Pages

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Rick Santorum's 'sexist' gaffe: Women are too emotional for combat


Irking critics, the GOP presidential candidate worries that female soldiers are unfit for the front lines because of the "emotions that are involved"

Rick Santorum claims that his recent comments about women soldiers serving at the frontlines have been misinterpreted.
Rick Santorum claims that his recent comments about women soldiers serving at the frontlines have been misinterpreted. Photo: Dennis Van Tine ./Retna Ltd./Corbis 
Best Opinion:  Frisky, Wash. Post, Althouse
The video: The Pentagon announced new rules this week that officially allow 14,000 more female soldiers to take up combat positions closer to the front lines. In a Thursday interview, CNN's John King asked Rick Santorum whether this revised policy was a good or bad idea. (View video below.) "I do have concerns about women in frontline combat," the GOP presidential hopeful responded, saying the change could create a "very compromising situation," in which people "may do things that may not be in the interests of the mission because of other emotions that are involved." As critics savaged him for insinuating that women were too emotional to handle frontline battle, Santorum insisted Friday that his statements were taken out of context. What he really meant, he says, is that he's concerned about a man's natural instinct to protect "a woman in harm's way."
The reaction: This is a "blatantly sexist argument," says Jessica Wakeman at The Frisky, akin to "1800s-era justifications for why women shouldn't vote or own property. Heads up, Rick: Women are already ably serving in combat roles; now they can just do so "officially." The comments obviously won't sit well with women who work in male-dominated fields, says Jennifer Rubin at The Washington Post. They may, however, "please some social conservatives who were never that keen on women serving in the military" in the first place. Santorum was really faulting men for failing to control their emotions, says Ann Althouse at Althouse. His valid argument is that men will feel "an urge to protect women that would skew decision-making and performance." Watch the video below:

‘Personhood’ bills being pushed in U.S. as social issues come to fore in GOP prez race

I had promised myself not to do too much on the social issues, but looking up the different states and what has been passed and what is trying to be passed.  WTF!!!!!!!! We have a constitutional amendment guaranteeing the right for a women to have an abortion, and not to be looked upon with disdain.  Now we have Republican men ntrying to take away our rights one by one. Who do they think they are?  GOD!  I think not, and only God can dish out punishment.  They are mere men and do not rule us. As women of the United States of America we need to stand tall, stand proud, and kick the Republicans in the ASS.  Yes I said it, I am infuriated......


  • Virginia and Oklahoma passed versions of the the personhood bill --which states life begins at conception-- in its lower chambers this week. They have yet to become law.  >




Virginia and Oklahoma passed versions of the
 the personhood bill --which…
Republicans hoping to take down both abortion and President Obama in 2012 think they have a winning issue in the debate over "personhood."
In several states, new legislation defining human life as beginning at conception - not birth - is being voted on, making it a hot-button social issue a key factor in the election cycle.
Just this week, Republican lawmakers in Virginia passed a personhood bill in the key battleground state's House of Delegates. And in Oklahoma, the Senate overwhelmingly gave the green light to a similar plan on Wednesday.

In Virginia, the bill still must go to the Senate. And in Oklahoma it must go before the House before coming law.
While such laws don't exist yet - personhood legislation lost in referendums twice in Colorado and once in Mississippi since 2008 - proponents of personhood are pointing to the latest victories in Virginia and Oklahoma as proof of their progress.
And in at least a dozen states, anti-abortion activists are attempting to place such initiatives on the ballots this year.
The laws, intended to override Roe v. Wade and effectively prohibit virtually all abortions, have Democrats and pro-choice activists concerned that the Supreme Court's landmark ruling, which gives women the constitutional right to have abortions, is slowly being dismantled.
Proponents of personhood are optimistic the laws will be put in place soon.
"I have absolute certainty we'll see personhood as law," Keith Mason, president of Personhood USA, told the Daily News. "There's a good chance it could happen this year."
Such legislation takes time, he said, just as gay marriage laws have.
"We're really just starting out as a movement," he said.
Most experts have long assumed the economy would be the biggest issue in the presidential election this fall. But with the jobless rate having gone down five months in a row, the culture war is coming to the fore, with renewed focus on the funding of Planned Parenthood, federal mandates for contraception coverage, gay marriage and now, personhood.
"It's getting harder for Republicans to run on the economy issue. The stock market’s doing well, so they're shifting gears to social issues," said David Schultz, a political scientist professor at Hamline University 
 "The social issues take a backseat when folks are concerned about war and peace and the economy. But as things stabilize, the social issues come on the table," said Democratic political strategist Peter Fenn.
 Republican presidential hopefuls are eager to say that they're anti-abortion on the campaign trail. Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum and Ron Paul have all inked a Personhood USA pledge saying abortions are "always wrong and should be prohibited."
 Mitt Romney - who once supported legalized abortion but now says the Supreme Court should overturn Roe vs. Wade - hasn't signed the pledge.
 "Clearly there is a tactic that the right wing is using here to put on the ballot things they know will have an appeal to turn out the vote," said Fenn.
 He added that pro-choice activists should be very concerned, especially if Santorum - a strict social conservative who has been surging in the polls - seals up the GOP nomination.
"It's not just because he's pro-life, but because of the extreme nature of his views," he said.
Schultz said the current abortion debate is at one of its most critical moments since the 1973 landmark decision.
"It's a direct assault on Roe," he said.
He went as far as to say that Roe vs. Wade could be challenged in the Supreme Court if one of the personhood bills is signed into law. He predicted, because of the makeup of the court, that judges would rule 5-4 in favor of placing additional restrictions on reproductive freedom.
Beth Shipp, political director of abortion-rights group NARAL, said the fight against personhood would not be difficult one.
"It is so extreme and so out of the mainstream of what most voters, even self-proclaimed pro-life voters think in terms of government intervention," she said.
"If the other side is trying to use this as a turnout mechanism then they're sadly mistaken about the effectiveness of their strategy," Shipp added.

Personhood Bills put forth by the States


Feminist News



North Dakota Personhood Bill Passes, First in US History
Contact: Keith Mason,
BISMARK, ND, Feb 18 /Standard Newswire/ --  Signaling the growing momentum of the personhood movement, North Dakota lawmakers approved HB 1572 with a vote of 51-41.

Rep. Dan Ruby introduced the "Personhood" bill, which affirms the rights of pre-born humans and states: "For purposes of interpretation of the constitution and laws of North Dakota, it is the intent of the legislative assembly that an individual, a person, when the context indicates that a reference to an individual is intended, or a human being includes any organism with the genome of homo sapiens."

Thousands of calls to legislators were made by pro-life grassroots volunteers who helped with this victory. Only one representative voiced opposition to the bill during the debate of the bill, while overwhelming public support was seen.

"Personhood USA applauds the leadership and support that the North Dakota Life League and North Dakota Family Alliance have shown to make this victory happen," stated Keith Mason of Personhood USA. He continued, "We thank Rep. Dan Ruby for his courage and for being actively pro-life. This great family man with his wife and 10 children are an example to us all."

"North Dakotans have gotten used to cold temperatures like -44 degrees, but they haven't gotten used to child-killing. We applaud and support their efforts to protect every baby by love and by law," commented Cal Zastrow, who, along with his family, worked on the North Dakota bill at the grassroots level.

The next step for HB 1572 is to be voted on by the ND Senate which could happen in the next two weeks.

"HB 1572 brings us one step closer to applying the same laws that apply to you and me, to all humans," said Daniel Woodard, lobbyist with North Dakota Life League.

Personhood USA is a grassroots Christian organization founded to establish personhood efforts across America to create protection for every child by love and by law. Personhood USA is committed to assisting and supporting Personhood Legislation and Constitutional Amendments and building local pro-life organizations through raising awareness of the personhood of the pre-born.

For Interviews please call 202-595-3500
For More Information please visit
Personhood USA
www.personhoodusa.com
Personhood North Dakota
www.personhoodnorthdakota.com
North Dakota Policy Council
www.ndfa.org


2012
2/21/2012 - Thousands Protest VA Anti-Abortion Bills
Between 1,000 and 1,500 women stood arm-in-arm yesterday at the Virginia state Capitol in Richmond to silently protest two anti-abortion bills scheduled for votes by the state's General Assembly....
1/18/2012 - Twenty-five KS Members to Sponsor Personhood Amendment
Twenty-five Members of the Kansas House of Representatives announced that they will co-sponsor a personhood amendment in the state....
1/12/2012 - OH Ballot Board Approves Language for Personhood Amendment
The Ohio Ballot Board approved the language purposed by anti-abortion rights groups for a personhood amendment, which proposes to give constitutional rights to a fertilized egg....
1/10/2012 - NH House Passes Fetal Homicide Bill
A fetal homicide bill passed the New Hampshire Republican-controlled House last week...

 2011
12/20/2011 - NV Judge Rewrites Personhood Initiative to Include Possible Effects
District Judge James Wilson Jr....
11/22/2011 - Virginia Delegate Introduces Personhood Amendment
On Monday, Virginia state Delegate Bob Marshall (R-Prince William County) filed a "personhood" bill, which states that life begins at conception and proposes to give constitutional rights to a fertilized egg....
11/16/2011 - Personhood Amendment Issue in Georgia General Assembly
Georgia State Senator Barry Loudermilk (R) and State Representative Rick Crawford (D) announced plans yesterday to introduce so-called "personhood" amendments to the Georgia State Constitution that would grant full individual rights to fertilized eggs in next year's General Assembly session....
11/15/2011 - Personhood Initiatives May Expand in 2012
Despite the defeat of Initiative 26, the so-called Personhood Amendment, by Mississippi voters last week, the group sponsoring the initiative, Personhood USA, has announced that they will attempt to place similar initiatives on the ballot in at least five states in 2012.
...
11/15/2011 - HERvotes Takes on Sexual Harassment
In its fifth blog carnival, HERvotes is taking on the need to keep the laws and public policies to end sex discrimination and sexual harassment in schools and at the workplace strong....
11/9/2011 - Women's Right Advocates Victorious in Defeating Mississippi Personhood Amendment
In an exciting and important victory for women's rights advocates, Mississippi voters defeated the Personhood Amendment....
11/7/2011 - Personhood Amendment to Appear on MS Ballot Tomorrow
Tomorrow Mississippi voters will have the opportunity to vote on the Personhood Amendment, a ballot initiative that "would amend the Mississippi Constitution to define the word 'person' or 'persons,' as those terms are used in Article III of the state constitution, to include every human being from the moment of fertilization, cloning, or the functional equivalent thereof." According to Politico, a new poll reveals that 44 percent of Mississippi voters oppose the amendment and 45 percent support it....
9/15/2011 - Feminist Activists Protest Clinic Regulations in Richmond
Speak Out for Women, sponsored by the Virginia Coalition for Women's Health, attracted hundreds yesterday in Richmond to protest draft regulations for the state's abortion providers....
According to new 2010 census figures released yesterday, the gender wage gap has not changed in the past year,...
9/12/2011 - MS Supreme Court Allows Personhood Amendment to Appear on Ballot
On Thursday, the Mississippi Supreme Court voted seven to two to permit Measure 26, the Personhood Amendment, to be listed on the state ballot in November....
2/15/2011 - SD "Justifiable Homicide" Bill Could Endanger Abortion Providers
In South Dakota, an extreme anti-abortion bill (HR 1171) that would alter the definition of "justifiable homicide" to include killings aimed to prevent harm to an unborn child passed out of the state's House Judiciary Committee by a vote of nine to three.... 

2010
11/3/2010 - Colorado Personhood Ballot Initiative Overwhelmingly Defeated
In a strong victory for reproductive rights, the Colorado ballot initiative Amendment 62 was defeated by an overwhelming margin of 2-to-1 on Tuesday night....
10/28/2010 - Mississippi Personhood Amendment to Appear on Fall 2011 Ballot
On Tuesday, Hinds County Judge Malcolm Harrison ruled against the ACLU and Planned Parenthood in a case that sought to remove a "Personhood Amendment," an anti-abortion initiative, from ballots next year in Mississippi....
9/28/2010 - CO Sued Over Voter Guide Personhood Language
Supporters of a Colorado ballot initiative that could ban abortion statewide filed a lawsuit last week alleging that the state's legislative guide is providing voters with biased and incorrect information about the initiative....
4/6/2010 - NV Supreme Court to Hear Personhood Initiative Challenge
The Nevada state Supreme Court will hear arguments today in a case that seeks to overturn a lower court ruling and place a so-called "personhood" amendment on the fall ballot....
4/5/2010 - Personhood Initiative to be on Ballot in MS
The Mississippi Secretary of State announced late last week that a so-called "personhood" initiative will be on the state ballot in the fall elections....
3/29/2010 - CO Personhood Initiative Will Be on November Ballot
A so-called "personhood" ballot initiative, Amendment 62, will again be on the Colorado ballot in the November elections....
3/22/2010 - CO Personhood Initiative May be on Fall Ballot
Personhood Colorado submitted approximately 45,000 more signatures to the Colorado Secretary of State in support of their proposed ballot initiative last week....
3/5/2010 - CO Personhood Initiative Petition Drive Falling Short
The Colorado Secretary of State announced Wednesday that the petition drive to put "personhood" on the state ballot has not gathered enough signatures....
2/18/2010 - NH House Rejects Fetus as Person Bill
The New Hampshire state House voted 219 to 122 yesterday against a bill that treated a fetus as a person for the purposes of homicide....
2/18/2010 - Signatures Submitted for New CO Personhood Initiative
Signatures were submitted Friday in support of a new so-called "personhood" ballot initiative in Colorado....
2/17/2010 - Signatures Submitted for New CO Personhood Initiative
Signatures were submitted Friday in support of a new so-called "personhood" ballot initiative in Colorado....
2/11/2010 - Personhood at Issue in NH Bill
The New Hampshire state House postponed a vote yesterday on a bill that treats a fetus as a person for the purposes of homicide....
2/5/2010 - Lawsuit filed to Force 'Personhood' Vote in MS
The group currently leading a "personhood" ballot measure petition drive in Mississippi filed a lawsuit in federal court this week seeking clarification of a law that could derail their efforts to fulfill the state petition requirements....
1/8/2010 - Nevada Judge Rejects Personhood Initiative Petition
A Nevada judge ruled that a "personhood" amendment petition can not be circulated because it is too vague and violates a state law that limits the ballot measure questions to one subject....

2009

11/30/2009 - Legal Challenge of Alaska Personhood Initiative Filed
A lawsuit was filed last week that challenges a so-called "personhood initiative" petition in Alaska....
11/23/2009 - Anti-Choice Groups Oppose Nevada Personhood Initiative
Four anti-choice groups released a statement last week opposing a personhood initiative petition that is currently gathering signatures in Nevada....
10/28/2009 - Proposed Colorado Initiative to Define Eggs as People
A new ballot measure campaign in Colorado seeks to legally define eggs, not just embryos, as people....
10/27/2009 - Michigan Anti-abortion Personhood Initiative Introduced
Michigan congressmen Jim Slezak (D-50) and Paul Scott (R-51) have introduced a "personhood amendment" that could virtually outlaw abortion in the state if approved by voters....
10/22/2009 - Anti-Abortion Personhood Initiative Filed in Nevada
Conservative group Personhood Nevada, led by Richard Ziser, has filed a ballot initiative with the secretary of state's office that would outlaw abortion....
9/25/2009 - Ballot Language in Personhood Initiative Approved
The Florida Secretary of State's office approved ballot language this week for a so-called personhood initiative proposed by Personhood Florida and the American Life League....
9/24/2009 - Wisconsin Anti-Choice Protestors Target Contraception
The anti-choice campaign 40 Days for Life began its series of nationwide protests yesterday, with demonstrations scheduled to take place in more than 200 cities in 45 states and 5 Canadian provinces....
9/14/2009 - Petition Circulating for Florida "Personhood" Initiative
A campaign was launched Friday in Florida to put a constitutional amendment on the state's 2010 ballot that would legally define fertilized embryos as people....
9/9/2009 - Montana Anti-Abortion Petition Approved
Montana Attorney General Steve Bullock approved a proposed ballot measure that aims to constitutionally define fertilized eggs as people in the state....
8/25/2009 - Colorado Egg-As-Person Initiative Revived
A new campaign to legally define embryos as people began yesterday in Colorado.... 
6/19/2009 - Murder of Dr. George Tiller - Statement of Eleanor Smeal, President
The Feminist Majority Foundation is deeply saddened and outraged by the assassination of Dr....

 4/7/2009 - North Dakota Personhood Bill Defeated
The North Dakota state Senate rejected a bill Friday that defines a person as beginning at the moment of fertilization and would have required doctors to tell women seeking an abortion that the procedure kills a human being.... 
3/27/2009 - Dr. Tiller Vindicated!
A Wichita jury has just ruled that Dr....
 
3/25/2009 - Colorado Legislature Passes Birth Control Protection Act
the Colorado state legislature passed a birth control protection bill this week in a primarily party-line vote....

2008 

11/5/2008 - Pro-Choice Forces Win Big Against State Measures
All three anti-choice state ballot measures were defeated on Tuesday....
10/23/2008 - Opposition Strong Against Colorado's Egg=Person Amendment
Recent polling for The Denver Post shows that 48 percent of Colorado's citizens plan to vote No on Amendment 48, a November ballot initiative that would amend the state constitution to define a fertilized, unimplanted human egg as a full person with all civil rights....
9/17/2008 - Illinois Appellate Court Declares a Fertilized Egg Is Not a Person
An Illinois county court ruling that a fertilized unimplanted egg is a person was overturned by an appellate court last week. Executive Director of the Illinois ACLU, Colleen Connell writes on the ACLU blog that if the decision was "left undisturbed, the lower court's decision could have limited the ability of women in Illinois to access contraceptive services and genetic testing." This issue is particularly relevant because a Colorado ballot measure (see PDF) that will be on the November ballot would grant "personhood" to a fertilized egg if approved by voters....
7/11/2008 - Anti-Abortion Measures on November Ballots in CA, CO, and SD
Anti-abortion measures will be on the state-wide November ballots in California, Colorado, and South Dakota....
6/27/2008 - Montana Anti-Abortion Ballot Initiative Fails
A proposed ballot initiative to amend the Montana state constitution to define a fertilized egg as a person failed to qualify for the state's 2008 November ballot....
5/16/2008 - Anti-Abortion Measures on November Ballots in SD, CA
Anti-abortion extremists are targeting states with ballot initiatives for November....

5/15/2008 - Anti-Abortion Ballot Measure Petition Submitted in Colorado
Anti-abortion groups seeking to place a so-called "personhood initiative" on the November state ballot in Colorado submitted 131,245 signatures this week, well over the 76,000 signatures required to place the measure on the ballot....
2/22/2008 - Georgia House Subcommittee Tables So-Called Human Life Amendment
The Georgia state House of Representatives tabled a state constitutional amendment this Wednesday that would define life as beginning at the moment of fertilization....
2/7/2008 - November Ballot Initiative Round Up
Ten states may have anti-abortion initiatives and five may have anti-affirmative action initiatives on the November state ballots....

Anti-Abortion Measures from the States



Victory! Birth Control without co-pays or deductibles!

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and the Obama Administration decided not to broaden the religious exemption for contraceptive coverage under the Preventive Care package of the Affordable Care Act. This request, primarily by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, would have denied millions of American women contraceptive coverage, including students, teachers, nurses, social workers, and other staff (and their families) at religiously-connected or associated schools, universities, and hospitals, as well as institutions, such as Catholic Charities. Please take a moment to thank Secretary Sebelius and President Obama for this decision in support of women's health.


2/24/2012 - Sandra Fluke Testifies at House Democratic Steering Committee Hearing

Yesterday, Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and the House Democratic Steering Committee held a hearing concerning the religious exemption on contraception coverage and women's health, inviting Sandra Fluke, a student at Georgetown Law School as the sole witness. Leader Pelosi called the hearing in response to the refusal of Representative Darrell Issa (R-CA), Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, to allow Fluke to testify at last week's hearing "Lines Crossed: Separation of Church and State. Has the Obama Administration Trampled on Freedom of Religion and Freedom of Conscience?"

In an unusual move, Chairman Issa did not allow the Democratic minority to have a single witness at last week's hearing, allowing testimony only from those opposed to the Obama Administration's decision on women's contraception to testify. The hearing's primary panel did not include a single woman, prompting Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) to ask "Where are the Women?"

At the hearing yesterday, Fluke spoke out for the importance of the Obama Administration's rule to ensure that Catholic students have access to contraceptive coverage under the preventive care package of the Affordable Care Act. The coverage would come from private insurance companies without any funding from religious institutions. In her testimony, Fluke stated, "I attend a Jesuit law school that does not provide contraception coverage in its student health plan. Just as we students have faced financial, emotional, and medical burdens as a result, employees at religiously affiliated hospitals and universities across the country have suffered similar burdens. We are all grateful for the new regulation that will meet the critical health care needs of so many women...We refuse to pick between a quality education and our health, and we resent that, in the 21st century, anyone thinks it's acceptable to ask us to make this choice simply because we are women."


Feminist News

The daily feminist perspective on U.S., global and campus news stories, since 1995. 
2/24/2012 - TX Law to Deny Healthcare to Thousands of Women
Yesterday the Texas Department of Health and Human Services announced that it will begin enforcing a law in mid-March prohibiting doctors and clinics affiliated with organizations that provide abortion services from receiving state Medicaid funding.... 
2/6/2012 - Karen Handel Involved in Komen's PPFA Decision
The Huffington Post reports that Karen Handel, vice president of the Susan G....
2/3/2012 - Komen To Continue Grants To Planned Parenthood
The Susan G....
2/2/2012 - Komen Foundation to Stop Grants to PPFA
Yesterday the Susan G....
2/1/2012 - Komen Foundation to End Partnership with PPFA
The Susan G....
1/31/2012 - Women's Rights Groups Launch Campaign to Save Birth Control from Catholic Bishops
Beginning today, women's rights groups - including the Feminist Majority Foundation, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the National Organization for Women (NOW), the National Council of Jewish Women, and others - have launched a campaign and blog carnival to support the Obama Administration's decision to maintain full contraceptive coverage under the Preventive Care package of the Affordable Care Act....
 1/26/2012 - IN Senate Committee Votes to Restrict Medical Abortion Pill
Yesterday, the Indiana Senate health committee voted 5 to 4 to further restrict women's access to RU-486, or the abortion pill....
1/20/2012 - Feminist Majority Applauds HHS for Rejecting Religious Exemption for Contraceptive Coverage
Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Health and Human Services announced today the Obama Administration will not broaden the religious exemption for contraceptive coverage under the Preventive Care package of the Affordable Care Act....
1/20/2012 - Statement of Eleanor Smeal On the Decision of Kathleen Sebelius and the Obama Administration Not to Broaden the Religious Exemption for Contraceptive Coverage
The Feminist Majority Foundation applauds the decision of Kathleen Sebelius, Health and Human Services Secretary, and the Obama Administration not to broaden the religious exemption for contraceptive coverage under the Preventive Care package of the Affordable Care Act....
1/13/2012 - State Ballot Initiative and Referendum Roundup
In Florida and Montana anti-abortion initiatives or referendum will appear on state ballots in 2012....
1/11/2012 - Federal Judge Permits CPC's to Intervene in Abortion Lawsuit
US District Court Judge Karen Scheier ruled to allow two South Dakota crisis pregnancy centers, the Alpha Center and the Black Hills Crisis Pregnancy Center, to intervene in a case regarding a state law requiring that women undergo a 72 hour waiting period and mandatory counseling from a crisis pregnancy center (CPC) before obtaining an abortion....
Although Rick Santorum has been under fire for his statements opposing contraception... 
1/9/2012 - Wisconsin to End PPWI's Contract for Preventive Services
Last week, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services Secretary Dennis Smith announced that it will no longer contract with Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin (PPWI) as a part of the Wisconsin Well Woman Program in four counties....
1/6/2012 - FBI Director Approves of New Rape Definition
Today the White House announced that FBI Director Robert Mueller has approved the change recommended by several committees of the FBI's Criminal Justice Information Service.
1/6/2012 - Feminist Majority Foundation Celebrates FBI Approval of New Rape Definition - FBI Director's Action Follows Extensive Campaign By Women's Rights Supporters
 1/3/2012 - VA Governor Approves Strict Regulations on Abortion Providers
Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell has signed new regulations on first-trimester abortion clinics requiring architectural renovations to change clinics into hospitals and change government oversight....

**********************************************************************************
12/22/2011 - PA Governor Expected to sign Anti-Abortion Law
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett (R) is expected to sign a bill that will require clinics that perform abortions meet the same regulations of surgical centers....
Governor Scott Walker's administration recently announced that it will no longer contract with Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin (PPWI)...
Planned Parenthood of Arizona (PPAZ) announced that it will continue offering abortion services at two clinics near Phoenix.  
12/8/2011 - ACLU Will Sue if OH Anti-Abortion Bills Passed
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Ohio has indicated that it will sue if two anti-abortion bills, both of which have passed the state House, become law: a fetal heart beat bill, which would ban abortions after the fetal heartbeat is detected, and another bill that would prohibit Ohio residents from purchasing health insurance that covers abortion. Gary Daniels, associate director of ACLU Ohio, stated that he believes both bills are unconstitutional....
11/22/2011 - Virginia Delegate Introduces Personhood Amendment
On Monday, Virginia state Delegate Bob Marshall (R-Prince William County) filed a "personhood" bill, which states that life begins at conception and proposes to give constitutional rights to a fertilized egg....
11/9/2011 - Women's Right Advocates Victorious in Defeating Mississippi Personhood Amendment
In an exciting and important victory for women's rights advocates, Mississippi voters defeated the Personhood Amendment.... 
10/26/2011 - Federal Judge Blocks Provision of NC Abortion Law
US District Court Judge Catherine Eagles issued a preliminary injunction yesterday against a provision in a North Carolina abortion law that would require abortion providers to perform an ultrasound at least four hours prior to an abortion....
10/25/2011 - Study Finds NC CPCs Lack Transparency
Following a nine month investigation of crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) in North Carolina, NARAL Pro-Choice North Carolina found that the centers provided clients with incorrect information about abortions....
10/21/2011 - San Francisco Board of Supervisors Votes for Greater Transparency for CPCs
On Tuesday, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted 10-1 to approve a city ordinance that would prevent crisis pregnancy centers from spreading false or misleading advertisements about their facilities.... 10/14/2011 - US House Passes the "Let Her Die" Bill
Yesterday, the US House of Representatives passed the "Let Her Die" bill, sponsored by Representative Joe Pitts (R-PA) and supported by House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA)....
10/13/2011 - US House to Vote on Protect Life Act Today
Continuing its preoccupation with voting to restrict family planning and abortion rights, the US House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on HR 358, the "Protect Life Act," sponsored by Representative Joe Pitts (R-PA), today....
10/12/2011 - Federal Court Judge Allows Clinic to Join Kansas Lawsuit
Yesterday US District Court Judge Thomas Marten ruled that the Dodge City Family Planning Clinic was permitted to join a lawsuit, filed by Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri (PPKM), challenging a Kansas law that prevents both organizations from receiving Title X family planning....

9/28/2011 - Hundreds Rally Against Pennsylvania Abortion Bill
Hundreds Of People packed the Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Wednesday morning to call for the defeat of two bills that will restrict abortion access in Pennsylvania....
9/21/2011 - Governor Perry's Cuts Reduce TX Women's Access to Family Planning
In the past year, Republican Governor Rick Perry and the Texas Legislature cut family planning funding by 66 percent, which amounts to $74 million....
9/21/2011 - Abortion-Rights Supports Protest OH Fetal Heartbeat Bill
Supporters of abortion-rights and anti-abortion rights gathered at the Ohio Statehouse yesterday concerning a bill that, if passed, would ban abortions after the fetal heartbeat is detected....
9/19/2011 - Virginia Adopts Strictest Regulations on Abortion Providers in Nation
The Virginia Board of Health voted Thursday 12-1 to adopt unnecessary and punitive regulations of first-trimester abortion clinics requiring architectural renovations to change clinics into hospitals and change 
9/9/2011 - ACLU sues over Anti-choice License Plates in NC
On Thursday, the North Carolina chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU-NCLF) filed a lawsuit in the federal district court for the Eastern District of North Carolina against the state over the production of new anti-abortion license plates that read "Choose Life." The ACLU argues that the production of these plates is "unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination" and in direct violation of the First Amendment. According to the ACLU, the North Carolina General Assembly passed a bill approving production of "Choose Life" license plates but would not pass any of the six proposed amendments to create a plate supporting abortion rights, such as the "Trust Women....
9/8/2011 - Plaintiffs in KS Abortion Suit Seek Lesser Clinic Regulations
In Kansas, Dr. Herbert Hodes, and his daughter, Dr. Traci Nauser, who sought an injunction in July in an effort to keep their medical practice open....
9/5/2011 - Appeals Court Rules Women Have Existing Relationship with Fetus
On Friday, the 8th US Circuit Court of Appeals overturned US District Judge Karen Schreier's ruling to block a provision in a South Dakota law requiring that doctors tell women seeking abortions that they have "an existing relationship with that unborn human being and that the relationship enjoys protection under the United States Constitution and under the laws of South Dakota." Judge Schreier struck down the provision two years ago stating that a relationship can only exist between two people and according to the US Supreme Court, fetuses are not legally people....
9/1/2011 - Federal Judge Restores Funding for KS Planned Parenthood
On Tuesday, US District Court Judge Thomas Marten ordered the state to resume federal funding for Planned Parenthood...
US District Judge Sam Sparks blocked a provision of a Texas anti-abortion law requiring that doctors describe
The Virginia Department of Health will post draft regulations for abortion clinics by 5pm this evening....
At an audio news conference yesterday afternoon, a coalition of some 20 women's organizations announced a new effort...
The Guttmacher Institute released a new study indicating that while the overall rate of unintended in the US pregnancies has remained steady since 1994...
On Tuesday, the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas and Western Missouri (ACLU) filed a lawsuit in the US

8/4/2011 - Federal Court's Block on KS Anti- Abortion Law Challenged
On Monday, the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists filed an appeal on US District Court Judge Carlos Murguia's decision to block the enforcement of a new Kansas anti-abortion law until the pending lawsuit is decided....
8/1/2011 - Summer Celebration of Choice Kicks Off at Carhart Clinic
On Sunday, nearly 200 abortion rights activists gathered at the Reproductive Health Services in Germantown, MD to kick off the Summer Celebration of Choice week in support of abortion provider Dr....

7/14/2011 - Judge Blocks Effort to Expose Fake Health Clinics
A law designed to expose fake crisis pregnancy clinics has been put on hold in New York City....

7/6/2011 - US District Court Judge Blocks KS Anti-Abortion Law
US District Court Judge Carlos Murguia blocked a law that would have shut down all but one abortion provider, Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri, in the state....
7/5/2011 - Federal Judge Blocks SD Anti-Abortion Law
US District Court Judge Karen Schreier blocked a law in South Dakota requiring that women undergo a 72 hour waiting period and mandatory counseling from a crisis pregnancy center (CPC) before obtaining an abortion....
6/29/2011 - OH House Launches Attack on Women's Reproductive Rights
Yesterday, the Ohio Republican-controlled House of Representatives approved three extreme anti-abortion bills in what women's reproductive rights advocates are calling "anti-women's day" in Ohio....
6/8/2011 - OH Budget, with Anti-Abortion Amendments, Passes Senate Committee
Yesterday, the Ohio Senate Finance Committee voted for a two-year state budget after attaching two anti-abortion amendments to it....
6/7/2011 - San Francisco Supervisor Pushes for Greater Transparency for CPCs
San Francisco City Supervisor Malia Cohen is currently working with NARAL Pro-Choice California on legislation that would require that crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) to display signs indicating whether they offer comprehensive reproductive health services, including abortions and contraception, and whether a licensed medical professional is on staff. Cohen stated, "Legislation is a priority because there are clinics using misleading advertising tactics....
5/30/2011 - PPFA and ACLU File Lawsuit Against SD Anti-Abortion Law
Attorneys from Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a lawsuit in Federal District Court in Sioux Falls against a new South Dakota law requiring that women undergo a 72 hour waiting period and mandatory counseling from a crisis pregnancy center (CPC) before obtaining an abortion....
5/3/2011 - Ms. Magazine Wins Prestigious Maggie Award
On Friday night, Ms. magazine was awarded the Maggie Award for Best Feature Article/Consumer from the Western Publishing Association, which represents the publishing industry west of the Mississippi River....
4/28/2011 - Florida House Passes Six New Anti-Abortion Bills
The Florida Legislature passed six abortion-restricting bills on Wednesday after facing 18 bills, many of which are the most extreme anti-abortion legislation in the nation. One bill passed will require women to both undergo and pay for an ultrasound before having an abortion....
4/19/2011 - Georgia Session Ends Without Anti-Abortion Legislation
Last Thursday marked the end of the annual forty-day legislative session of the Georgia General Assembly....

4/11/2011 - Anti-Abortion Supporters Push to Restrict Insurance Coverage
Anti-abortion forces in 28 states are pressuring state lawmakers to pass legislation restricting private health insurance plans from covering abortion services....
3/24/2011 - SD Anti-Abortion Law Requires 3 Day Waiting Period
South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard (R) signed an extreme anti-abortion bill into law Tuesday requiring that women undergo a 72 hour waiting period and mandatory counseling from a crisis pregnancy center (CPC) before obtaining an abortion....
3/17/2011 - IL Agriculture Committee Votes to Restrict Abortion Access
On Tuesday, the Illinois Agriculture Committee voted 13-0 to approve a bill requiring abortion clinics to be retrofitted to comply with the standards for outpatient surgery centers....
3/16/2011 - Lawsuit Possible if SD Governor Signs Anti-Abortion Bill
Planned Parenthood announced that it would file a lawsuit against South Dakota if Governor Dennis Daugaard (R) signs an anti-abortion bill that would impose a 72 hour waiting period on women seeking abortions....
3/15/2011 - McDonnell Appointees to be a Majority on VA Board of Health
A Virginia law requiring clinics that perform first trimester abortions to meet Board of Health regulations on hospitals will become effective just as Republican Governor Bob McDonnell's six appointees assume positions on the 15 member board....
3/3/2011 - NYC Council Passes Bill for Greater Transparency for CPCs
Yesterday the New York City Council voted 39 to 9, with one abstention, to pass a bill that would require crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) to disclose whether they provide emergency contraception and abortion services and whether they have a licensed medical practitioner on site....
2/18/2011 - South Dakota "Justifiable Homicide" Bill Struck Down in House
The South Dakota anti-abortion bill (HR 1171) that would have altered the definition of "justifiable homicide" to include killings aimed to prevent harm to an unborn child failed yesterday in the state's House by an overwhelming vote of 61-4....
2/16/2011 - IA House Subcommittee Passes Anti-Abortion Bill
On Monday, a subcommittee of the Iowa House Human Resources Committee passed an extreme anti-abortion bill (HF 153), introduced by Representative Kim Pearson (R-Pleasant Hill), that would ban abortions in Iowa even in cases of rape and incest....  
2/15/2011 - SD "Justifiable Homicide" Bill Could Endanger Abortion Providers
In South Dakota, an extreme anti-abortion bill (HR 1171) that would alter the definition of "justifiable homicide" to include killings aimed to prevent harm to an unborn child passed out of the state's House Judiciary Committee by a vote of nine to three....
 2/8/2011 - Proposed GA Bill to Refer to Rape Victims as Accusers
Representative Bobby Franklin (R-Marietta) introduced a bill that would change the language of state criminal codes to refer to those who file charges for rape, stalking, and domestic violence as accusers, not victims, until there has been a conviction....
2/4/2011 - "Forcible Rape" Clause Removed from Chris Smith Bill
Following an outcry from women's rights groups and others, House Republicans have removed the "forcible" to describe the rape exception in H.R....
2/2/2011 - Anti-Abortion Rights Groups Seeks to Discredit Planned Parenthood
Live Action, an anti-abortion rights group, is distributing an edited undercover video that appears to show an employee at a Planned Parenthood clinic in New Jersey advising paid actors posing as a pimp and a prostitute on where they can obtain abortion services for girls under the age of 14 and illegal immigrants.... 2/1/2011 - Ordinance Requiring CPCs To Disclose Services Ruled Unconstitutional
United States District Court Judge Marvin Garbis ruled yesterday that a Baltimore ordinance requiring that "limited-service pregnancy centers" display signs in both English and Spanish indicating that they do not provide or make referrals for abortions or comprehensive birth control services was unconstitutional....
1/31/2011 - Anti-Abortion Forces Increase in the States
The fight against abortion has been heating up in the states since the 2010 elections....
1/25/2011 - Anti-Abortion Supporters Gather for March for Life
Tens of thousands anti-abortion rights supporters gathered yesterday on the National Mall and marched to the Supreme Court for the annual March for Life to commemorate the 38th anniversary of Roe v....
1/24/2011 - 38th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade
Roman Catholic priests and anti-abortion rights advocates gathered this morning for a Mass at the Verizon Center in Washington DC before participating in the annual March for Life....
1/14/2011 - Planned Parenthood's Use of Telemedicine Permitted
Medical regulators for the state of Iowa announced yesterday that they will not punish a Planned Parenthood doctor for prescribing mifepristone, also known as RU-486 or the abortion pill, remotely through telemedicine....
1/7/2011 - Women's Rights Activists Protest Anti-Abortion Press Conference
Yesterday the New York chapter of the National Organization for Women protested an anti-abortion press conference, held by New York City clergy....
1/6/2011 - Boehner Announces Anti-Abortion Agenda
John Boehner (R-OH), an opponent to women's reproductive rights, was sworn in as the House Speaker yesterday....
**********************************************************************************
12/13/2010 - Pitts to Chair Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health
Last week, Representative Joe Pitts (R-PA) was selected to chair the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, which oversees private health insurance, Medicare and Medicaid, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the National Institutes of Health....
1/8/2010 - North Carolina Anti-Abortion Leader Tried for WANTED Posters
Flip Benham of Operation Rescue/Operation Save America, goes to trial today for stalking and distributing WANTED posters with the names, pictures, and home and office addresses North Carolina abortion doctors....
11/8/2010 - Pope Benedict Denounces Abortion, Gay Marriage, and Secularization
Pope Benedict XVI ardently expressed his anti-abortion stance and defended the traditional family structure during his visit to the Spanish pilgrimage site, Santiago de Compostela late last week....
11/4/2010 - Election 2010: Pro-Choice Sustains Big Losses; Abortion Not Deciding Factor
Unquestionably, the biggest loss is the replacement of pro-choice, feminist Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), and the pro-choice Democratic leadership team of Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC), and Assistant to the Speaker Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)....
10/26/2010 - Iowa Abortion Adversaries Oppose Telemedicine
At a public comment session late last week, abortion opponents requested the Iowa Board of Medicine prevent Planned Parenthood from using telemedicine to administer abortion medicine....
10/13/2010 - NY Bill Proposed to Curb Misleading CPC Signage
New York City Council speaker Christine Quinn and Councilwoman Jessica Lappin are pushing for legislation in the state that would mandate that crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) clearly indicate their position on abortion to patients....
9/27/2010 - Mifepristone Telemedicine Programs Gain Success at Drug's 10th Anniversary in US
Tomorrow is the ten-year anniversary of the US Food and Drug Administration's approval of mifepristone, also known as RU-486 or the "abortion pill." Marketed as Mifeprex in the United States, the pill, which is used to terminate a pregnancy in its early stages, has garnered new attention as abortion providers across the country consider establishing telemedicine programs similar to the one pioneered by Iowa Planned Parenthood.... 
8/31/2010 - New MO Anti-Choice Law Goes into Effect
A Missouri law that includes a number of new abortion restrictions was enacted Saturday....
8/18/2010 - SC Bill Increases Abortion Waiting Period
South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford signed a bill today that will increase the required waiting period prior to an abortion from one hour after an ultrasound to 24 hours.... 
7/16/2010 - Missouri Abortion Restrictions Become Law without Governor's Signature
A Missouri bill instituting new abortion restrictions became law on Wednesday under the leadership of Governor Jay Nixon, but without his direct signature....

7/1/2010 - CPC "Truth in Advertising" Legislation Introduced
Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) introduced a bill yesterday that would regulate the misleading advertising practices of Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCs)....
6/11/2010 - Iowa Planned Parenthood Makes Mifepristone More Accessible
Planned Parenthood clinics in Iowa have introduced a program that enables mifepristone, also known as RU-486 or the "abortion pill," to be administered to patients while videoconferencing with their doctors, reports the New York Times....
6/4/2010 - South Carolina Republicans Back Down From Abortion Restrictions to Pass Budget
The South Carolina legislature approved a nearly $5 billion state budget yesterday that includes a provision allowing the state health insurance plan to cover abortions in cases of rape, incest, or if the mother's life is in danger....
5/17/2010 - Missouri State House Passes Bill to Expand Abortion Restrictions
The Missouri state House passed a bill expanding upon their existing abortion restrictions on the final day of their legislative session....
4/29/2010 - FL Senate Republicans Push Anti-Abortion Legislation, House Democrats Push Back
The Republican-majority Florida Senate pushed three separate anti-abortion measures through Wednesday.... 
4/23/2010 - Missouri State Senate Passes Expanded Abortion Bill
The Missouri state Senate passed a bill Thursday on a 26 to 5 vote to expand upon their existing abortion restrictions such as a 24-hour waiting period prior to the procedure....
4/23/2010 - Mississippi, Louisiana, Moving to Ban State-Backed Insurance Abortion Coverage
The Mississippi and Louisiana state legislatures are both moving to pass legislation that would ban abortion coverage in each state's respective health insurance exchange being created as a result of the new federal health care package....
4/9/2010 - Stupak Retires; Pro-Choice Forces Move to Win District
With pressure from feminists and pro-choice activists, teabaggers, and Republicans, Bart Stupak (D-MI) announced today he will not seek re-election....
4/9/2010 - Austin, TX Becomes Second City to Enact "Truth in Advertising" Law For CPCs
Austin's City Council approved "truth in advertising" for crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) Thursday, making the capital of Texas the second city in the US to enact the law....
4/6/2010 - OK Governor Approves Three Anti-Choice Bills
Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry (R) signed three anti-choice bills into law yesterday....

4/2/2010 - Scott Roeder Sentenced to "Hard 50" for Tiller Murder
Scott Roeder, who was convicted last month in the murder of George Tiller, MD, was sentenced yesterday to 50 years in prison without the possibility of parole....

3/30/2010 - GA Anti-Choice Bill Approved by State Senate
A Georgia bill that seeks to criminalize abortions on the basis of race was approved by the state Senate late last week on a 33 to 14 vote....
3/25/2010 - SC Senate Advances Compromised Abortion Bill
South Carolina's state Senate approved the state House's abortion legislation Wednesday that extends the wait time for an abortion from one hour to 24 hours....
3/23/2010 - Obama Signs Historic Health Bill; Key Provisions Go into Effect in 2010
"This is the beginning of a dramatic expansion of health care access, eventually adding coverage for 32 million people, increasing access to family planning and preventive care, and starts to limit some of the most despicable insurance company practices," said Eleanor Smeal, president of the Feminist Majority Foundation....
3/18/2010 - Idaho Legislature Passes "Conscience" Bill
Idaho's House of Representatives passed a "conscience clause" bill this week, which will allow health care professionals to deny access to contraception, abortion, stem-cell, end-of-life treatment or medication on the basis of their conscience....
3/11/2010 - GA Anti-Choice Bill Passes Legislative Committee
A Georgia bill that seeks to criminalize abortions on the basis of race was voted out of the state House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee yesterday on a 7 to 6 vote....
1/15/2010 - Ultrasound Requirement Approved by KY Senate Committee
A Kentucky state Senate judiciary committee voted unanimously yesterday in favor of a bill that would require women who are seeking an abortion to have and view an ultrasound prior to the procedure.... 
1/14/2010 - CPC Truth in Advertising Bill introduced in WA
Two companion bills were introduced in the Washington state House and Senate yesterday that seek to institute truth in advertising laws for crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) in the state....
**********************************************************************************  
12/22/2009 - Abortion Activists on Both Sides Speak Out on Healthcare Bill
Activists on both sides of the abortion debate have expressed their displeasure with the Senate version of the healthcare bill, which will be up for a final vote on Christmas Eve....
12/18/2009 - Senate Dems Negotiate HC Bill; Bishops Dictate Terms
Senate Democratic leadership has delegated to Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) the task of winning over Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE), in an attempt to secure the sixty votes necessary to prevent the fillibuster of the healthcare reform bill....
12/8/2009 - Baltimore Mayor Signs CPC Law
Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon signed a bill that requires crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) to post signs disclosing that they do not offer referrals for or information about abortion and contraception....
12/8/2009 - Boxer Delivers Floor Speech on Nelson Amendment
Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) delivered a floor speech yesterday in the US Senate addressing the anti-abortion Stupak/Pitts amendment in the House of Representatives and the similar Nelson amendment proposed this week in the Senate....
12/2/2009 - Feminists Rally on Capitol Hill Against Stupak/Pitts
Hundreds of feminist activists from around the country gathered today on Capitol Hill to rally against the anti-abortion Stupak/Pitts amendment to the health insurance reform bill....
11/24/2009 - Baltimore Passes First City Regulation of CPCs
On Monday, Baltimore became the first city in the country to require crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) to post signs disclosing that they do not offer referrals for or information about abortion and contraception....

11/13/2009 - RNC To Halt Abortion Coverage in Health Insurance
The Republican National Committee (RNC) announced plans yesterday to work with their insurance provider Cigna to end the coverage of elective abortions under their health insurance. According to the Associated Press, RNC Chairman Michael Steele said in a statement, "Money from our loyal donors should not be used for this purpose....
11/10/2009 - Obama Against Stupak Amendment
President Barack Obama weighed in on the Stupak/Pitts Amendment to the Affordable Health Care for America Act last night in an interview....
11/9/2009 - House Passes Historic Health Reform - Women’s Rights Suffer Major Defeat in Passage of Stupak Amendment
The House passed the historic Affordable Health Care Act (HR3962) by a narrow margin (220-215) with major gains for women including eliminating gender rating in insurance prices, banning pre-existing conditions, capping out of pocket expenses, expanding Medicaid to include individuals at 150% of the federal poverty level, improving Medicare by closing the donut hole on prescription drug coverage, no charge for preventive care, and stopping the practice of dropping coverage or capping coverage of sick people....
11/9/2009 - House Passes Health Reform - Pro Choice Forces Vow to Strip Stupak Amendment
The House passed the historic Affordable Health Care Act (HR3962) for Women by a narrow margin (220-215) Saturday night with major gains for women including eliminating gender rating in insurance prices, banning pre-existing conditions, capping out of pocket expenses, expanding Medicaid to include individuals at 150% of the federal poverty level, improving Medicare by closing the donut hole on prescription drug coverage, no charge for preventive care, and stopping the practice of dropping coverage or capping coverage of sick people....

4/15/2009 - Proposed Anti-Choice Indiana Law Amended to Include Fetal Pain Provision
The Indiana state House approved an amendment to a bill in a 62 to 27 vote Monday requiring women seeking abortions to be notified of possible fetal pain....

2/26/2009 - South Carolina House Approves Abortion Waiting Period Bill
The South Carolina state House passed a bill 83 to 23 yesterday that would require women to wait for 24 hours after viewing an ultrasound prior to having an abortion....
**********************************************************************************
11/17/2008 - The Dangerous Masquerade of "Crisis Pregnancy Centers"
These fake medical centers try to fool college students in order to spread an anti-abortion message A new study just released by the Feminist Majority Foundation (FMF) reveals nearly half of college health centers refer students seeking reproductive health care to so-called "crisis pregnancy" or "pregnancy resource" centers...
11/13/2008 - Temporary Injunction Delays Oklahoma Anti-Abortion Law
A temporary injunction has prevented an Oklahoma anti-abortion law from going into effect November 1....
10/15/2008 - Anti-Abortion Ordinance Proposed in Allen County Indiana
An Indiana anti-abortion organization recently drafted an anti-abortion ordinance as part an effort to pass like-minded legislation at the county level that was previously rejected by the statewide legislature....
 10/6/2008 - Anti-Abortion Poster Case Rejected by Supreme Court
The Supreme Court rejected an appeal in the case of American Coalition of Life Activists (ACLA) v....
 8/28/2008 - Long Time Anti-Abortion Militant and Operation Rescue Founder Arrested at DNC
Randall Terry, the founder of the militant anti-abortion group Operation Rescue, was arrested at the Democratic National Convention after leading a sit-in that would have blocked a convention center entrance....
8/19/2008 - Anti-Abortion Ordinances Pushed in Indiana Counties
Anti-abortion groups in Indiana are pushing ordinances at the county level that would require doctors who perform abortions to have hospital admitting privileges....
8/8/2008 - Abortion Stance Theorized to be Anthrax Suspect's Motive
Bruce Ivins, the biodefense researcher accused by the Department of Justice of being solely responsible for the 2001 anthrax attacks, may have been motivated by personal anti-abortion politics....
7/11/2008 - Anti-Abortion Measures on November Ballots in CA, CO, and SD
Anti-abortion measures will be on the state-wide November ballots in California, Colorado, and South Dakota....
6/3/2008 - California Officials Certify Parental Notification Ballot Initiative
A parental notification ballot measure was certified last week for the California state ballot in November....
5/5/2008 - Kansas Senate Attempted Override of Anti-abortion Bill Veto Fails
An attempt by Republican lawmakers in the Kansas Senate to override Governor Kathleen Sebelius's veto of an anti-abortion bill failed last week....
4/30/2008 - Abortion Opponents Propose Constitutional Amendment in Tennessee
Abortion opponents plan to reintroduce a constitutional amendment on Thursday to ban abortion in Tennessee....
4/28/2008 - South Dakota Abortion Ban Petition Certified
South Dakota Secretary of State Chris Nelson certified last week that a petition for an abortion ban ballot initiative has enough signatures to be placed on the statewide November ballot....
4/22/2008 - Kansas Governor Vetoes Abortion Bill
Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius vetoed an anti-abortion bill on Monday....
4/21/2008 - Oklahoma Legislature Overrides Governor�s Veto of Anti-Abortion Bill
The Oklahoma Legislature overrode the governor's veto of an omnibus anti-abortion bill on Thursday....
4/18/2008 - Missouri House Approves Omnibus Anti-Abortion Bill
The Missouri House of Representatives voted 108 to 33 to approve an omnibus anti-abortion bill on Tuesday....
4/14/2008 - Oklahoma Senate Approved Omnibus Anti-Abortion Bill
The Oklahoma state Senate voted last week to approve an anti-abortion omnibus bill....
 3/31/2008 - Mississippi House Approves Anti-Abortion Bill
The Mississippi House approved an anti-abortion bill last week that would further restrict abortions in the state, and possibly violate federal privacy laws....
 3/31/2008 - Mississippi House Approves Anti-Abortion Bill
The Mississippi House approved an anti-abortion bill last week that would further restrict abortions in the state, and possibly violate federal privacy laws....
 3/10/2008 - Feminists Celebrate National Day of Appreciation for Abortion Providers
Today, March 10th, feminists across the country celebrate the National Day of Appreciation for Abortion Providers....
3/5/2008 - Kansas Planned Parenthood Cleared of Charges
A Kansas Planned Parenthood clinic was cleared of any wrongdoing on Monday when the grand jury refused to issue an indictment....
2/25/2008 - Planned Parenthood Faces Medical Records Subpoena
A Kansas judge in Johnson county pushed attorneys for Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Missouri (PPKM) to agree to turn over medical records subpoenaed by the grand jury investigating PPKM�s reproductive health clinic on Friday....
2/7/2008 - November Ballot Initiative Round Up
Ten states may have anti-abortion initiatives and five may have anti-affirmative action initiatives on the November state ballots....
1/22/2008 - 35th Anniversary of Roe v Wade
Today marks the 35th anniversary of the US Supreme Court decision that gave women the right to a legal abortion....
1/14/2008 - Abortion Foes Focus on States
As the 2008 elections approach, anti-abortion activists have turned their attention to states.... 
**********************************************************************************
4/2/2003 - State Bills Requiring Abortion Providers to Offer Ultrasounds
The Arkansas Senate last month passed a bill (SB 729) requiring abortion providers to offer women an ultrasound image of the fetus prior to undergoing an abortion, reported Kaisernetwork....

7 Billion & Counting

Take Action

Related Blogs

Since 1970, the world's population has doubled from 3.5 billion to 7 billion. Each day, the world's population increases by 227,000.
"20% of the planet's population uses 80% of its resources and consumes 30% more than the planet can regenerate." 1

Hunger and Malnutrition

Over 2.7 billion people live on less than $2 per day, and one billion people live on less than one dollar per day. Widespread hunger, malnutrition, inadequate supply of clean water and sanitation, and a lack of basic health care persist.
Some 1 billion globally people are malnourished, with 98 percent of those people living in impoverished nations.
"Every 3.6 seconds another person dies of starvation and the large majority is children under the age of 5. Six million children die annually as a result of malnutrition before they reach their fifth birthday." 2
"More than 800 million people go to bed hungry every day... 300 million are children." 3 In the U.S,, 25% of children have food insecurity.
In the last 25 years, a decrease in soil fertility, as well as land degradation and AIDS, have resulted in a 23 percent decrease in the amount of food produced per capita.

Inadequate Supply of Clean Water and Sanitation

"More than 2.6 billion people—over 40 per cent of the world's population—do not have basic sanitation,
and more than one billion people have unsafe sources of drinking water." 4
Forty percent of people in the world lack access to a latrine.
"Lack of access to clean water and sanitation kills children at a rate equivalent of a jumbo jet crashing every four hours." 5
The greatest cause of infection in the world stems from inadequate sanitation.
"443 million school days are lost each year due to water-related illness." 6

Lack of Access to Reproductive Health Care

"Global rates of maternal mortality remain perilously high; one woman dies every minute of every day in pregnancy or childbirth, and for every woman who dies, another 20 suffer from injury, infection, or disease every minute." Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
529,000 women and girls die and 10 million suffer from injury, infection, or disease each year during pregnancy and childbirth
70,000 women and girls die and 5 million are injured every year from botched abortions in developing nations, mostly where abortion is illegal.
The leading cause of death for girls 15-19 in poor counties is complications from pregnancy and childbirth.
An estimated 215 million women in the developing world who want to avoid pregnancy but don't have access to modern contraception.
99% of maternal mortality takes place in the developing world, primarily in sub-Saharan Africa (270,000) & South Asia (188,000)
The vast majority of maternal deaths are preventable

Impact of US Cuts to International Reproductive Health and Family Planning (RH/FP) Funding

The Obama Administration proposed for Fiscal Year 2012 $769.1 million for bilateral and multilateral international reproductive health and family planning assistance, including $47.5 million for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), which works in 150 countries to prevent maternal mortality and expand access to contraception. The House voted in 2012 to cut international RH/ FP to $440 million and to totally defund UNFPA or a staggering $329 million to the Obama Proposal and $208 million cut from 2010.
  • For every $10 million cut from the international family planning and reproductive health program:
  • 610,000 fewer women and couples would receive contraceptive services and supplies;
  • 90,000 more unintended pregnancies, and 82,000 more unplanned births, would occur;
  • 83,000 more abortions would take place (of which 60,000 would be unsafe);
  • 500 more maternal deaths would occur;
  • 59,000 more years of health life would be lost; and
  • 2,300 more children would lose their mothers. 7
The House voted in 2012 to eliminate all domestic family planning aid and to completely defund Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA).

Sources

The Center for Biological Diversity | "The End of Poverty? Think Again" | Feminist Majority Foundation | Guttmacher Institute | International Family Planning Coalition | Save the children, "State of the World's Mothers 2004" | Secretary of State Hillary Clinton | UN Millennium Project Fast Facts | UNFPA | Water.org | World Food Programme | World Health Organization
1 -"The End of Poverty? Think Again"
2 -UN Millennium Project Fast Facts
3 - UN Millennium Project Fast Facts
4 - UN Millennium Project Fast Facts
7 - Guttmacher Institute