance through the government, but that is not enough for Gov. McDonnell. Now he wants to expand this unfair ban on abortion coverage into the health-insurance exchange.
Caroline O’Shea
Deputy Director
NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia
So Governor Ultra-sound just couldn’t leave things alone, despite his directive to focus on transportation, education and jobs. He just couldn’t resist taking a swipe at abortion access, and therefore, at women. McDonnell wants to deny abortion coverage even for women who pay for their own coverage. Now that takes some nads, Bobby! There is just too much government interference in private lives. Now someone whose party is outraged because people might be mandated to have insurance, want to deny the women of Virginia part of the insurance they already have. So much for free market thinking.
Just last year, physical access to clinics was altered. It is still unknown how many existing Virginia clinics will be able to remain open because of the expense of retrofitting the standards into existing building plans. Even when the state Department of Health directors voted to allow existing clinics to be grandfathered in, McDonnell allowed Ken Cuccinelli to over-rule them, even though they had followed his directive. Additionally, Virginia became a national laughing stock because of requirements for an ultra-sound before abortion would be allowed. Virginia, under Gov. Ultra-sound McDonnell now has some of the most restrictive laws in the nation.
As if his administration hasn’t done enough to women, he wants to take it a step further and now prevent abortion services as a benefit on insurance policies. McDonnell needs to realize that when women no longer have control over their own reproduction, they no longer have equal rights. When will McDonnell join the in the fray on contraception? Will he try to deny access to contraception next?
Once again, I will ask the most basic question…..why do Republicans care so much about a woman’s vagina? No, you can’t just control the reproduction and talk about babies without talking about how the enter the world. Geez, stay the hell out of my body! Love that right to privacy when it comes to guns, but G-d forbid a woman control her economic future and body.
Because they believe that abortion ends a life.
People who believe that should not have abortions. No one is forcing abortion on anyone.
I don’t believe in eating game. However, I certainly don’t insist that everyone else conform to my beliefs.
i really don’t give a rat’s ass what they believe. Abortion is a legal right in this country. I want freedom from their religion.
@Cargosquid
War, the death penalty, and a host of other things end life. Those are all things most of us have very little control over. We do have control over whether or not we chose to have an abortion. We don’t have control over whether someone else has an abortion.
Women who want to end a pregnancy will do what it takes to go to another state where abortion is not as restricted. Having to do this also creates a situation where aborton happens later and in a less safe evironment for many folks who have long distances to travel. The point is, they shouldn’t have to. Abortion is legal in the United States. Most of us want to keep it legal not as a first choice but as a safety net.
Hey Cargo, as soon as you want to pony up your money to support unwanted pregancies FORCED upon women, then maybe you have a leg to stand on. But I’ll tell you what, when you can birth a baby out of your penis, then maybe we can talk.
I am sure you are quite ignorant of the maternal mortaility rate in this country.
Here is a fact and our maternal morality is rising, NOT falling.
Read more: http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2012/07/27/Why-is-maternal-mortality-so-high-in-the-US/WEN-7181343403729/#ixzz2KvqV1uoD
Guess what Cargo, giving birth is not risk free. Who the hell are you to tell any other seperate human being that must be forced to have a child.
Who is most at risk, those very women who can least afford a baby, poor women.
@Elena
Wow.
Because I have a penis, I can’t have an opinion? And notice…. all I said was this:
“Because they believe that abortion ends a life.”
Does it or does it not end a life?
No..birth is not risk free nor did I say that it was. My wife almost died.
Is abortion risk free? What’s the mortality rate, other than for the baby?
You asked a question. “why do Republicans care so much about a woman’s vagina?”
I answered your question. The key word that you should be looking for is “THEY.”
If the answer bothers you…maybe you shouldn’t ask emotionally laden questions that disagree with your beliefs.
I’ve had this discussion here. If I am telling you MY beliefs, I will use the singular “I”….
so, just because you don’t like the answer, don’t attack me. As I said, all I did was answer your question.
And no, I’m not going to walk on egg shells with my terminology because you get upset because someone else has a different priority on life and the right to life. You attack me… I stand up for myself.
What I find hard to believe is Virginians can now have sealed records on their concealed weapons permits and yet be ordered to have an ultra-sound before an abortion.
This is totally EFFED up.
Makers, a history of women’s equality in America will be shown Feb. 26th. I think most people are totally ignorant of how things used to be in Virginia (and America) as little as 40-45 years ago. It would enrage them and perhaps some might see why the vintage women are so up in arms over what is happening with women’s rights nowadays.
@Moon-howler
I actually agree with you on the ultrasounds.
I am glad. Put aside the abortion debate. How can the state order you to have a medical procedure at your own expense that you don’t need?
@Elena
That’s too funny, maybe the subtitle for this site should be changed from:
“A Place for Civil Debate: A Blog for Grown Ups”
To
“A Place for Civil Debate: As long as you don’t have an opposing view and/or a penis”
Are you volunteering for removal?
Remember all of this discussion next year when it comes time to elect a new governor. If you want more of the same then you definitely vote for Cuccinelli. He will make Bob McDonnell look like an amateur when it comes to the war on women.
I totally agree with you, George.
Yet, I see Democrats everywhere running down Terry McAuliffe as a carpetbagger. I don’t get it.
Terry is fine. He will be good for Virginia. He will be even better when one considers the alternatives.