Blog for Choice

Two-For-Two on the D.C. Abortion Ban and a Global Gag Rule Update

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:14:49 -0500

Yesterday, we blogged about the House Appropriations Committee rejecting an anti-choice amendment to reinsert the D.C. Abortion ban and now we have even more good news. Yesterday evening, the Senate Appropriations Committee rejected an anti-choice amendment to reinsert the ban in their bill!

A lot of pro-choice allies stepped up and delivered (especially since these votes were really, really close). Special props go to Senate Majority Leader Richard Durbin and Rep. Jose Serrano of New York for their phenomenal leadership at the committee level. If you're looking to thank your Senator, check and see if she/he is on the list of those that voted the right way:

Sen. Inouye (Hawaii)
Sen. Byrd (West Virginia)
Sen. Leahy (Vermont)
Sen. Harkin (Iowa)
Sen. Mikulski (Maryland)
Sen. Kohl (Wisconsin)
Sen. Murray (Washington)
Sen. Feinstein (California)
Sen. Johnson (South Dakota)
Sen. Reed (Rhode Island)
Sen. Lautenberg (New Jersey)
Sen. Tester (Montana)
Sen. Specter (Pennsylvania)
Sen. Collins (Maine)

In case you were wondering which anti-choice members of Congress offered the anti-choice amendments, it's none other than the usual suspects: Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) and Reps. Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.) and Lincoln Davis (D-Tenn.). And just know they won't give up once these bills go the floor in the House and Senate, so stay tuned...

Some more good pro-choice news involves the anti-choice Global Gag Rule. Remember when we celebrated, during the first week President Obama was in office, his repeal of the onerous Global Gag Rule, which blocked the world's poorest women's access to basic health care, including birth control?

Well, the same Senate Committee approved a proposal that provides a more permanent fix to the global gag rule. Special thanks certainly go out to Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) for leading the way on this front.

Other Senators voting with us include:

Sen. Inouye (Hawaii)
Sen. Byrd (West Virginia)
Sen. Leahy (Vermont)
Sen. Harkin (Iowa)
Sen. Mikulski (Maryland)
Sen. Kohl (Wisconsin)
Sen. Murray (Washington)
Sen. Dorgan (South Dakota)
Sen. Feinstein (California)
Sen. Durbin (Illinois)
Sen. Johnson (South Dakota)
Sen. Reed (Rhode Island)
Sen. Pryor (Arkansas)
Sen. Tester (Montana)
Sen. Specter (Pennsylvania)
Sen. Collins (Maine)

Excellent news to end a busy, choice-filled week. We'll see you back here on Monday... for the start of the Sotomayor hearings!

Quick Update on the D.C. Abortion Ban

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:21:07 -0500

On Monday, NARAL Pro-Choice America President Nancy Keenan co-authored a blog post on RH Reality Check with Tiffany Reed, president of the D.C. Abortion Fund. In it, Keenan and Reed discussed recent action to remove - and then reinstate - an onerous obstacle to a woman's ability to access safe, legal abortion:

The House Appropriations Committee is taking action on a bill tonight that allocates funds for Washington, D.C.--and there is good news for America's pro-choice majority.

The bill follows President Obama's lead (and NARAL Pro-Choice America's recommendation) to lift the ban on D.C.'s ability to use locally raised funds for abortion services. Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, the city's elected representative in Congress, fully supports this measure.

As the D.C. Abortion Fund can attest, this ban's effect on women is devastating. Women have had to sell their cars, get high-interest predatory loans (not even an option anymore), pawn wedding rings or other jewelry, sell their children's toys, go without electricity, or even risk eviction--all to pay for the abortion care they need.

Read many more heart-breaking stories for examples of what can happen when access to affordable reproductive health care is out of reach for women.

Historians will note that an anti-choice Congress imposed the ban 15 years ago--and anti-abortion politicians are not going to let this symbol of interference in D.C.'s local affairs go down without a fight.

Anti-choice members of the committee (Reps. Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.) and Lincoln Davis (D-Tenn.), we are talking about you) are trying to reinsert the ban as this bill moves forward--and they could make their first attempt when the committee meets this Tuesday night.

Tiahrt and Davis' allies on anti-choice blogs and news sites already are manufacturing outrage over this positive development for women's health and safety in the nation's capital.

Well, good news! The House Appropriations Committee defeated this anti-choice attempt to reinsert the D.C. abortion ban. Keenan said:

We cleared an important hurdle, thanks to the leadership of subcommittee chairman Rep. Jose Serrano and our pro-choice allies on the House Appropriations Committee. As this bill moves to the full House, our activists are ready to work to ensure that Congress upholds the committee's action and thus removes this discriminatory policy that blocks women's access to safe, legal abortion in our nation's capital.

Ann Coulter mouths off... again

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:30:27 -0500

This time, she aims her anti-choice rhetoric at Dr. George Tiller. Watch it:

It's disgusting and disgraceful, and we really don't want to spend any time more than necessary on Ann Coulter's inflammatory rhetoric, so I'll skip to something more uplifting.

Many of you have probably heard about our "Trust Women" wristbands, but for those of you that haven't heard, here's the run down: In honor of Dr. George Tiller, who often wore a button that simply read, "Trust Women," NARAL Pro-Choice America is asking you to pay tribute to his legacy and demonstrate that we won't let those who use violent rhetoric and hateful language win.

You can read more information on the "Trust Women" campaign, but in the meantime, check out this incredible map:

Feel free to click it and see if your hometown is among those communities that "Trust Women."

Didn't see your town? How do you get your town on the map, you ask? When you donate to get your "Trust Women" wristband, you get to add yourself to the map of people that have already paid tribute to Dr. Tiller. It's really an awesome thing to actually see such an outpouring of support for his legacy.

Millions could lose reproductive-health coverage

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:09:12 -0500

Just as we were celebrating Al Franken's victory in Minnesota, we received disturbing news: Anti-choice senators are using health reform to attack reproductive-health care coverage. Millions of women could lose coverage for abortion care - even if their private health insurance already covers it!

Unless we act now, the Senate could ban reproductive-health services from being covered in the new health-care system.

So please join us and expose and stop this anti-choice attack - call on your senator to oppose a ban on reproductive-health care coverage in the health reform bill.

Time is truly tight here. We need you to take action immediately.

After you send your email, please do even more:

Forward this blogpost to all your friends.
Call your senator. Call the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask to be connected with your senators. When the Senate staff person answers, simply ask to leave this message: "I urge the senator to oppose any attempts to ban reproductive-health services from being covered in the new health-care system."
If you have a Facebook or MySpace page or Twitter account, help us get the word out. Repost the link to our action page - http://action.prochoiceamerica.org/site/Advocacy?id=3835&pagename=homepage - and ask your friends to add their name.

As Nancy Keenan said in an alert we sent out today, "Our success -- or failure -- today could affect millions of woman across the country. Don't let this ban take away health-care options so many women already have."

NARAL Pro-Choice America Endorses Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:54:48 -0500

Today, NARAL Pro-Choice America PAC announced its endorsement of Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in the special primary election slated for September 2010:

"As a dedicated supporter of women's health and rights, I am honored to receive the early endorsement of NARAL Pro-Choice America for my election to the United States Senate," Sen. Gillibrand said. "I congratulate Nancy Keenan and the entire organization for their tremendous efforts to elect pro-choice leaders and protect pro-choice values. We have done a lot of great work together, but we have a whole lot more work to do to protect reproductive rights in this country and ensure privacy and freedom for women."

Keenan said NARAL Pro-Choice America PAC contributed $5,000 to Sen. Gillibrand's campaign. She also pledged to mobilize the organization's 63,113 member activists in support of Sen. Gillibrand, whom the PAC endorsed in previous campaigns for the U.S. House in New York's 20th District.

"Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is a rising star among pro-choice leaders in the Senate," Keenan said. "We are proud to continue the partnership we started in 2006 when Sen. Gillibrand first won a tough race for the House. She is a resilient campaigner whose fully pro-choice voting record reflects an unwavering commitment to the values of freedom and privacy. We are proud to stand with Sen. Gillibrand and pledge to rally thousands of our member activists behind her in the same way she has stood up for a woman's right to choose."

Jonathan Martin, covering Ben Smith's blog over at Politico, already reported on our endorsement.

An "Office of Unborn Children's Health"

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:20:20 -0500

Last week, Congress began the formal process of overhauling the nation's health-care system as the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee began to mark up** its health-care reform legislation - the Affordable Health Choices Act. This committee is one of five congressional panels with jurisdiction over this broad policy area.

During this first stage of the mark-up process, Republicans filed 300-plus amendments that address women's health in some way, approximately a dozen of which are anti-choice. Which one do you think jumped out at us right away? An amendment from (whom else?) Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) to establish a federal "Office of Unborn Children's Health."

Yes, you read that correctly.

I did a little perusing of the amendment's language, and it goes from unreasonable to absurd in under 20 seconds. Still, it's hardly shocking, given the sponsor. Sen. Coburn of Oklahoma is one of the most unrelentingly anti-choice members of Congress. During his 2004 Senate campaign, Coburn told the Associated Press, "I favor the death penalty for abortionists and other people who take life." Coburn is also on record as opposing abortion even in cases of rape or incest. And this "Office of Unborn Children's Health" proposal is one of just nine amendments he's filed on the health-care reform bill thus far. With so many Americans lacking basic health care, it is unconscionable that Sen. Coburn continues to use legislation on this important issue as a means to continue his ideological attacks.

It's important to note that, at this time, this amendment has not yet been offered - but the mark-up continues so we'll update you as we learn more. It's going to be a long summer...

** "Mark up" is D.C. lingo for going through the bill line by line and allowing lawmakers to offer amendments. It's exactly as exciting as it sounds, I'm told.

Video Footage: Mainstreaming Extremism

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 10:04:12 -0500

On Thursday, NARAL Pro-Choice America President Nancy Keenan spoke on a panel hosted by Media Matters that discussed the consequences of the growing culture of violent rhetoric in right-wing media. This event at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, featured moderator Eric Boehlert - a leading progressive writer - and a terrific group of panelists:

Heidi Beirich, Ph.D., Director of Research and Special Projects, Southern Poverty Law Center
Adam Luna, Political Director, America's Voice
Clarissa Martinez, Director, Immigration and National Campaigns, National Council of La Raza
Nancy Zirkin, Executive Vice President, Leadership Conference on Civil Rights

Below are some highlights from Nancy's portion of the panel. Media Matters has its own highlight reel, which shows portions of the other speakers as well. So check it out:

And, as always, let us know your thoughts on inflamatory rhetoric in right-wing media in the comments below.

Senators Block Resolution Condemning Violence Against Women's Health-Care Providers

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:34:38 -0500

Last night, Nancy Keenan released the following statement upon learning that some senators refused to support a resolution condemning violence against women's health-care providers:

I am at a loss as to how any member of the Senate could oppose an anti-violence resolution. It doesn't ask any member of the Senate to change his or her position on abortion. It just reiterates a core American value that, even on issues where there is intense debate, violence is never an option. I commend Sens. Shaheen, Boxer, and Klobuchar, as well as the other 40 senators who cosponsored this resolution, for their leadership, and urge the senators who refused to support it to come out of the shadows and explain why.

As Nancy's statement indicates, the resulotion was introduced by Sens. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Barbara Boxer of California, and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota.

More information can be found on our website or on Sen. Shaheen's website.

Nancy Keenan on NPR.org: After Tiller: What Will Happen To The Women?

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:35:19 -0500

Today, NARAL Pro-Choice America president Nancy Keenan has a piece up on NPR.org called, "After Tiller: What Will Happen To The Women?":

What will happen to the women?

This central question haunted me Tuesday when I heard that Women's Health Care Services, Inc., where Dr. George Tiller provided care to women for more than 30 years, would close permanently.

I can't imagine the pain Dr. Tiller's wife and children are experiencing. It is a sad day for our country when the very family members who stood by their husband and father as he endured countless attacks are forced--as a result of his murder-- to make a decision to close the medical center that he fought so hard to protect.

I thought about Karen from Pennsylvania, who shared this comment on our blog: "Dr. Tiller, you saved my niece Jeanette's life, you helped our family through one of the darkest, most desperate and unthinkable moments we ever experienced. When we thought there was no where to turn, there you were."

Read it in its entirety on the NPR website.

UPDATED: It's also now up on Huffington Post... with 161 comments and counting.

State Legislatures and Choice

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:51:14 -0500

The actions of state legislators around the country have some of the biggest effects on women's access to safe reproductive health care.

In the Albany Times Union, NARAL Pro-Choice New York President Kelli Conlin explains how political actions that seem completely unrelated to choice--like the chaos in the New York State Senate--can have a devastating effect. New York had been close to passing the Reproductive Rights Act:

"While you saw two men cross the aisle, I sat in the New York Senate chamber and saw three years of hard work and real coalition-building in the service of women's health go up in smoke. While you watched the lights go out in the Senate chamber, I watched the state go dark on reproductive rights."

If you live in New York, you can still take action. Tell your senators that they should still support the Reproductive Rights Act.

On the other side of the country, Arizona legislators are considering bills with a number of anti-choice provisions. In this op-ed from The Arizona Republic, an Arizona native shares a personal story and calls on lawmakers to take a difference approach:

"Shouldn't we be focused on reducing the number of unintended pregnancies instead of judging women who make the painful decision to terminate them? All of these factors in the proposed bills simply will add up to more pregnant women who cannot obtain reliable medical care.

Reducing the number of abortions in Arizona must start with honest sex education, access to contraception and comprehensive prenatal care. That would be a bill I could enthusiastically support.

In 2012, the state of Arizona will celebrate its 100th birthday. Do we want our centennial to be recognition of how far we've come in providing medical care to all Arizonans, or a sad realization of how far we have yet to go?"

Contact NARAL Pro-Choice Arizona for more information on the bills and to find out what you can do.

NARAL Pro-Choice America's Statement on the Closure of Women's Health Care Services, Inc.

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:28:58 -0500

Here is the statement from Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, in response to the permanent closing of Dr. George Tiller's clinic, the Women's Health Care Services, Inc.:

Our thoughts are with the Tiller family. I can't imagine the pain they are going through at this time. It is a sad day for our country when family members who stood by their husband and father as he endured countless anti-choice attacks are forced as a result of his murder to make a decision like this one. What happened to Dr. Tiller is part of an ongoing pattern of extreme anti-choice violence and intimidation that seeks, by any means necessary, to deny women access to the safe, legal abortion care they need. This use of inflammatory rhetoric and acts of violence must stop.

Learn more about anti-choice violence and intimidation.

More on the Vigils, Dr. Tiller's Funeral, an OpEd from a Medical Student, and Scott Roeder Speaks

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 14:13:04 -0500

On Saturday, The Wichita Eagle reported on the many, many vigils that have occurred to honor Dr. George Tiller. While they reported 45 vigils in 24 states on Saturday, today we're up to 50 vigils. Incredible. What's more, they reported:

[NARAL Pro-Choice America] said that more than 12,500 people had put their names on an Internet memorial wall for Tiller. The wall is located at www.remembertiller.com.

As of today, we're seeing more than 17,000 signatures and counting. Add yours today.

The New York Times covered Saturday's memorial service for Dr. Tiller:

Dr. Tiller's oldest daughter, Jennifer, told of how she and her family and her parents had spent the week before the shooting at Disney World. She described her father, in sandals and white ankle socks, wearing far too much sunblock, spending the final days of his life at play. "He was just a normal guy," she said.

...Hundreds of mourners streamed into the church, quickly filling the main sanctuary, which seats about 800. Hundreds more, including women who had once been Dr. Tiller's patients, packed an overflow room, with dozens more crowded in the church hallways.

Most carried white carnations and wore a button that read, "Attitude is everything." The button held special significance. Dr. Tiller, a lover of axioms, had worn a similar button for more than 25 years.

At the front of the sanctuary, beside a framed photograph of Dr. Tiller, was a large wreath that framed a simple sign, "Trust Women." The family also announced the establishment of the George R. Tiller Memorial Fund for the Advancement of Women's Health.

Read the entire article to get the full story.

In Sunday's Washington Post, medical student Rozalyn Farmer Love writes, "I grew up believing that abortions are wrong. Now, I expect to perform them someday":

I'm a third-year medical student at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. I plan to become an obstetrician-gynecologist. I dream of delivering healthy babies, working with families and supporting midwifery. But as part of my practice, I also envision providing abortions to women who need them.

The road I took to get here isn't your stereotypical one. My parents are conservative Christians who believe that abortion is wrong. Growing up, I naturally shared their view. But I've also wanted to be a doctor since I was 4 years old, and in high school, I began to feel drawn to issues of women's health. In college, I designed my own major to broaden my understanding of women's health by including psychology, sociology and women's studies courses.

I also served as a counselor for a volunteer organization that helps victims of rape. I sat in hospital rooms with young women who would look at me and say, "I can't be pregnant. I just couldn't carry his baby." I could feel their desperation.

This incredibly profound op-ed is definitely a must read. This third-year medical student has a powerful perspective and her story must be shared.

Scott Roeder, the man charged with murdering Dr. Tiller, called the Associated Press from prison yesterday and said:

"I know there are many other similar events planned around the country as long as abortion remains legal," Roeder said. When asked by the AP what he meant and if he was referring to another shooting, he refused to elaborate further.

It wasn't clear whether Roeder knew of any impending violence or whether he was simply seeking publicity for his cause. Law enforcement authorities including the Justice Department said they didn't know whether the threat was credible.

...Nancy Keenan president of NARAL-Pro-Choice America, said Roeder's comments "continue to escalate that kind of activity, that kind of violence. Quite honestly, I think it's imperative for anti-choice groups to tone down that rhetoric and keep the more extreme elements in their movement form copying Scott Roeder."

BREAKING NEWS: Justice Department to Launch Investigation into Dr. Tiller Murder

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 16:15:08 -0500

Read all about it on The Wichita Eagle:

A federal investigation has been launched in connection with the fatal shooting of George Tiller, the U.S. Department of Justice announced today.

The department's Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney's Office for Kansas are investigating the case.

Tiller was shot and killed Sunday while he was serving as an usher at his church, Reformation Lutheran Church.

Scott P. Roeder has been charged in Sedgwick County District Court with first-degree murder and two counts of aggravated assault in connection with the shooting.

"The federal probe will consist of a thorough review of the evidence and an assessment of any potential violations of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE Act) or other federal statutes," according to a news release issued today by the Justice Department.

The FACE Act was enacted by Congress in 1994 to establish federal criminal penalties and civil remedies for violent, obstructionist or damaging conduct affecting reproductive health care providers and recipients.

The federal investigation will be conducted "in close coordination" with the Sedgwick County District Attorney's Office, the Justice Department said.

You can read our fact sheet on clinic violence (FYI - it's a PDF) for more information.

Please Add Your Name and Pay Tribute to Dr. Tiller

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 12:14:32 -0500

Since news of Dr. Tiller's senseless and tragic murder last Sunday, NARAL Pro-Choice America has worked with its state affiliates and other allies to provide pro-choice Americans with ways to express their grief and pay tribute to Dr. Tiller's service to women. We've been updating our blog with a running list of vigils across the country, photos from some of the vigils, video of Dr. Susan Wicklund on "The Rachel Maddow Show," speaking out Dr. Tiller's murder, and just last night - with video footage of vigils in New York and Minneapolis.

No matter which avenue of activism you chose, each of you, in your own way, is actively honoring Dr. Tiller's legacy and his service to women.

Tomorrow, Dr. Tiller's family and friends will gather in Wichita, KS at a memorial service to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Tiller. In that spirit, we've created an online memorial at www.RememberTiller.com for those who cannot attend the service.

Please take a moment to check out the online memorial, add your name, and join others to make a powerful statement.

We all know how fast the news cycle is, and that Dr. Tiller's murder may fade from the headlines. But we cannot forget that, even in the face of threats of violence, Dr. Tiller never wavered in his commitment to providing abortion services and other reproductive-health care to women and their families, often in the most difficult and heart-breaking circumstances.

So please - take a moment to add your name to www.RememberTiller.com

After you've signed, please share our memorial site with friends and help us demonstrate a nationwide message of support that pays tribute to Dr. Tiller's service to women.

Updated List of Vigils for Dr. George Tiller: Friday, June 5, 2009

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 10:50:19 -0500

Here's today's updated list of vigils:

Tallahassee, FL: 6 p.m. on Friday, June 5, on the steps of the new Capitol at Waller Park. This side of the Capitol is right across from the Supreme Court on Duval Street.
Chicago, IL: 8:15-9:15 p.m. on Friday, June 5, Churchill Field Playlot Park (c/o Holstein Park): 1825 N. Damen Ave., Chicago, IL 60614, For more information, send an email here.
San Marcos, TX: 8 p.m. on Friday, June 5, Courthouse Square, San Marcos, TX
Jacksonville, FL: 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 6, Planned Parenthood clinic: 3850 Beach Blvd.
Madison, WI: 8 p.m. on Sunday, June 7, Lisa Link Peace Park: 400 State Street, Madison, WI, please direct any questions to the NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin office at (608) 287-0016 or via email
Milwaukee, WI: 8 p.m. on Sunday, June 7, First Unitarian Society of Milwaukee: 1342 Astor Street, more information on the NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin website.
Washington, DC: 6 pm.m on Monday, June 8, Remembrance and Celebration of Dr. George Tiller, The National City Christian Church, 5 Thomas Circle, N.W., Washington DC
Denver, CO: 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 11, location TBD, please direct any questions to the NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado office at (303) 394-1973. RSVP for confirmation of details here
Rochester, NY: 5-6:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 4, First Unitarian Church: 220 South Winton Road, Rochester, NY
Portland, OR: 6 p.m. on Sunday, June 7, 3727 NE MLK Jr. Blvd. (NE MLK & Beech, one block north of Fremont, Planned Parenthood health center construction site, enter from NE Garfield Street.), please bring Candles. More information on the NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon website
Allentown, PA: 3-5 p.m. on Sunday, June 7, at the Metropolitan Community Church of the Lehigh Valley: 930 N. Fourth St., Allentown. Anyone who wishes to share a story at Sunday's memorial is asked to call Jennifer Boulanger at 610-770-9077, ext. 11.
Santa Monica, CA: 5-8 p.m. on Saturday, June 6, Santa Monica Promenade: Third and Arizona
Baltimore, MD: 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 18, an evening of reflection and conversation at Windup Space in Baltimore. To RSVP, or for more information, email Melissa Kleder
Virginia Beach, VA: 7 p.m. on Sunday, June 7, the community center of Lynnhaven Colony Congregational Church, United Church of Christ: 2217 West Greatneck Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23451

(Photo source.)