(from the Rachel Maddow Show)
Gov. Kasich has signed into the budget (yes, the budget--not a stand-alone piece of legislation where debate is encouraged and heard) about the most restrictive measures re women's reproductive rights in the country (e.g, women may not be allowed to use certain birth control now in Ohio).
I know this is such a divisive issue with little room in the middle for folks, and I won't belabor an argument here. I will say, however, that if this is the intent of the Republican legislature, then it needs to run through the proper channels. Slipping it into the budge of all places is a weak, chicken-you-know-what move by Kasich, who could have line-itemed the language out re abortion.
Like most things in a democracy, it's better when it's all out in the open for debate where people can offer testimony and science, not just personal beliefs and intuition. Yet, time and time again we see these back-door legislative maneuvers by Republican-dominant bodies. In a democracy (or a democratic republic, if you prefer) sunshine must be allowed in; if not, then you have something other than a democracy.
For your consideration:
--more than half of women who seek abortion already have children and cite economics as the primary reason for their choice (i.e., the women say they can't afford another child)
--less than 10% of what Planned Parenthood does is abortion services. By law, no public money can be used to pay for abortions. Thousands of women only have access to their health care through Planned Parenthood; they will now lose access to pap smears, mammograms, and other vital healthcare because a handful of middle-aged white guys decide on their own that this is the thing to do in 2013.
--also less than 10% of the women who have abortions, have multiple abortions for non-health related issues ("using abortion as birth control").
I'm not a reporter, but I'm guessing that the ALEC group was involved in this legislation--it has all the trappings that we've seen in other states: mandatory ultrasounds, legislative-mandated script to be read by healthcare provider, gag orders on folks who assist rape victims, etc.
* * *
(from Jonathan Turley)
more Ohio pride:
http://jonathanturley.org/2013/07/01/ohio-police-threaten-unconstitutional-searches-to-stop-citizens-who-react-suspiciously/
Gov. Kasich has signed into the budget (yes, the budget--not a stand-alone piece of legislation where debate is encouraged and heard) about the most restrictive measures re women's reproductive rights in the country (e.g, women may not be allowed to use certain birth control now in Ohio).
I know this is such a divisive issue with little room in the middle for folks, and I won't belabor an argument here. I will say, however, that if this is the intent of the Republican legislature, then it needs to run through the proper channels. Slipping it into the budge of all places is a weak, chicken-you-know-what move by Kasich, who could have line-itemed the language out re abortion.
Like most things in a democracy, it's better when it's all out in the open for debate where people can offer testimony and science, not just personal beliefs and intuition. Yet, time and time again we see these back-door legislative maneuvers by Republican-dominant bodies. In a democracy (or a democratic republic, if you prefer) sunshine must be allowed in; if not, then you have something other than a democracy.
For your consideration:
--more than half of women who seek abortion already have children and cite economics as the primary reason for their choice (i.e., the women say they can't afford another child)
--less than 10% of what Planned Parenthood does is abortion services. By law, no public money can be used to pay for abortions. Thousands of women only have access to their health care through Planned Parenthood; they will now lose access to pap smears, mammograms, and other vital healthcare because a handful of middle-aged white guys decide on their own that this is the thing to do in 2013.
--also less than 10% of the women who have abortions, have multiple abortions for non-health related issues ("using abortion as birth control").
I'm not a reporter, but I'm guessing that the ALEC group was involved in this legislation--it has all the trappings that we've seen in other states: mandatory ultrasounds, legislative-mandated script to be read by healthcare provider, gag orders on folks who assist rape victims, etc.
* * *
(from Jonathan Turley)
more Ohio pride:
http://jonathanturley.org/2013/07/01/ohio-police-threaten-unconstitutional-searches-to-stop-citizens-who-react-suspiciously/
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