Well, it’s been quite a couple of weeks for women’s health issues. While the economy is, no doubt, the largest concern for most Americans heading into the 2012 Presidential race—it’s hard to deny that these social issues are going to play a big role in this election cycle.
Here’s a rundown of some the big stories:
AP
State Sen. Janet Howell (D-VA)
-On a local level, Virginia is making headlines as it becomes yet another state poised to pass a bill that would require women seeking an abortion to have (and pay for) an ultrasound prior to the procedure. The “informed-consent” law, as it’s called, would give the woman the option to view the sonogram before terminating the pregnancy or sign a form to decline. The State Senate voted 21-18 in favor of the bill and now it moves on to a House of Delegates, where the GOP has a two thirds majority and it is expected to pass.
As a tongue-in-cheek response, state Senator Janet Howell (D-Fairfax) attached an amendment to the bill that would require men to have a rectal exam and a cardiac stress test prior to obtaining a prescription for erectile dysfunction medication. Sen. Howell argued on the Senate floor “It’s only fair, that if we’re going to subject women to unnecessary procedures, and we’re going to subject doctors to having to do things that they don’t think is medically advisory, well, Mr. President, I think we should have a little gender equity here.”While the Senate rejected the amendment with a 21-19 vote, Sen. Howell considered the amendment and subsequent vote to be symbolic.
AP
Karen Handel
-Then, of course, we had the Susan G. Komen Foundation’s decision to pull its funding from Planned Parenthood (and its non-reversal of that decision—in which they said they would continue funding “existing grants”, something that was never in jeopardy, but said nothing of future funding). In the aftermath, Planned Parenthood raised about $3 million and the outcry resulted in VP of Public Policy, and conservative activist, Karen Handel’s resignation.
AP
House Speaker John Boehner
-And a provision in the Affordable Care Act called the Preventative Services Mandate-- that requires health insurance plans to cover the cost of contraceptive services for women-- has been the subject of some major scrutiny this week as well. This is because the provision is sweeping, and would require Catholic charities, hospitals and universities to provide the services—which conservatives and religious leaders say infringes on the church’s religious freedom (as they don’t condone birth control of any kind). The debate has been heated and one contaminated with a key bit of misinformation… Speaker John Boehner came out Wednesday and reiterated the (false) claim that this would include “abortion-inducing drugs and devices.” To clarify: the mandate would include access to Plan B (the “morning-after pill”—a contraceptive that prevents pregnancy by preventing ovulation or fertilization and does not have an effect on established pregnancies).
While the administration says it is continuing to work with religious-affiliated institutions to find a “solution that would be sensitive to their beliefs”—while still providing women with contraceptive coverage—this debate seems to have provided a perfectly packaged political showdown just in time for election season.
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The US government is not going to force the Catholic Church to purchase birth control pills for nuns and viagra for priests. There is an exemption for that kind of thing.
Hebrew doctors cannot be forced to observe Catholic beliefs that form the basis for withholding birth control pills simply because they work at a Catholic hospital.
Exemptions prohibit enforcement of prohibited activities for actual religious workers involved with worship activities in churches, temples, mosques and so on.
However, schools, university, and health care workers that are not actually involved in day-to-day religious worship have the right to full health coverage. The employer is not allowed to force their religious beliefs onto workers with different religious beliefs by withholding medicine that is not taboo for them.
This maintains the ban on birth control for catholic nuns while providing same for jewish professors teaching at university.
The other issue is if Catholic hospitals that would like to participate in government health care funding programs. If so, then the institution must provide contraception and pregnancy termination. If they don't want to do that, then they don't take the money.
Nobody is going to force Catholic institutions to accept government money they do not want.
I don't see the problem.
I'm a Catholic and do not see the problem either. No one is forcing Catholics to do anything. This is a manufactured distraction from the extreme right.
Unemployment is down to a four year low and the stock market is at record highs. The GOP righties need to distract people's attention away from the Democrat's success.
karen handel = Go Crawl Back Into The Swamp and Take ALL Of Your Kind With You == You Know That There Are Plenty Of Countries That You And All Of YOUR GOMERS Can Go To - To Become Dictators === Not Here - Not In The U.S.A. !!! Go Away !!!!!! P's.O.S -All Of You !!!!!
@crackhead Awards,
You're so right, this is an option for women right and women health to choose for their prevention purpose. The U.S government do not force anyone to choose.
There is a lot of false spin from GOP and right wing media that U.S government is forcing Catholic church employee to have contraception onto their health plant. It's a shame that we have one party of government is trying to score political point over the right of women health prevention.
Its half time in America, GOP is down, so they cry fault!
I find it interesting that many catholic institutions already provide contraception benefits in their health care packages. This is a tempest in a teapot.
Your right on about that Feraltwinkie . . . and the thing is to NOT provide contraception to women is the Catholic church denying freedom of religion to others whose faith allows for this vital health care need . . . and it is pushing their beliefs on everyone else . . .
How long would religious-fanatic, right-wingers tolerate being forced to use contraception and/or being forced to have abortions . . . in the same way they are forcing women to NOT USE contraception and/or to NOT have the option to choose . . . not long I can tell you.
Contrary to what Bonehead says, it is NOT unconstitutional. But they will try to keep this going as long as they can. I hope the Prez stands firm on this and so do a lot of Catholics that work in the hospitals and universities. I swear the Repugs are doing everything they can NOT to get elected! You guys are TRYING to throw the election, right??!!
I would love to ask the Speaker a few questions...
1. Do you think a convicted murderer should be allowed to go to church in town whenever he wants? Isn't that hindering his right to practice religion? Would you agree with building that criminal a church in the prison if he doesn't have one?
2. Do you think if a religion calls for the use of drugs it should be perfectly legal for them to use all sorts of crap, from cocaine to heroin, even on the kids, for "religious" purpose?
3. If Al-Quada said 911 was about religion, would that make it acceptable?
It's time for this fundamentalist nonsense to END... that's what has turned the middle east into a hellhole, there's no room for any of that trash in this country. Period.
@MJB in Des Moines,
Not too long ago, GOP has being given false argument vs. the President Health Plan for taken away people to choose, and now they’re taken away women right to choose for health prevention purpose. Shame on GOP!
By the way, when will Mitt Romney going to talk about his faith-Mormon, instead of women contraception?
When will GOP focus on real issue, instead of women contraception like extend tax cut for 160 million workers?
Mr Weeper of the House...
The Supreme Court of the United States, in 1879 said , (in part) that " laws cannot interfere with mere religious belief and opinion, they may with practices."
And the SCOTUS also has said Army soldiers of the Jewish faith are not entitled to wear the jewish cap at the base. Why? It's called "the interest of the state", and that was argued and defended by the GOP Solicitor General.
We are not stupid. The right is trying to rile up their ignorant, miss-informed followers. Just more right wing hype.
Boehner and others are busy trying to get people off topic. 'Religious Freedom' is about a person's right to choose what religion & doctrines THEY want to follow, not about having the right to force their beliefs onto an American. An old guy in another country does not have the right to dictate what healthcare options an American woman has access to. Boehner & the GOP presidential candidates better wise up and listen to what the country has been saying on this topic. SGK heard us loud and clear. Now, insert Muslim for Catholic in this conversation and you would see the GOP go rabid in the opposite direction, screaming about Sharia law being implemented in America.
And let's get honest about the Vatican and these Bishops; these are the same old men who knew their own clergymen were raping little boys and looked the other way. We want to listen to them, WHY?
They can't argue on the economy because it's getting better every second. They cannot argue on foreign policy because Obama has been so effective there's no room for them to talk about anything.
So, they got bogus issues and smoke screens, and that's what they're doing now, spinning a social issue that's mostly irrelevant, to their advantage.
What the GOP is doing amounts to a big smoke screen.
So, what about if a group of fundamentalist, radical Christians decided it's ok to sacrifice babies for God, would that mean they're immune to murder laws?
How about extensive animal sacrifices, would the animal cruelty laws apply to them?
I'm a Christian, and like most other Christians I have zero problem with birth control. This is an artificial issue, a smoke screen, if you don't want to use birth control you don't have to do so, there's no mandate that says you, the recipient, have yo use anything. All this is about is providing a basic comprehensive coverage for women based on a little thing called REALITY.
But this is exactly what the GOP wanted.
Since they wanted no public option, well, this moronic employer-based system still has to cover the basics, and since at least 80% of Christians, and that includes Catholics, use birth control, well, you do the math.
No doubt insurance companies hate the idea, more coverage, lost revenue! Boo Hoo! More PAC money coming!
If the catholic hospitals do not want to provide insurance coverage for their employees that covers birth control etc, then they should not be accepting the insurance or government money that provides these services to their patients or clients.
AND they need to declare their hospitals as ' private ' and not public as they are now . . . then they could shove their religious beliefs on their employees and patients all they want . . . as it stand they have no right to deny contraception to women.
I have told you all>>> that the GOP hate women, they dont want them to take a pill, they dont want the inc. companys paying for the pills-BUT they want the inc. companys paying for viagra for men.>>>>TELL those conservatives republicans to stay away from up under, a woman dress------------ they talk about the arabs,but they are the ones using-------------------------SHARIA LAWS
The best part of this issue coming up now [in an election year] is that it is definitely one that voters who prefer Rick Santorum - who is unelectable in a general election, way too into HUGE government, AKA "government in the bedroom" while promoting no governing of the boardroom/plutocracy - over Mitt Romney.
Romney would lose to Obama -- if you merely look at the electoral map along with voter enthusiasm and population demographics -- but Santorum would be crushed.
So, here we have the social conservative voters' core issues in the forefront and in that, Mr. Santorum may have a path to the nomination, GOP establishment and moneyed interests prearranged plans aside.
Headline; "Frankenstein monster eats creator, chokes on the last bite, the people rejoice!"
PS: Of course this isn't a Constitutional issue and anyway, why is it okay in 28 states if it does violate the First Amendment. Also, notice who is MOST against this... yep those with X and Y chromosomes... hmmmmmm.
LOL . . . yes . . .the ole x and y chromosome beings who do not have to worry about contraception ( although they should ) or abortion . . . seem to have the most to say about both !!
Sign this to stop the watering down of the bill to stop insider trading!
http://dccc.org/STOCKAct
Signed it . . . will send it on too ! Thanks xxxooo !
Obama to make banks to refinance home loans in a bill sent to congress, or a monitor and pay penalty's if they don't, He said its not a party issue! I bet $10,000 bucks it will be!
Once again the President shows his concern for the people by working for them! Obamanomics in action! By the way he is asking for our support.
Boehner and his cohorts are looking for a needle in a haystack to find an issue for their Presidential candidate to run on. The President has done a great job, in spite of the obstruction by the GOP/Tea Party congressional members. These conservatives without consciences contrary to their commitment in 2012 to creating jobs have lost their ways and have been focusing on ideological issues that a minority believes in.
If you see a Republican ad on TV look away, Because it will probably have a subliminal message in it brainwashing you to vote GOP! LOOK AWAY!
Donnie Osmond has put his money on Mitt! I guess he doesn't have any puppy love left in him!
The Republicans have the White house in their sights but they are on a plane called Air Farce One! And its in nose dive and picking up speed! Every day I think they can't get any lower, But they top themselves every day, Heck sometimes more times in one day!
I wonder how long it gonna be before Mitt flips again on Obamney care its working as 98% of the people are covered! Why a guy wouldn't take credit for something that works just goes to show how much he will do to get PAC money! Like it said in the good book, If your hand offends you cut it OFF! One thing many politicians do is make promises and than back out, The ones they don't are the ones they have made in a quiet room!
The Republicans should be careful in just trying to embarrass & attack the President, the next train on the track to want to pull into the 1st Amendment Station would have a passenger, Shari Law, on board.
"Republicans and Democrats do not share the same agenda." Senator DeMint - Today at CPAC Conference.
I Agree -
Republicans run for office to be the leader of certain groups, Democrats run to President of the entire nation.
Republicans seek wedge issues to divide people, Democrats try to resolve issues to help all people.
comment above
republicans lose when going head to head with Obama, they cant use the economy against him because its starting to improve, so theyre attempting to trick their followers with another dividing issue. whats going on here is obvious & simple. democrats win on this issue. Obama 2012
The thing everyone keeps missing is birth control isn't always about preventing unwanted pregnancies some women use them to either control bleeding while on their menses or keep their menses regular as well as unusual bleeding after their cycle ends. I know a few woman prescribed Deppo shots to either stop their cycle altogether or so they have fewer menses. Also birth control pills are prescribed for hormonal imbalances in women so the church is once again pushing for restrictions based on birth control using the broad brush of all when it isn't always the reason for women to use birth control.
All of you are wrong on this issue...The government (Read the First Amendment) cannot FORCE a religious organization to do something or in this case to purchase something that violates it's own doctrine...
What are they going to tell us next? That priest can marry? that confessions are illegal? What next???
Whether you're Catholic or not and agree or disagree with the the Church's teachings is one thing but for the government to come in and force the entire Church or it's affiliates to essentially violate it's own teachings is a completely different story and by the way not constitutional....
I've had it with this administration thinking that they they know best and we're Children that have to follow...Enough of the Nanny State!
Mr. President: Please leave the Church alone!
Many Liberals in the press and what not are trying to make it sound as if this is a non-issue. If it wasn't such a big deal then just take a look at how many Democrats are starting to speak out against it.......(According to reports, Joe Biden warned of the backlash)
The administration placed itself in a box..If it leaves this as is it will continue to face institutional opposition from the Church..Letters from bishops have actually been read at masses over the past two weekends something that rarely takes place according to those familiar with the matter.
If he reverses the decision he will then face backlash from all the feminists organizations such as N.O.W. and others...
I think he will reverse this because the N.O.W crowd will still vote for him...but Catholics on the other hand will probably stay home and not vote.....
In about 4 or 5 swing states a 2-3% vote swing can tip the election on way or the other. Furthermore Hispanics who are overwhelmingly Catholic may also have issues with this...
I'm glad that this decision was actually made now during the election year but for the life of me I can't understand why such timing!
Have you noticed how Ed has not posted this as a question? Was the Obama Administration correct in the application of this mandate?
Ed, why don't you ask the question?
These issues have to do with womens rights :) And right now the Republicans are trying to take something away,that would make health care more available to women :) The Republican party cares more about politics than they do the rights of women :) OBAMA 2012 :):):):)
For those of us who believe life begins at conception and therefore contraception is wrong we should re-read Leviticus 17:14 to reestablish our knowledge base on what God says about life.
Leveiticus , the book of the Old Testament for the Levites and the third book of the Pentateuch.. and was fulfilled by Jesus and replaced by the New Testament on the day of Pentecost … May I suggest that you read and practice Romans 14:13…
MR DAN>>>>>>are you going to help feed the poor children,are you going help eudcate them OR sent them to war>>yes i can tell you are one conservatives that beat people a cross the head with your bible,, just do as GOD say and love your brother