While in the state Senate in 2007, Cuccinelli co-sponsored a bill to add a line to the Virginia Constitution declaring that “life begins at the moment of fertilization and the right to enjoyment of life . . . is vested in each born and preborn human being from the moment of fertilization.”
The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has warned that such a law might “deny women access to the full spectrum of preventive health care including contraception.”
AZ defunding of Planned Parenthood struck down by court
An Arizona law that would have cut clinics that provide abortion services from the state’s Medicaid plan was struck down Thursday, signaling a win for Planned Parenthood.
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals said lawmakers in Arizona were wrong to tie Medicaid funds for family planning services to a requirement that clinics like Planned Parenthood stop performing abortions, according to the East Valley Tribune.
The American Civil Liberties Union and Planned Parenthood filed a complaint about the law in July, arguing it’s “wrong for the state to tell Arizonans who they can and cannot see for their health care.”
Cecile Richards, president of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, said this decision is in line with similar cases from around the country.
“All women, no matter where they live, should be able to get quality, affordable health care from the health care provider they know and trust,” Richards said in a statement, according to The Hill.
At what point is the War on Women going to just give it a rest? Abortion is a legal procedure. Those who don’t approve shouldn’t have one. End of story. However, some people want to drag this out to the point of absurdity.
GAO Probes Planned Parenthood
Just when we thought American women had been probed enough, the war on women calls for another government probing of Planned Parenthood. Some of the legislators calling for the most recent probing are sort of known for doing some ‘probing’ of their own if you get my drift (wink wink).
Spurred by a group of anti-abortion lawmakers, the Government Accountability Office is investigating how Planned Parenthood, the Guttmacher Institute, and other prominent family planning-related organizations spend public funds, the GAO confirmed Friday.
More than 50 members of Congress had written in February to Comptroller General and GAO head Gene Dodaro asking the office to follow up on a 2010 GAO report that detailed federal monies provided to the groups.
On Friday, the GAO confirmed to POLITICO that the request from the lawmakers was accepted and an investigation opened. No press release or pubic statement was put out by the office at the time.
Chuck Young, GAO managing director of public affairs, said the scope of the investigation was still being determined, and no completion date had been set.
And the Pig of the Year Award goes to…..Rick Perry
Two days after Texas lawmaker Wendy Davis vaulted into the political spotlight for helping defeat a bill restricting abortion rights by staging an 11-hour-long filibuster, Gov. Rick Perry said it was unfortunate she had not learned that “every life matters,” given that she was the child of a single mother who went on to earn a Harvard law degree.
In a speech to nearly 1,000 delegates at the conference near Dallas, Mr. Perry struck hard at Ms. Davis, 50, asking the crowd, “Who are we to say that the children born in the worst of circumstances can’t grow to live successful lives?”
Then he cited Ms. Davis, as an example, saying she was the daughter of a “single mother. She was
a teenage mother herself. She managed to eventually graduate from Harvard Law School and serve in the Texas Senate.“It is just unfortunate that she hasn’t learned from her own example that every life must be given a chance to realize its full potential and that every life matters.”
Ms. Davis released a statement that said Mr. Perry’s statement was “without dignity and tarnishes the high office he holds. They are small words that reflect a dark and negative point of view. Our governor should reflect our Texas values. Sadly, Gov. Perry fails that test.”
How totally patronizing and inappropriate. I have rarely heard any remarks that judgemental. I can’t believe that any person in that room who personally witnessed Perry’s words wasn’t just mortified for him.
Stop the Gynoticians
It’s time for all this to stop. Women have a Constitutional right to abortion, as outlined in Roe v. Wade. Women have a Constitutional right to contraception as codified by Griswold v. Connecticut.
The people trumpeting the loudest are tea party enthusiasts. Perhaps they should pay a little more attention to cases that have been decided and codified using that very Constitution that they hold so near and dear. They can’t have it both ways.
Rick Perry and his gang of merry misogynists all need a good old fashioned Texas Ass-Whupping. When finished with them, the Ass-Whuppers can move north and take care of those miscreants who voted for HB 1797 which is also unConstitutional.
Stop the war on women. Make no mistake–it very much is a war on women. Saying it isn’t doesn’t make it so.
FYI–The notes in the Gynotician’s pocket read:
- Shut down health centers
- Ban abortion
- Redefine rape
- Take away birth control
- Mandate ultra-sounds
Let’s add one to his list since we live in Virginia. See above.
House Republicans attempt another anti-abortion measure through lies and deception
ktar.com: (Arizona)
WASHINGTON (AP) – House Republicans on Tuesday make their most concerted effort of the year to change federal abortion law with legislation that would ban almost all abortions after a fetus reaches the age of 20 weeks.
The “Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act,” expected to pass by a comfortable margin late Tuesday, would be a direct challenge to the 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that legalized abortions up to the time a fetus becomes viable. Fetal viability is generally considered to be at least 24 weeks into the pregnancy.
The measure will be ignored by the Democratic-led Senate and the White House, saying the bill is “an assault on a woman’s right to choose,” has issued a veto threat.
Even if the policy were to become law, it would almost certainly face a legal challenge. That’s a prospect supporters hope for as part of the ultimate goal of overturning Roe v. Wade.
Faux News and Ingraham lie again about Plan B
These folks have told one lie after the other. As a matter of fact, many of the women’s reproductive rights groups were hotting mad at Kathleen Sebelius and President Obama because girls under 15 had to have parental permission to get the morning after pill.
According to mediaite.com:
The Fox News watchdogs over at Media Matters have flagged another clip of conservative commentator Laura Ingraham saying something “outrageous,” which is a bit like flagging a clip of the sky being blue, but in the process, they missed the big, fat lie that Fox and Friends‘ Steve Doocy told about President Obama‘s policy on Plan B emergency contraception. The Justice Department has dropped its appeal of a judge’s ruling that the drug be made available over-the-counter, without age restrictions, which Ingraham called a “good deal for pedophiles” and statutory rapists.
Kermit Gosnell to spend remainder of his life in prison
Make no mistake about it. Kermit Gosnell is a back alley abortionist and was performing illegal abortions. In fact, this blog put out a message about him at the time of his arrest. There is nothing redeeming about this man or his practice.
All the regulation in the world wouldn’t stop this criminal. Sean Carney is simply wrong about increased regulation. His smug look sickened me since I doubt he has ever sat up with a friend who agonized over the possibility of unwanted pregnancy or the possibility of an abortion.
It makes as much sense to act like over-regulation would have stopped Gosnell as it does to suggest that we should ask a thug with a stolen .38 special to show us his concealed weapon permit. Criminals don’t follow the rules.
Desperate women do not need to be put in the position of feeling like they need to go to places that practice bad medicine. Reproductive services should be available, safe, and affordable. That drives the Kermit Gosnells out of business. Restrictions and lack of available services guarantee that another Kermit Gosnell will pop up to prey on more desperate women.
Unfortunately, Karnamaya Mongar paid with her life. That is unacceptable in a country where legal, safe abortion is the law of the land.
Emergency Plan B Contraception: no age restrictions?
The Washington Post has posted its opinion. Here is the background part for your consideration:
WHEN U.S. District Judge Edward Korman ruled last month that the government had to allow unrestricted, over-the-counter access to the emergency contraceptive Plan B, it seemed as though the Obama administration had stumbled its way out of a political quandary. Scientists say that the drug is safe for over-the-counter sale; in fact, the judge noted, it would be among the safest of over-the-counter drugs. But many parents — President Obama included, by his own account — are queasy about children being allowed to buy emergency contraceptives without oversight. The court forced the government to act on evidence, not queasiness.
When your heritage bites you in the butt….
Two sets of parents, one little girl. One set of parents in South Carolina, the other in Oklahoma. Both want the child. The birth mother chose the South Carolina couple, the Capobiancos. The Oklahoma couple is comprised of the biological father, aka sperm donor and his wife. The biological father had texted earlier that he gave up any claim to the child.
The Capobiancos, chosen by the birth mother, took care of baby Veronica from the moment of her birth until she was 27 months old. It was then that the courts. basing their decision on tribal law, gave Baby Veronica to her birth father. The Supreme Court hears the case this week.
Virginia TRAP laws whittle away at abortion rights
RICHMOND — The Virginia Board of Health voted Friday to require clinics that perform abortions to meet strict, hospital-style building codes that operators say could put many of them out of business.
The 11 to 2 vote represented the board’s final say on the matter, which has taken unexpected twists and turns since the General Assembly voted in 2011 to regulate abortion clinics like outpatient surgical centers. The regulations went straight to Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli II (R), who quickly certified them. They now go to two state agencies and Gov. Robert F. McDonnell (R), who is expected to sign off on them.
Make no mistake, these TRAP laws do not make abortion safer nor do they protect women. TRAP laws simply make it more difficult and expensive to provide safe, legal abortion. Anyone who thinks differently has been misled by political opponents who want to end legal abortion.
Boston College bans handing out free condoms
Boston College is cracking down on condoms. According to the New York Times the Jesuit University is threatening a group, the Boston College students for sexual health, with expulsion for handing out free condoms. Something they’ve been doing since 2009. But last month the group received a letter from the dean of students that stated,
“The distribution of condoms is not congruent with our values and traditions….” Boston College is a Jesuit College.
So why are students giving away free condoms? According to newyorktimes.com:
NEWTON, Mass. — Chelsea Lennox, a junior at Boston College, the Gothic university overlooking this natty Boston suburb, picked up a bouquet of brightly colored condom packages and put them into the envelope that she views as a tiny beacon of sexual health resources at the deeply Catholic institution.
Govenor Ultrasound McDonnell Hires Bullies to Answer the Phones
So I called the Govenors office, not the first I have done this mind you, and spoke with the most obnoxious young man. He wanted to bully me into a debate. I will add, every other time I have called the Govenor’s office, I have spoken with a perfectly lovely black woman. She is always polite. Well, what a difference this experience was for me.
I wish I had asked his name now. He answered the phone and I told him I was calling about the amendment that would inhibit women buying abortion coverage with their own money in the insurance exchange. I asked him, rhetorically of course, why republicans always seemed to rally around the premise of small government, but when it comes to a womans vagina/i.e. reproductive system, they were more than happy to use government power to justify their means.
He then proceeded to interupt me and instead of asking me for my name etc, he wanted to debate me on the subject. I told him I had no interest in debating him, that I simply called to register my disgust. Well, he proceeded to tell me that I had “called a non partisan office”. Can someone please tell me how Govenor McDonnell’s office is non partisan. Isn’t he a republican? Am I in the some twighlight zone episode?
Governor Ultra-Sound Strikes Again!
Email from NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia:
Dear XXXXXX,
Gov. McDonnell won’t rest until abortion access is completely eliminated in the Commonwealth.
Late last night, Gov. McDonnell added an anti-abortion amendment to SB921 and HB1900, bills to implement Virginia’s new health-insurance exchange as set out under the Affordable Care Act. McDonnell’s new amendment seeks to ban abortion coverage from all private plans sold in Virginia’s federally run health-insurance exchange, and if passed, will block thousands of Virginian women from purchasing comprehensive health care with their own private dollars.
By banning women from using their own money to purchase private insurance plans that include this one common benefit, Gov. McDonnell is attempting to restrict Virginians’ personal economic decisions as well as their access to affordable comprehensive health care. Let’s be clear – despite what you will hear from anti-choice groups, this amendment is not a matter of eliminating public funding for abortion. Instead, McDonnell’s amendment would block Virginia women from spending their own private dollars to purchase an insurance policy with abortion coverage. In addition, the governor’s amendment would take away basic coverage currently included in a vast majority of Virginia’s private insurance plans.
North Dakota, First State to Earn Taliban Status
Well, North Dakota’s legislature has approved the first Personhood Amendment. So this is what American “taliban” looks like in my opinion.
North Dakota lawmakers voted on Friday afternoon to pass a “personhood” abortion ban, which would endow fertilized eggs with all the rights of U.S. citizens and effectively outlaw abortion. The measure, which passed the Senate last month, passed the House by a 57-35 vote and now heads to a ballot vote, likely in the next November election.
A personhood ban could have far-reaching consequences even beyond abortion care, since it will charge doctors who damage embryos with criminal negligence. Doctors in the state say it will also prevent them from performing in vitro fertilization, and some medical professionals have vowed to leave the state if it is signed into law.
So if I were to go to the CVS and buy a pregnancy test, do I have to register the results? If I have a spontaneous abortion, will my doctor have to go before a legal committee and defend the cycle of nature?
