Congressman Luis V. Gutierrez schooled the House Republicans on the Oversight Committee a few weeks ago when they held a hearing on Planned Parenthood.
Naturally, this dose of reality didn’t make it into the news reels. Pity, because Congressman Gutierrez is correct.
At the Federal level, at least for the near term, any anti-abortion (aka “Pro-Birth”) legislation will be vetoed by President Obama. It is protected by the U.S. Constitution, as decided in 1973 by the Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade.
Sadly, though, the same is not true of efforts by the States. Because those legislatures, run in many cases by the GOP, keep enacting laws that step by step make it more difficult for women to get access.
- Mandatory Ultrasounds
- Requiring physicians to have admitting privileges at local hospitals
- Prohibiting abortions after 20 weeks (about the time some of the most severe abnormalities become apparent)
- Restricting access to “morning after” pills
- Compulsatory parental consent (including in cases of rape and/or incest)
The list goes on.
Just as bad, are the healthcare rights they want to take away from women, many of which are provided to us by Planned Parenthood. Mamograms. Cancer screenings. Contraception.
So while we can be thankful for Congressman Gutierrez, and know he’s right at the FEDERAL level, there is a whole lot of work to be done to protect women’s rights at the State level.
Elections matter.
There are some coming up on NOVEMBER 3:
Governor:
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
State Legislatures:
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- New Jersey
- Virginia
Mayor:
Anchorage, AK; Arlington, TX; Charlotte, NC; Colorado Springs, CO;* Columbus, OH; Dallas, TX; Denver, CO; Duluth, MN; Fort Wayne, IN; Fort Worth, TX; Greensboro, NC; Houston, TX; Indianapolis, IN; Jacksonville, FL; Kansas City, MO; Knoxville, TN; Lincoln, NE; Memphis, TN; Montgomery, AL; Nashville, TN; Philadelphia, PA; Phoenix, AZ; Raleigh, NC; San Antonio, TX; San Francisco, CA; South Bend, IN; Tucson, AZ; West Palm Beach, FL; and Wichita, KS
* Mayors races have some interesting consequences, too. I wrote about the last mayoral election in Colorado Springs in this post.
Special thanks to Melinda, my very extended family member, who shared this video link. And thanks to Wikipedia for the list of states/cities with elections this November.
FiftyFourandAHalf 
Ignorance abounds, this isn’t just a war on women. I have finally figured it out, it is poverty. It is truly poverty. The wealthy will always have access to whatever they want and need, whenever they want and need it. It is the poor that suffer.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the video! I saw another bit of footage of him, this one even better.
I share your anxiety about the local/state level politics, though. It’s been states passing all these horrendous TRAP laws and getting so many clinics shut down, legal abortion is effectively not available in certain parts of the country. *rage seethe boil*
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now we just need to rage against the man…
LikeLike
Oh honey. Pretty sure I rage against the man daily…
😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
For many of the fundamentalists on the far right, their putative reason for opposing PP, and the ‘nasty’ things they do–like abortions and contraception– is supposed to be about protecting the lives of the (relatively small number of) aborted “children,” but of course they ignore the much greater number of children dying of starvation, abuse, etc. The so-called “pro-life” moniker just doesn’t ring true. I believe the real motivation behind the anti-PP people is the desire to punish the wicked women who dared to have sex when they didn’t wish to have a baby. The old “she made her bed and now she should be made to lie in it” argument. I’ve heard that way too often…
LikeLiked by 2 people
I agree only men are allowed to have consequence-free sex, drag nab it!
LikeLike
As a man, I can help women by voting for candidates who support women’s rights. As for women, they can help women by doing the same. What surprises me is how many women don’t do this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re absolutely right. Why on earth do folks keep voting AGAINST their own interests?!?!?
LikeLiked by 1 person
It may be because authorities in charge have taught us that selflessness is a virtue, and therefore our own interests are not important, but theirs are.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh I don’t agree with that They’ve taught folks that working together is for fools. And tax cuts are good …
LikeLike
That’s a compelling theory also, especially concerning tax cuts. Some people will sell their rights for a little extra money in their paycheck.
LikeLike
And it is soooooooooo little money!
I haven’t told the story, but I met Grover Norquist when he first was pushing his idiocy. What a maroon!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh please, tell the story. That would make a great post. Did he ask you to sign the pledge? Did you tell him to shove it up his ass?
LikeLiked by 1 person
He was passing out leaflets to the lobbyists in line (including me). He handed me one and I said “you can’t be serious!” “Oh I’m serious,” he said. Oy vey. There’s not much more to it …
LikeLiked by 1 person
Because they think, “Oh, it’s never gonna happen to me or any of the good people I know. F&$k everyone else.” Then they get so adorably shocked when that unlikely thing does happen.
LikeLike
Yes.It is so ridiculous, though. It’s as if they had never been in a jam themselves — I have a brother (the one I DON’T talk about). He is on Social Security disability because of health issues — the program tops on the GOP’s hit list (well, after Planned Parenthood, perhaps). Yet he votes GOP every single time… Grrrrrrrr.
LikeLike
I am guessing that he assumes that he deserves his disability benefits and all other people on disability are just defrauding the system.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Of course!
LikeLike
Look, if this were really about life beginning at conception, the pro-birthing legislators would be after the fertility clinics too. But it is not. It is all about going after women with limited means. It’s a class war with a huge dose of misogyny.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh yeah. Yup. You’re right. Some on the right ARE going against contraception, but mostly it is class warfare alright.
LikeLike
If I’m understanding it correctly, SCOTUS has a case on the docket where TX wants to reduce the clinics to approximately 10. No good can come from that in a state that big. Oh sure, you can have an abortion, but you have to travel to BFE to get one.
LikeLike
I don’t understand this assault on women’s reproductive rights and healthcare. But then again, there are a lot of things about politics I don’t get because it seems so counterproductive, as if some of these guys (and gals) want to move backwards rather than forward. The “good old days” were not as good as they pretend they were.
LikeLiked by 1 person
knowledge is power. thank you Elyse.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Elections do matter, and women’s health care and reproductive rights are under assault. One clarification: PP doesn’t provide mammograms but if needed will refer a patient to a facility that does them.
THanks for the post.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s right. Thanks for the correction!
LikeLike
I can’t imagine where we’d be without Planned Parenthood. If the country wants to see even more unplanned pregnancies and abortions, then getting rid of Planned Parenthood seems to be a good way to achieve it. So frustrating.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Applaud ignorance. That seems to be their motto. Drives me nuts.
LikeLiked by 2 people