Yesterday I posted the first of two news aggregate diaries.
A news aggregate is basically some place that is collecting news items on a particular topic. This will be the last news aggregate diary I will be posting for a few days (because if I do this every day I will never get around to posting any other type of dairy). For a constantly updated news aggregate on HR 3, HR 105 (newly discovered thanks to Kossak ), HR 217, HR 358 and Pro-Choice please become a member of the Defeat HR3, HR 217 and HR 358 group on facebook .
We are debating whether to create another Facebook news aggregate group for mayhem brought to states to end the reproductive rights of women. To do that we are honestly going to need more administrators, because this is a war, coordinated and timed, outright declared or not, and the rights of women are being hit from all sides.
This diary has articles from the "Pro-life" side (a.k.a. forced birthers), religous articles (both in favor ending choice for women and those who stand for choice, HR 105, a little from what is going on in the states, and petitions (there are new ones).
Not feeling like we are at war yet? You will.
Just as last night, I hope these links help or inspire a diary or two on this topic from you, explain what is going on, etc.. If you'd like to join the group instead of just following, please let me know.
First something proactive before entering what, for the most part, is muck.
1. 2011 Reproductive Health and Rights Lobby Day
Make your voice heard!
Reproductive Health & Rights Lobby Day is Monday, February 28
It would be great if a few kossaks could attend and then write a diary or two.
2. I STAND WITH PLANNED PARENTHOOD
3. NARAL Pro-Choice Washington’s 10th annual
I HEART Choice Youth Leadership Summit
will be held on Saturday, March 5th from 9:00am-5:00pm
at the University Of Washington
4. Don't forget to sign the petitions on the bottom
Now on to it . . . .
General Forced Birther
H.R. 3: The No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act - Conservatives for America
Bachmann, Cravaack, Kline and Peterson back bill that redefines rape in publicly funded abortion cases - Minnesota Independent
New York Times Blasted for Attacking Pro-Life Abortion Laws - Life News
Activists Flailing in Opposition to Abortion Funding Ban - Life News
FRC's Cathy Ruse, JD to Testify before Congress in Support of 'No Taxpayer Funding of Abortion Act' - (Family Research Council)
House Republicans Target Abortion with Renewed Vigor - Fox News
FRC Urges Congress to Move Forward with the 'Protect Life Act,' Remove Abortion Funding Scheme from Health Care Law - (Family Research Council)
Time to defund Planned Parenthood is now - you can help - American Family Association
The Latino Partnership for Conservative Principles Calls to Cut Off Federal Funding of Abortions - Hispanically Speaking News
Defund ObamaCare and stop taxpayer funding for abortions - Boogai
Trusting but Verifying on Taxpayer Funding of Abortion - The Heritage Foundation
Defund Planned Parenthood – approve H.R. 217 - Center for Moral Clarity
Letter to Representative Heath Shuler (D-NC 11th)
Battle begins over bill to permanently stop federal abortion funding - Lifesite News
Your Views: A window to insist that we do not want our tax dollars supporting this industry - RGJ.com
NARAL Deception on Insurance Coverage of Abortion - Pro-Life Action League
Religious (both anti choice and pro choice)
If Abortion Isn’t Health Care, What is It? - Religion Dispatches
Q&A: pro-life Rep. Chris Smith says pro-choice position has become 'acceptable bigotry' - Baptist Press
House Bill Threatens Women's Rights - Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
HR 3 Reduces Taxpayer Funded Abortion - Christian Newswire
Why H.R.3 is not common ground - Faith in Public Life
HR 3 Reduces Taxpayer Funded Abortion - Deacon for Life
Catholic Advocate Voice Launches ProtectLifeAct.Org Petition Site - Christian Newswire
Permanent end to taxpayer abortion funding called long overdue - Catholic Spirit
Full testimony of Richard Doerflinger testifying on behalf of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) , calling for the passage of HR 3 (pdf)
House Holds First Hearing on Anti-Choice Bill - Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
An authentically Catholic approach to reproductive health care By Jon O'Brien
Ahlin: If religion stymies medicine, there will be consequences - inforum
Family Planning De-Funding Threatens Vital Reproductive Health Services - Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
Federal Action Alert – Call and Email This Morning: Support Protect Life Act: Correct Serious Flaws in Health Care Reform Law - Metro Catholic
Catholics and HR 3 - Catholics for Choice
USCCB Testifies in Support of Permanent Ban on Public Funding of Abortion - Power News Network
Catholic Organization Launches Online Petition for the 'Protect Life Act' Which Values the Lives of Fetuses More Than Pregnant Women - God Discussion (you'll need to scroll all the way up to read this one)
HR 105
There is another bill introduced by House Republicans that takes aim at abortion. It's HR 105 found by sharped eyed Kossak bwren
The official title for H.R. 105 is:
To repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and related health-care provisions and to enact in its place incentives to encourage health insurance coverage, and for other purposes. ( Thomas )
The short title is: Empowering Patients First Act
and may also be referred to as the
Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act of 2011 or
Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2011
which are titles for certain sections of the bill.
The bill's sponsor is Rep Dan Barton [IN] and currently has no cosponsors. The two sections of the bill that have to do with abortion are
Sec. 105. Limitation on abortion funding.
Sec. 106. Non-discrimination on abortion and respect for rights of conscience
and what do these say?
H.R.105 - Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2011 (aka Empowering Patients First Act?)(Sponsor: Dan Burton, IN5)
SEC. 105. LIMITATION ON ABORTION FUNDING. No funds authorized under this Act (or any amendment made by this Act) may be used to pay for any abortion or to cover any part of the costs of any health plan that includes coverage of abortion, except in the case where a woman suffers from a physical disorder, physical injury, or physical illness that would, as certified by a physician, place the woman in danger of death unless an abortion is performed, including a life-endangering physical condition caused by or arising from the pregnancy itself, or unless the pregnancy is the result of an act of forcible rape or incest.
SEC. 106. NON-DISCRIMINATION ON ABORTION AND RESPECT FOR RIGHTS OF CONSCIENCE. (a) Non-Discrimination- A Federal agency or program, and any State or local government that receives Federal financial assistance, may not subject any individual or institutional health care entity to discrimination on the basis that the health care entity does not provide, pay for, provide coverage of, or refer for abortions.
(b) Definition- In this section, the term ‘health care entity’ includes an individual physician or other health care professional, a hospital, a provider-sponsored organization, a health maintenance organization, a health insurance plan, or any other kind of health care facility, organization, or plan.
(c) Administration- The Office for Civil Rights of the Department of Health and Human Services is designated to receive complaints of discrimination based on this section, and coordinate the investigation of such complaints.
(d) Conscientious Objection- Nothing in this Act shall be construed as forbidding a health plan or health insurance issuer to accommodate the conscientious objection of a purchaser or an individual or institutional health care provider when a procedure is contrary to the religious beliefs or moral convictions of such purchaser or provider.
Does it seem like deja vu? Like we'd heard this before. Well we have in H.R.3 and H.R. 358. Four bills (H.R. 3, H.R. 105, H.R. 217 and H.R. 358) all attacking abortion and a woman's right of reproductive choice.
The Assault on Reproductive Rights in the States
KANSAS
Last night on Rachel Maddow
RACHEL MADDOW, HOST: 1993, this woman, her name is Shelley Shannon, walked up to a car in a parking lot at a medical clinic in Wichita, Kansas, and she shot the driver. She shot the driver of the car she walked up to. The driver was the doctor who ran that medical clinic. She shot him through both arms. The doctor survived the shooting and the very next day, he returned to work.
DR. GEORGE TILLER, MEDICAL DOCTOR: You know, I'm just like my patients. You know, last night, I got shot and I was scared, but there was somebody there to take care of me.
MADDOW: The woman who shot that doctor in both arms got letters and visits in prison from a whole lot of people who said they agreed with what she did, and they wanted to support her in having tried to kill that doctor. One of the people who visited Shelley Shannon in prison, and made friends with her on the basis of his admiration for her crime was this man. Sixteen years after Shelley Shannon shot Dr. George Tiller in Kansas, Scott Roeder shot him, too. Scott Roeder shot him point-blank in the head, at Dr. Tiller's church and killed him. A couple things have happened in this story since then. First, Mr. Roeder was tried and convicted. Like Shelley Shannon before him, he was visited and got correspondents from a whole bunch of people said they agreed with him, that murder was the right thing to do in this instance, that it's a justifiable way for one side to get what they want in the fight over abortion rights in America. Two of the people who testified as character witnesses for Mr. Roeder at his sentencing wanted to make their case in court that it was right to kill that doctor. That one legitimate way to get what you want in this country is to kill the people on the other side of the debate. The judge essentially shut them down from making that case but they made it to the press and to anybody else who would listen. You may also remember from when this story broke that the radical anti- abortion group, Operation Rescue, their phone number was found on a piece of paper on the dashboard of the killer's car when he was pulled over just hours after the murder. Now, the Feminist Majority Foundation is an organization that tracks threats and violence against clinics. A legal coordinator for that foundation attended an anti- abortion rally last month, who's put on by the Maryland Coalition for Life, it was held at a church in Germantown, Maryland. The foundation reports that the operation of Operation Rescue, this group that had its phone number found in the car of the man who killed Dr. Tiller, the president of Operation Rescue was there last month, bragging in a speech about how Wichita, Kansas, had been made abortion- free. They are right, that since the assassination of Dr. Tiller, abortion, as far as we know, has become unavailable in that city and in that part of Kansas. The family decided to -- the family of Dr. Tiller decided to close the doctor's clinic and another one has not opened in Wichita to replace it.
Another doctor, Mila Means, intends to provide the full range of health services women need, which includes abortion (which is legal), in Wichita, KS . She now has the same wanted posters other doctors who have provided all necessary, and complete health services received before they were assassinated by domestic terrorists.
RACHEL MADDOW: After the last murder of an abortion provider by this radical movement that promotes killing American doctors in order to get its way, this is at least the seventh doctor or clinic worker they have killed. What did we think the affect would be of that murder? What did we think the effect would be of George Tiller's murder? Are we doing anything to stop this movement of using physical intimidation and threats and harassment and murder-- we generally lump those under the category of terrorism -- what are we doing as a country to get them to not get their way? Or are the doctors who are willing to provide this service still just on their own, with their face on wanted posters and we're just waiting to see what happens next? Joining us now is Dr. Mila Means. She's the Wichita doctor whose plans to begin providing abortions have made her the target of protests, a lawsuit and those very disturbing emails you just saw. Dr. Means, I know this was not an easy for you to join us tonight. Thank you for doing so.
I wish I could get the MSNBC video to embedded or find this on youtube, but I can't do either. If you didn't see it last night you should (the transcript is also there) because what was reported last night made what was reported from South Dakota this morning all the more urgent, troubling and prescient.
SOUTH DAKOTA
South Dakota To Make Killing Abortion Docs "Justifiable Homicide" - Something the Dog Said
The Republican backed bill House Bill 1171 would make it legal to offer an affirmative defense killing someone if they are attempting to harm the unborn child of any person.
The whole amendment reads :
Homicide is justifiable if committed by any person in the lawful defense of such person, or of his or her husband, wife, parent, child, master, mistress, or servant, or the unborn child of any such enumerated person, if there is reasonable ground to apprehend a design to commit a felony, or to do some great personal injury, and imminent danger of such design being accomplished.
South Dakota Moves To Legalize Killing Abortion Providers">South Dakota Moves To Legalize Killing Abortion Providers - Mother Jones
"The bill in South Dakota is an invitation to murder abortion providers," says Vicki Saporta, the president of the National Abortion Federation, the professional association of abortion providers.
[snip]
Jensen, the bill's sponsor, has said that he simply intends to bring "consistency" to South Dakota's criminal code, which already allows prosecutors to charge people with manslaughter or murder for crimes that result in the death of fetuses. But there's a difference between counting the murder of a pregnant woman as two crimes—which is permissible under law in many states—and making the protection of a fetus an affirmative defense against a murder charge.
"They always intended this to be a fetal personhood bill, they just tried to cloak it as a self-defense bill," says Kristin Aschenbrenner, a lobbyist for South Dakota Advocacy Network for Women. "They're still trying to cloak it, but they amended it right away, making their intent clear." The major change to the legislation also caught abortion rights advocates off guard. "None of us really felt like we were prepared," she says.
We'd better get prepared, in every state, federal and local level, for anything and everything.
Lawmaker Behind South Dakota's 'Justifiable Homicide' Bill Defends Measure - HuffPo
NORTH DAKOTA
Abortion Ban Bill Passes in ND House - KFRT with video
The bill defines a human being in North Dakota to include the words: "At every stage of development."
Supporters of the bill say banning abortion preserves the dignity of human life.
Those in opposition had some questions about whether a mother would be protected if she had to abort the baby because of health reasons.
Tadah! A personhood bill. It is the one I comment the most about when going after "small government forced birthers" (an oxymoron if there ever was one).
Defining that a the moment sperm enters the egg is a person put a woman on a legal tight rope. If a zygote/fetus is a person will all legal protections then if a woman smokes during pregnancy, drinks, doesn't wear a seat belt, etc. she can be found guilty of many things including depraved indifference, child endangerment, negligence, manslaughter, (my daughter just called and I lost my train of thought, you get the point)
This is big government.
North Dakota House passes bill criminalizing killing unborn from conception - Lifesite News (forced birthers)
“The overwhelming community and legislative support for HB 1450 proves that North Dakota could be the first state to recognize the value and dignity of every living human being,” stated Representative Dan Ruby. “The Defense of Human Life Act is just common sense. Of course every human being is a person, and every innocent person should receive legal protection. I am motivated to see women and children protected by HB 1450, and I look forward to its passage in the Senate in the near future.”
IOWA
Subcommittee Approves Iowa Abortion Ban - KCCI with video
OHIO
Ohio bill would ban abortions once heartbeat is detected - Cincinnati.com
State Rep. Lynn Wachtmann, a Republican from Henry County, drafted the bill to ban abortions in Ohio once a fetus' heartbeat is detected.
And just how might this effect women, their health, and their life. Here's one example
An ectopic pregnancy, or eccysis, is a complication of pregnancy in which the pregnancy implants outside the uterine cavity.[1] With rare exceptions, ectopic pregnancies are not viable. Furthermore, they are dangerous for the mother, internal bleeding being a common complication. Most ectopic pregnancies occur in the Fallopian tube (so-called tubal pregnancies), but implantation can also occur in the cervix, ovaries, and abdomen. An ectopic pregnancy is a potential medical emergency, and, if not treated properly, can lead to death.
In a normal pregnancy, the fertilized egg enters the uterus and settles into the uterine lining where it has plenty of room to divide and grow. About 1% of pregnancies are in an ectopic location with implantation not occurring inside of the womb, and of these 98% occur in the Fallopian tubes.
Detection of ectopic pregnancy in early gestation has been achieved mainly due to enhanced diagnostic capability. Despite all these notable successes in diagnostics and detection techniques ectopic pregnancy remains a source of serious maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide, especially in countries with poor prenatal care.[2]
In a typical ectopic pregnancy, the embryo adheres to the lining of the fallopian tube and burrows into the tubal lining.
[snip]
If left untreated, about half of ectopic pregnancies will resolve without treatment. These are the tubal abortions. The advent of methotrexate treatment for ectopic pregnancy has reduced the need for surgery; however, surgical intervention is still required in cases where the Fallopian tube has ruptured or is in danger of doing so. This intervention may be laparoscopic or through a larger incision, known as a laparotomy.
[snip]
An opened oviduct with an ectopic pregnancy at about 7 weeks gestational age.
An ectopic pregnancy should be considered in any woman with abdominal pain or vaginal bleeding who has a positive pregnancy test. An ultrasound showing a gestational sac with fetal heart in the fallopian tube is clear evidence of ectopic pregnancy.
- wikipedia
and what is methotrexate?
Methotrexate is commonly used (generally in combination with misoprostol) to terminate pregnancies during the early stages (i.e., as an abortifacient). It is also used to treat ectopic pregnancies - wikipedia
As defined, the medical treatment, if necessary, for an ectopic (tubal) pregnancy whether by surgery (laparotomy) or chemical (methotrexate) is an abortion, in any case. Beating heart or not
Petitions:
GOP: If It's Not Consensual, It's Rape - Care2
Rape is Rape: Denounce Republicans' Extremist Anti-Choice Legislation - DCCC
Stand Up to Boehner - NARAL
Stand against the anti-choice smith bill - Planned Parenthood
Stop the rightwing's radical assault on choice - Creedo
Fight Back Against John Boehner and his Boys - Emily's List
Stop HR 3; Protect Women's Health - Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Barbara Boxer
Letting women die? Rep. Pitts: Are you nuts? - Left Action
We Won't Go Back to the Back Alley - Move On
NEWLY ADDED
Tell the DCCC to Stop Funding Anti-Choice Democrats - Care2