Sen. Gillibrand Statement on Senate Republicans’ Attack on Women’s Health

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand released the following statement in response to the introduction of legislation by Senators Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) and 29 of their Republican colleagues attacking women’s health by going beyond existing federal law that already prohibits federal funds from being used for abortions in the new health care law:

“When we should all be focused on creating jobs and growing our economy, Republicans are mounting an egregious, ideological effort to please their base and launch an all out assault on the rights of women, and the health services for millions of American families. Current law is clear: federal funds cannot be used to provide abortions. That has been the law of the land for 30 years. Their shameless attacks show a blatant disregard for women, who shoulder the worst of the health care costs.”

They're Coming for Roe on Vimeo - Center for Reproductive Rights

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They're Coming for Roe from Center for Reproductive Rights on Vimeo.

ahugestepback.com -- First, it was the health care battle. Then it was the budget battle. Now, anti-choice lawmakers are trying to deny women insurance for abortion and allow hospitals to let women die. Where does this lead? Where will it end?

The most aggressive anti-choice attack in years is underway in the U. S. House of Representatives with a series of bills that invade women’s private health decisions. These actions represent a huge step back for women and the most vicious attack on women's health and rights in several decades. The Huge Step Back campaign is taking these threats head-on by: Aggressively tracking bills targeting women's reproductive rights; Analyzing proposed bills for constitutional rights violations; Meeting and educating lawmakers on Capitol Hill and advocating against attacks; Providing supplemental testimony to hearings on anti-choice bills; Arming you with tools to fight back against the anti-woman, anti-child, and anti-health attacks coming from Congress.

Let there be no confusion about these bills. Their main target is women, and their goal is to intrude on how women make decisions about their own medical care. 

Planned Parenthood Rally on February 26th at Foley Square...

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"We Won't Go Back" - A Powerful New Ad from MoveOn.org

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We Won't Go Back from MoveOn.org Official Channel on Vimeo.

Today, MoveOn.org released a powerful new ad. "We Won't Go Back," with Lisa Edelstein, star of the hit TV show "House," is a hard-hitting portrayal of where the Republican war on women's health will lead if it's not stopped.

From a bill attempting to redefine rape to gutting access to reproductive health care, Republicans have made anti-woman and anti-choice legislation a top priority this year.

The new ad calls out the Republican efforts for what they are: an attempt to send women back to the back alley. But far too few people even know about their efforts. So to stop them, we've got to get this ad out far and wide, and make sure voters see just what Republicans are trying to do.

Women's rights leaders have warned that the Republican effort would be a radical, far-reaching rollback of women's rights. Rep. Carolyn Maloney called it "the deepest attack on a woman's right to choose in my lifetime." Expert Jessica Arons said it would "accomplish the unstated end of making abortion as difficult to obtain as possible without actually criminalizing it."

One bill would effectively prevent women from purchasing insurance that includes abortion coverage in the new insurance exchanges even if they're using their own money. Experts warn this type of restriction could lead to insurance companies dropping abortion coverage entirely. The same bill would also levy a tax on small businesses and individuals who purchase insurance coverage that includes abortion.

Another bill would, incredibly, allow hospitals to turn away a woman seeking an abortion, even if she'll die without it—a major change from current law.

Republicans have a real chance of passing these bills—unless we sound the alarm right away. Can you help MoveOn.org get this new ad on the air? Just click here to donate:

https://pol.moveon.org/donate/backalleyad.html?bg_id=hpc5&id=26124-17551325-Qj.ZdGx&t=5

Stand Up to Boehner- Take the Pro-Choice Oath - YouTube

Planned Parenthood Advocates of New York to Harold Ford Jr.: Stop Proclaiming Yourself as Prochoice...

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Ford says one thing about his position on abortion and his voting record in Congress says another

In anticipation of Harold Ford Jr.'s appearance in the Capital Region this evening, Sunday, February 14, 2010, Planned Parenthood Advocates of New York urges the former Tennessee Congressman to stop proclaiming himself prochoice.

Below is the official statement from M. Tracey Brooks, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Advocates of New York:

"A prochoice representative supports a women's right to access safe, legal, comprehensive reproductive health care without government interference."

"Ford's voting record and recent public statements prove that he does not trust women to make their own decisions. He cannot claim to be supportive of our issues when, as a Tennessee Congressman, he demonstrated that he is clearly not prochoice."

"Planned Parenthood Action Fund did not endorse Ford in his elections for Congress in 2000 or 2004, nor for his Senate bid in 2006."

"New Yorkers demand that 100 percent pro-choice champions represent them in the U.S. Senate. If Ford wants to understand the true definition of a pro-choice individual, he need only look at the voting records of New York's U.S. Senators and compare them with his own."