As 2009 comes to a close, we want to extend our warmest thanks to all of our pro-choice supporters!
We started our year commemorating the 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, held our largest lobby day ever, and had another successful year of beating back anti-choice attacks at the Capitol.
During our summer outreach, we covered the state from Rochester to Duluth, Moorhead to Pine City. As the health-care debate heated up, we rose up and fought back against the anti-choice Stupak-Pitts amendment and defeated the Nelson-Hatch amendment in the Senate.
And through all of this you all stood with us by coming to the Capitol, visiting our booths at events across the state, and calling and e-mailing your legislators in record numbers!
With the end of 2009 come changes for us here at NARAL Pro-Choice Minnesota. The most visible change will be our move from our home of ten years at the Minnesota Women’s Building to a new location that will also house our canvass operations. This will increase our productivity, creativity, and reduce costs and allow us to continue our work here in Minnesota.
Thank you all for your encouragement, the phone calls and e-mails to your elected officials, and your support. NARAL Pro-Choice Minnesota is dedicated to continuing the fight for reproductive rights and could not continue this work without your support.
I ask you to consider making a year-end gift TODAY. With your support, we will meet the challenges of 2010 and protect women’s right to choose in Minnesota.
My Best,
Linnea House
Executive Director
NARAL Pro-Choice Minnesota
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Latest Choice news
The Senate passed another 60-vote hurdle this morning on health care, voting 60-39 to end debate and move to a vote on a package of changes by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Democrats are now anticipating final passage in the Senate before Christmas.
The New York Times reports that there are many issues for the Democrats to hash out between the different Senate and House health care bills, and that abortion coverage will be among the most difficult to resolve.
Cecile Richards, of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, writes on the Huffington Post that the Nelson compromise trades away millions of women's access to health care for a single vote, and will result in a system that places excessive administrative burdens on health insurance companies that cover abortion care.
George Washington University Professor Sara Rosenbaum analyzes how health care reform legislation may result in health insurance companies no longer covering abortion care.
The New York Times editorial board points out that the Nelson compromise would result in a "deplorable interference by state governments into decisions that should be made by a woman and her doctor." The board, however, supports passage of the Senate health care bill.
The New York Times reports that there are many issues for the Democrats to hash out between the different Senate and House health care bills, and that abortion coverage will be among the most difficult to resolve.
Cecile Richards, of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, writes on the Huffington Post that the Nelson compromise trades away millions of women's access to health care for a single vote, and will result in a system that places excessive administrative burdens on health insurance companies that cover abortion care.
George Washington University Professor Sara Rosenbaum analyzes how health care reform legislation may result in health insurance companies no longer covering abortion care.
The New York Times editorial board points out that the Nelson compromise would result in a "deplorable interference by state governments into decisions that should be made by a woman and her doctor." The board, however, supports passage of the Senate health care bill.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Thank you, Franken and Klobuchar.
Last Wednesday, people rallied all over the country in opposition to anti-choice amendments in the proposed healthcare bills. Here in Minnesota, over 75 people stood up at the capitol alongside organizations like NARAL, Minnesota Now, Religious coalition for Reproductive Choice, Pro-Choice Resources, The National Council of Jewish Women, and many more.
Mirroring this outcry, Senator Al Franken spoke out against the Nelson/Hatch amendment on the Senate floor emphasizing, “We are on the verge of passing a historic health reform law that will do more to improve the health of women and families than any legislation in recent history. We will end discrimination based on health history, on gender, or on history of domestic violence. We will provide access to preventive health services so women can get annual exams and mammograms at no cost. And it is our responsibility to guarantee that women are not worse off under the health reform we're going to pass. That they're not worse off than they are today.”
Please contact our Minnesota Senators Franken and Klobuchar to thank them for standing up for women’s rights and to urge them to continue opposing anti-choice attacks within healthcare reform legislation. We had a huge victory this week, but the fight is far from over.
Mirroring this outcry, Senator Al Franken spoke out against the Nelson/Hatch amendment on the Senate floor emphasizing, “We are on the verge of passing a historic health reform law that will do more to improve the health of women and families than any legislation in recent history. We will end discrimination based on health history, on gender, or on history of domestic violence. We will provide access to preventive health services so women can get annual exams and mammograms at no cost. And it is our responsibility to guarantee that women are not worse off under the health reform we're going to pass. That they're not worse off than they are today.”
Please contact our Minnesota Senators Franken and Klobuchar to thank them for standing up for women’s rights and to urge them to continue opposing anti-choice attacks within healthcare reform legislation. We had a huge victory this week, but the fight is far from over.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Senate Rejects Divisive Attack on Abortion Rights
NARAL Pro-Choice America credits activists, mobilization efforts
for defeating abortion-coverage ban in Senate bill
Washington, D.C. – Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, commended the Senate for standing up to anti-choice pressure groups and rejecting an amendment aimed at derailing the health-reform process.
Keenan also called the Senate’s action a victory for pro-choice activists. Hundreds of thousands of Americans flooded Senate offices with calls, email messages, and petition signatures calling on senators to reject efforts to add an amendment similar to the House-passed Stupak-Pitts amendment.
The Senate voted by a 54-45 margin to table the amendment offered by anti-choice Sens. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT), essentially defeating the amendment.
“My heartfelt appreciation goes to all the pro-choice Americans who joined us in calling on the Senate to reject anti-choice attacks in health reform,” Keenan said. “We salute our pro-choice allies who worked so hard to stop this attack that could have caused women to lose coverage in the new health-care system. The bill already includes a ban on federal funding for abortion and a requirement that only women’s personal funds may be used for abortion care. That’s deeply disappointing to us, but the Nelson-Hatch proposal, like the Stupak-Pitts amendment in the House, would have gone much further, making it virtually impossible for private insurance plans that participate in the new system to offer abortion coverage to women.
“We had an important win today, but the fight is far from over. We will mobilize our activists and work with our allies in Congress to stop additional attacks in the Senate and work to ensure that the final health bill does not include the dangerous and divisive Stupak-Pitts language that’s currently in the House bill.”
Last week, NARAL Pro-Choice America unveiled a TV ad that’s running in key markets in four states. The ad followed a December 2 event on Capitol Hill where the organization and many of its state affiliates participated in a grassroots lobby day that called on the Senate to say “no” to the Stupak language. Prior to that, on November 23, the organization delivered a petition with 97,128 signatures to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, calling on the Senate to keep the Stupak-Pitts language out of its bill. More than 229,000 NARAL Pro-Choice America and state affiliate activists called, wrote to, and visited their lawmakers during the summer months, and the media have reported on NARAL Pro-Choice America's other mobilization efforts, including automated calls and volunteer-led phone banks in 20 states.
Like the House-passed Stupak-Pitts amendment, the Nelson-Hatch amendment would make it virtually impossible for private insurance companies that participate in the new system to offer abortion coverage. This would have the effect of denying women the right to use their own personal funds to purchase an insurance plan with abortion coverage in the new health system—a radical departure from the status quo. Presently, more than 85 percent of private-insurance plans cover abortion services.
The amendment also includes other egregious provisions that undermine a women’s right to choose:
Like the Stupak-Pitts amendment, the Nelson-Hatch proposal also forbids any plan offering abortion coverage in the new system from accepting even one subsidized customer. Since more than 75 percent of the participants in the exchange will be subsidized, it seems certain that all health plans will seek and accept these individuals. In other words, the Nelson-Hatch amendment would force plans in the exchange to make a difficult choice: either offer their product to 75 percent of consumers in the marketplace or offer abortion services in their benefits package. It seems clear which choice they would make.
Stupak-Pitts and Nelson-Hatch supporters claim that women who require subsidies to help pay for their insurance plan would have abortion access through the option of purchasing a “rider,” but this is a false promise. According to the respected National Women’s Law Center, in the five states that require a separate rider for abortion coverage, there is no evidence that plans offer these riders. In fact, in North Dakota, which has this policy, the private plan that holds the state’s overwhelming share of the health-insurance market (91 percent) does not offer such a rider. Furthermore, the state insurance department has no record of abortion riders from any of the five leading individual insurance plans from at least the past decade. Nothing in this amendment would ensure that rider policies are available or affordable to the more than 75 percent of individuals who will receive federal subsidies in order to help purchase coverage in the new exchange.
for defeating abortion-coverage ban in Senate bill
Washington, D.C. – Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, commended the Senate for standing up to anti-choice pressure groups and rejecting an amendment aimed at derailing the health-reform process.
Keenan also called the Senate’s action a victory for pro-choice activists. Hundreds of thousands of Americans flooded Senate offices with calls, email messages, and petition signatures calling on senators to reject efforts to add an amendment similar to the House-passed Stupak-Pitts amendment.
The Senate voted by a 54-45 margin to table the amendment offered by anti-choice Sens. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT), essentially defeating the amendment.
“My heartfelt appreciation goes to all the pro-choice Americans who joined us in calling on the Senate to reject anti-choice attacks in health reform,” Keenan said. “We salute our pro-choice allies who worked so hard to stop this attack that could have caused women to lose coverage in the new health-care system. The bill already includes a ban on federal funding for abortion and a requirement that only women’s personal funds may be used for abortion care. That’s deeply disappointing to us, but the Nelson-Hatch proposal, like the Stupak-Pitts amendment in the House, would have gone much further, making it virtually impossible for private insurance plans that participate in the new system to offer abortion coverage to women.
“We had an important win today, but the fight is far from over. We will mobilize our activists and work with our allies in Congress to stop additional attacks in the Senate and work to ensure that the final health bill does not include the dangerous and divisive Stupak-Pitts language that’s currently in the House bill.”
Last week, NARAL Pro-Choice America unveiled a TV ad that’s running in key markets in four states. The ad followed a December 2 event on Capitol Hill where the organization and many of its state affiliates participated in a grassroots lobby day that called on the Senate to say “no” to the Stupak language. Prior to that, on November 23, the organization delivered a petition with 97,128 signatures to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, calling on the Senate to keep the Stupak-Pitts language out of its bill. More than 229,000 NARAL Pro-Choice America and state affiliate activists called, wrote to, and visited their lawmakers during the summer months, and the media have reported on NARAL Pro-Choice America's other mobilization efforts, including automated calls and volunteer-led phone banks in 20 states.
Like the House-passed Stupak-Pitts amendment, the Nelson-Hatch amendment would make it virtually impossible for private insurance companies that participate in the new system to offer abortion coverage. This would have the effect of denying women the right to use their own personal funds to purchase an insurance plan with abortion coverage in the new health system—a radical departure from the status quo. Presently, more than 85 percent of private-insurance plans cover abortion services.
The amendment also includes other egregious provisions that undermine a women’s right to choose:
Like the Stupak-Pitts amendment, the Nelson-Hatch proposal also forbids any plan offering abortion coverage in the new system from accepting even one subsidized customer. Since more than 75 percent of the participants in the exchange will be subsidized, it seems certain that all health plans will seek and accept these individuals. In other words, the Nelson-Hatch amendment would force plans in the exchange to make a difficult choice: either offer their product to 75 percent of consumers in the marketplace or offer abortion services in their benefits package. It seems clear which choice they would make.
Stupak-Pitts and Nelson-Hatch supporters claim that women who require subsidies to help pay for their insurance plan would have abortion access through the option of purchasing a “rider,” but this is a false promise. According to the respected National Women’s Law Center, in the five states that require a separate rider for abortion coverage, there is no evidence that plans offer these riders. In fact, in North Dakota, which has this policy, the private plan that holds the state’s overwhelming share of the health-insurance market (91 percent) does not offer such a rider. Furthermore, the state insurance department has no record of abortion riders from any of the five leading individual insurance plans from at least the past decade. Nothing in this amendment would ensure that rider policies are available or affordable to the more than 75 percent of individuals who will receive federal subsidies in order to help purchase coverage in the new exchange.
Opposition to the Nelson/Hatch Amendment
Sen. Ben Nelson D-Nebraska along with Sen. Orrin Hatch R-Utah got their way and introduced their version of the Stupak/Pitts amendment. This attack on women’s reproductive health has to be met with a fierce pro-choice defense of women’s rights.
Sen. Barbara Mikulski wins quote of the day when she addressed the idea of an optional abortion coverage rider: "How about letting men buy an abortion rider for the women they get pregnant. . . Maybe we'll give them a discount." Her reason for this is she feels (rightfully so) that this type of rider is discriminatory, demonizing and insulting to women and that no woman ever plans on having an abortion. RH Reality Check goes into much greater detail on this: http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/blog/2009/12/08/roundup-an-amendment-any-other-names-smells-just-bad
Minnesota’s own Senator Al Franken also addresses this amendment:
"Madame President, I rise today to speak in opposition to the Nelson-Hatch amendment which replaces the compromise language in the current bill with unprecedented restrictions on women's access to safe and legal abortion services. I think we can all agree that women's health is fundamental to our nation's health. We all know that when women are healthier, families communities and countries are healthier. But I also know that the issue of abortion is difficult, no matter where you stand on it. And I truly respect the fact that we have a range of opinions among us here.
Women have abortions for different reasons. Some of these reasons may not seem right to some of us. But even if we disagree, it is better that each woman be able to make her own decision with her doctor. In a perfect world, no woman should have to face the decisions we are discussing today. But the reason we have insurance coverage is to deal with the unexpected. And no woman expects to have an unplanned pregnancy, and no woman expects to end a wanted pregnancy because of fetal anomalies, a risk to her own health. If we limit options in private health insurance coverage, we take away a woman's right to make a decision that may be right for her and her family in their circumstances.
But unplanned pregnancies do occur. And we have a responsibility to supply women, to provide women with the full range of choices regarding their health. The Supreme Court has repeatedly ruled on this issue and made it clear that women have a constitutional right to access abortion. It's our responsibility that abortions are safe, legal and rare.
Supporting a woman's right to make decisions about her health means more than keeping abortion services legal. It means supporting a woman's decision to terminate a pregnancy safely and with dignity. It also means teaching honest, realistic sex education. It means the right to choose contraception. It means standing with women who choose to continue their pregnancies with the hope and expectation that a compassionate society will support them in their responsibility in raising a child. It's about respecting women's personal decisions and challenges they face, especially in times when they are the most vulnerable.
I strongly oppose the Nelson-Hatch amendment because it strongly undermines the status quo and breaks new ground by restricting women's fundamental rights. The amendment stipulates that health plans cannot cover abortion services if they accept even one subsidized customer, even if the abortion coverage would be paid with the private premiums that health plans receive directly from individuals.
If adopted, this would mark the first time in federal law that we would restrict how individuals can use their own dollars in the private health insurance marketplace. I also oppose the amendment because we have a workable solution. The existing compromise in our bill represents genuine concessions by both prochoice and prolife members of Congress. The current bill prohibits federal funding of abortion but also allows women to pay for abortion coverage with their own private funds. It makes clear that abortion can't be mandated or prohibited and stipulates that federal funds cannot be used for abortion.
Let me be clear. The compromise in the current bill is as far as we can go. We have negotiated to get to this point and we cannot negotiate further without literally undermining the compromise that we have made on behalf of women's health in this country.
We are on the verge of passing a historic health reform law that will do more to improve the health of women and families than any legislation in recent history. We will end discrimination based on health history, on gender, or on history of domestic violence. We will provide access to preventive health services so women can get annual exams and mammograms at no cost. And it is our responsibility to guarantee that women are not worse off under the health reform we're going to pass. That they're not worse off than they are today.
As my friend Paul Wellstone used to say, if we don't fight hard enough for the things we stand for, at some point we have to recognize that we don't really stand for them. I urge my colleagues to stand with me today to oppose this amendment. I yield the floor."
Monday, December 7, 2009
Abortion Coverage Ban introduced in Senate!
Sen. Nelson’s anti-abortion coverage amendment has been introduced. This is a Senate version of the Stupak/Pitts amendment. Call Senators Klobuchar and Franken and have them Vote "NO"! 202-224-3121
https://secure.prochoiceamerica.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=4011
https://secure.prochoiceamerica.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=4011
Friday, December 4, 2009
NARAL Pro-Choice America Takes Campaign Against Anti-Choice Attacks to the Airwaves
Ad featuring Rep. Bart Stupak starts running tomorrow
Washington, D.C. – Building on its lobbying, education, and grassroots mobilization efforts around health-care reform, NARAL Pro-Choice America released a television spot urging Americans to call on Congress to reject anti-choice attacks from politicians like Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.).
The ad is set to begin in key mid-sized media markets, including Richmond, Va., Raleigh, N.C., and the Portland and Bangor markets in Maine. In addition, the ad will run in multiple markets in Michigan and other state markets that air in Rep. Stupak’s congressional district.
The ad comes as the Senate debates health reform, and anti-choice senators threaten to offer an amendment similar to the Stupak amendment that passed the House.
“This ad is another important step in our efforts to keep women from losing ground in the new health-care system,” said Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America. “More and more Americans are joining us in calling on Congress to reject the divisive efforts by Rep. Stupak and other politicians to use abortion to derail health reform. This targeted ad will help us enlist even more Americans into our campaign to defeat the Stupak abortion-coverage ban.”
The Stupak-Pitts amendment, added to the House health bill before its passage, would make it virtually impossible for private insurance companies that participate in the new system to offer abortion coverage to women. This would have the effect of denying women the right to use their own, private funds to purchase an insurance plan with abortion coverage in the new health system — a radical departure from the status quo. Currently, more than 85 percent of private-insurance plans cover abortion services.
NARAL Pro-Choice America’s ad represents the group’s next phase of mobilization on health-care reform. On December 2, the organization and many of its state affiliates participated in a grassroots lobby day on Capitol Hill, which called on the Senate to say “no” to the Stupak language. Prior to that, on November 23, the organization delivered a petition with 97,128 signatures to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, calling on the Senate to keep the Stupak-Pitts language out of its bill. More than 229,000 NARAL Pro-Choice America and state affiliate activists called, wrote to, and visited their lawmakers during the summer months, and the media have reported on NARAL Pro-Choice America's other mobilization efforts, including automated calls and volunteer-led phone banks in 20 states.
View NARAL Pro-Choice America's television ad.
View the fact sheet about the ad.
Washington, D.C. – Building on its lobbying, education, and grassroots mobilization efforts around health-care reform, NARAL Pro-Choice America released a television spot urging Americans to call on Congress to reject anti-choice attacks from politicians like Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.).
The ad is set to begin in key mid-sized media markets, including Richmond, Va., Raleigh, N.C., and the Portland and Bangor markets in Maine. In addition, the ad will run in multiple markets in Michigan and other state markets that air in Rep. Stupak’s congressional district.
The ad comes as the Senate debates health reform, and anti-choice senators threaten to offer an amendment similar to the Stupak amendment that passed the House.
“This ad is another important step in our efforts to keep women from losing ground in the new health-care system,” said Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America. “More and more Americans are joining us in calling on Congress to reject the divisive efforts by Rep. Stupak and other politicians to use abortion to derail health reform. This targeted ad will help us enlist even more Americans into our campaign to defeat the Stupak abortion-coverage ban.”
The Stupak-Pitts amendment, added to the House health bill before its passage, would make it virtually impossible for private insurance companies that participate in the new system to offer abortion coverage to women. This would have the effect of denying women the right to use their own, private funds to purchase an insurance plan with abortion coverage in the new health system — a radical departure from the status quo. Currently, more than 85 percent of private-insurance plans cover abortion services.
NARAL Pro-Choice America’s ad represents the group’s next phase of mobilization on health-care reform. On December 2, the organization and many of its state affiliates participated in a grassroots lobby day on Capitol Hill, which called on the Senate to say “no” to the Stupak language. Prior to that, on November 23, the organization delivered a petition with 97,128 signatures to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, calling on the Senate to keep the Stupak-Pitts language out of its bill. More than 229,000 NARAL Pro-Choice America and state affiliate activists called, wrote to, and visited their lawmakers during the summer months, and the media have reported on NARAL Pro-Choice America's other mobilization efforts, including automated calls and volunteer-led phone banks in 20 states.
View NARAL Pro-Choice America's television ad.
View the fact sheet about the ad.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Rally to Stop the Abortion Coverage Ban is Tomorrow!
Don’t forget to come to the Capitol at 12:00 on December 2nd to say NO to the Abortion Coverage Ban!
We cannot be silent while our elected representation attempts to strip women of their reproductive rights! Anti-choice politicians are working to get the Stupak-Pitts language into the Senate version of the health-reform bill. The Pro-Choice voice cannot be silent about women being sacrificed to get health care reform passed! We will be gathering at the Minnesota State Capitol to stand in solidarity with the National Day of Action in Washington, D.C.
Stand with the Minnesota Choice Coalition on Wednesday December 2nd at 12:00 p.m. and demand that our lawmakers defend women’s reproductive health while passing meaningful health care reform!What: Rally to Stop the Abortion Coverage Ban
Where: Minnesota State Capitol Rotunda
When: Wednesday December 2nd from 12-12:30
Who: You and the Pro-Choice Community
Why: Because we cannot allow Anti-Choice Legislators to use abortion rights to derail health care reform!
We'll have some signs at the event but please feel free to bring your own. Just remember NO sticks on your signs, Capitol Security will take them away.
This link has directions to the Capitol, parking info, and other useful information. http://www.leg.state.mn.us/leg/faq/faqtoc.asp?subject=14
We cannot be silent while our elected representation attempts to strip women of their reproductive rights! Anti-choice politicians are working to get the Stupak-Pitts language into the Senate version of the health-reform bill. The Pro-Choice voice cannot be silent about women being sacrificed to get health care reform passed! We will be gathering at the Minnesota State Capitol to stand in solidarity with the National Day of Action in Washington, D.C.
Stand with the Minnesota Choice Coalition on Wednesday December 2nd at 12:00 p.m. and demand that our lawmakers defend women’s reproductive health while passing meaningful health care reform!What: Rally to Stop the Abortion Coverage Ban
Where: Minnesota State Capitol Rotunda
When: Wednesday December 2nd from 12-12:30
Who: You and the Pro-Choice Community
Why: Because we cannot allow Anti-Choice Legislators to use abortion rights to derail health care reform!
We'll have some signs at the event but please feel free to bring your own. Just remember NO sticks on your signs, Capitol Security will take them away.
This link has directions to the Capitol, parking info, and other useful information. http://www.leg.state.mn.us/leg/faq/faqtoc.asp?subject=14
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