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The issue of choice is rising to the top of the 2010 political debate as tea party conservatives test the limits of Granite State voters' broad support for keeping abortion safe and legal. Planned Parenthood of Northern New England is taking action to amplify the voices of New Hampshire's pro-choice community in the critical weeks leading up to November's election - and they need your help.
If you believe that women's health and women's lives matter, it's time to speak up. PPNNE's 2010 Put a Bow On It! campaign makes it easy to take a stand against anti-choice fanatics who want to turn back the clock on women's rights. Send a message that efforts to criminalize abortion and limit women's power to prevent unintended pregnancies are out of touch with the attitudes of mainstream voters - and out of step with New Hampshire values.
Members of the pro-choice, pro-Planned Parenthood community are invited to submit a brief statement (200 characters or less) about why you support every woman's right to reproductive autonomy. Your personal messages will be attached to big, shockingly pink bows; the bows will join a powerful public display at a PPNNE health center that's been targeted for an escalation of anti-choice protest activity. Your shout-out of support will be seen by patients, health center staff, and members of the local community.
Ready to Put a Bow On It? Use this handy web form to submit your personal message. (You have an option to post your message anonymously, or include your name and town.) You can also sign up to receive more information about PPNNE's NH political action program (sign up is not required to participate in the Put a Bow On It! action).
Questions? Contact Judy Stadtman at judy.stadtman (at) gmail.com.
It's a relief to learn that Katrina Swett has reversed her position on requiring parental notification for teens seeking abortion. While Ann McLane Kuster clearly has a stronger record on protecting women's health and reproductive rights, it's important to acknowledge that many NH voters who consider themselves pro-choice feel conflicted about upholding the legal right of minors to receive confidential medical treatment.
As usual, hard-core social conservatives and anti-choice politicians have blown the issue of parental notification wildly out of proportion to what happens in the real world.
(Link and blockquote added by me. - promoted by Dean Barker)
In her column this morning, Shira S. at the Concord Monitor asks a thought-provoking question: Is the excise tax for health care plans - the so-called "Cadillac" plans tax - unfair to women? It would seem the answer is yes.
"(W)omen cost much more to insure than men because of reproductive health issues and a higher rate of certain chronic diseases. Women in split families are more likely to have custody of children and require higher-value family plans.
'For women it's a double whammy,' said Rhonda Wesolowski, president of NEA New Hampshire.
A former teacher and single mother, Wesolowski said the excise tax would unfairly penalize female workers who give up wages to get better health benefits. 'Over the years, we often didn't take raises to keep our health insurance,' she said."
Carol Shea-Porter, to no one's surprise, gets it. And I have to say that at times like this, I'm pretty happy that we have Jeanne Shaheen in the Senate because I'm sure she gets it, too.
