On Monday, Mitt Romney endorsed Indiana Republican Richard Mourdock for Senate.

On Tuesday, Mourdock said he believes the government should force women impregnated by rapists to take their pregnancy to term: "[E]ven when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something that God intended to happen."

Today, Semate candidate Josh Mandel was asked if he had any comments on Mourdock's statement.  Josh who earlier this year supported the so-called "Heartbeat Bill" that does not contain exceptions for rape or incest confirms that he does not support exceptions for abortion even in cases of rape.

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Mitt Romney will say anything to win, even if it's not true. After months of championing an extreme platform that drastically rolls back women's rights, Romney is now dishonestly trying to hide his actual positions that will jeopardize women's health. Here are the 10 things you need to know about where the real Romney stands on women's health and women's rights.

1. Romney has said he'd be "delighted" to sign a federal bill banning all abortions.

2. Romney backed a state-level bill to ban all abortions, even in cases of rape or incest.

3. Romney is head of the Republican Party, whose platform seeks to ban abortion and did not include exceptions for rape or incest. The platform "was written at the direction of Romney's campaign."

4. Romney has said he would have "absolutely" supported an amendment in Massachusetts, similar to extreme Personhood bills proposed in other states, that could have banned abortions and some forms of birth control.

5. Romney promised to appoint Supreme Court justices who would "hopefully reverse Roe v. Wade," viewing the ruling as "bad law and bad medicine" and "one of the darkest moments in Supreme Court history."

Planned Parenthood has a new national on-line voter guide where you can enter your zip code and they will tell you what candidates in your area are standing strong for women's health.

This week Planned Parenthood Action Fund will be bringing their Women Are Watching bus tour to Ohio.

The big pink bus will be stopping in Columbus at Goodale Park at 2 PM this Friday to educate voters about what's at stake in the 2012 election. There will also be a canvass that day, sign-up here for all the details.

The bus then rolls into Public Square in Twinsburg at 3 PM on Saturday. Confirm you're coming and find out more about the canvass to follow by visiting this website.

Pro-choice activists show Sen. Portman that his politics and anti-choice agenda
don't match the values and priorities of the people of Ohio.

Next week, when many women go to the pharmacy to pick up their birth-control prescription, they will not be charged a copay.

This is a major victory for women, but the fight is far from over!

Sen. Rob Portman, is leading the charge against women's birth control rights.

He even wrote a letter to the Department of Justice asking to have the new policy for women under the Affordable Care Act blocked from ever reaching Ohio.

Congresswoman Fudge and Members of Congress honor 40th anniversary of Title IX with a Resolution
 
WASHINGTON, DC(June 18, 2012) - Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11) today  joined Congresswoman Louise Slaughter (NY-28), Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (NY-14) and Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-4) in issuing a resolution to honor the 40th anniversary of Title IX. Title IX prohibits sex discrimination in education, including sports and other opportunities.

The Resolution is as follows:

Will Introduce Resolution Urging Action
 
COLUMBUS- State Rep. Nancy Garland (D-New Albany), Chair of the Women's Caucus and other members of The Ohio House Women's Democratic Caucus announced today they will soon be introducing a resolution to urge Congress to take immediate action on the Paycheck Fairness Act.
 
"Throughout our history women have fought hard to achieve equality in education, voting rights and employment.  Our progress has not come easy and although we have made substantial gains, discrimination persists," said Rep. Garland.
 
The Paycheck Fairness Act was originally introduced by Democratic Senator Barbra Mikulski of Maryland along with several other co-sponsors.  The legislation seeks to strengthen enforcement of regulations against sexual discrimination with regards to pay.  The bill amends sections of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 and requires employers to use qualifications such as education, training, and work experience to determine pay grades.

They have introduced similar legislation to stop wage discrimination in Ohio

Columbus - State Senators Charleta B. Tavares (D-Columbus) and Nina Turner (D-Cleveland) today joined with President Barack Obama in calling for the U.S. Senate to stand up for women's rights and pass the Paycheck Fairness Act.  The legislation is scheduled for a vote Tuesday on Capitol Hill.

"I applaud President Obama for standing up for equal pay for equal work," said Senator Turner.  "In 2012, it is unconscionable that a pay gap between women and men persists.  Over 600,000 Ohio households are headed by women, a third of which are below the poverty line. This is not just an issue of equity and fairness--it is a matter of economic security for thousands of families across our state."

Currently, women in Ohio and across the United States make only 77 cents for every dollar a man earns.

"We have pay discrimination against women which impacts their quality of life and that of their families. This in turn negatively impacts our economy," said Senator Tavares.  "President Obama is standing up for pay fairness and equity for women because it is the right thing to do.  Our President believes in what is fair, right and just for women."

Senators Tavares and Turner recently introduced similar legislation (SB 349) in the Ohio Senate to update state laws that protect Ohioans, particularly women, from wage discrimination. The Fair and Acceptable Income Required (FAIR) Act would strengthen Ohio's wage discrimination laws by requiring employers to substantiate pay differences--for causes other than seniority, merit, or quantity or quality of employee production--with legitimate, job-related or skill-based reasons.

SB 349 would also prohibit retaliation against workers who discuss salaries with colleagues or raise concerns about wage inequality, and prevent wage discrimination based upon sexual orientation.

On this day in 1919, Congress approved a woman's suffrage amendment to the U.S. Constitution and sent it to the states. The House voted 304-89 and the Senate 56-25 in favor of the amendment.

The 19th Amendment, which was ratified on Aug. 18, 1920, states: "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation."

Today in honor of the important date in Women's Suffrage, President Obama urged Congress to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act that would enhance the ability of women to claim equal pay for equal work.

"So at a time when we're in a make-or-break moment for the middle class, Congress has to step up and do its job," Obama said during a teleconference on the Paycheck Fairness Act.

COLUMBUS - Today, State Senators Nina Turner (D-Cleveland) and Charleta B. Tavares (D-Columbus) introduced the Fair and Acceptable Income Required (FAIR) Act to update state laws that protect Ohioans, particularly women, from wage discrimination.

"It is unthinkable that in this day and age women in Ohio make only 77 cents for every dollar made by a man," said Senator Turner. "Without question, equal work deserves equal pay. At a time when women are increasingly responsible for the economic security of their families, ensuring that they earn a wage commensurate with their work--and on par with a man's--is absolutely critical."

The FAIR Act would strengthen Ohio's wage discrimination laws by requiring employers to substantiate pay differences--for causes other than seniority, merit, or quantity or quality of employee production--with legitimate, job-related or skill-based reasons. It would also prohibit retaliation against workers who discuss salaries with colleagues or raise concerns about wage inequality, and prevent wage discrimination based upon sexual orientation.

Current law provides that an employer may not base differences in pay on race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, or ancestry, but has proven far from effective in closing the wage gap between men and women in Ohio.

"While the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 improved some laws that govern pay discrimination, more must be done to close the wage gap and increase the economic security of women," said Senator Tavares. "Fair pay would help close the wage gap and increase women's economic security."

Sutton calls on House Republicans to protect all women against violence

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congresswoman Betty Sutton (OH-13) released the following statement after voting against the House Republican's watered-down extremist version of the Violence Against Women Act:

"I cannot in good conscience vote for a bill that rolls back progress in protecting victims of domestic and sexual abuse.

This is not the Violence Against Some Women Act, or the Violence Against Women with Exceptions Act; this is the Violence Against Women Act, and all victims of domestic violence need to be covered by it.

The extreme Republicans in this House will now have an opportunity to come together with our colleagues in the Senate to move this legislation forward to protect women.

I call on all sides to bring a bill back to this House that strengthens protections for all victims of domestic abuse in this country."

A lifelong leader on women's rights and trailblazer on domestic abuse issues, Congresswoman Sutton first introduced legislation strengthening domestic violence laws in 1993 as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives and has been a strong supporter in strengthening and reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act in Congress.

H.R. 4970, the Republican's attempt to weaken the Violence Against Women Act, has been opposed by over 100 different organizations that assist women who have been harmed by domestic violence. The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence has stated that this GOP version, "includes damaging provisions that roll back years of progress" and eliminates "important confidentiality protections" for women.

Introduced Bill to Protect Women from "Gender Rating" by Health Care Insurance Companies

COLUMBUS -State Reps. Nancy Garland (D- Columbus), Chair of the Ohio House Democratic Women's Caucus, and Nickie J. Antonio (D- Lakewood) held a press conference in coordination with Innovation Ohio to discuss gender discrimination by health insurance companies, and introduce HB 551 to prohibit so called "gender rating."

Currently, health insurance companies determine premiums based on a variety of factors, one of which is the gender of the policy holder. Women are consistently charged significantly higher rates than men, even when factoring out maternity coverage.  The legislation introduced today would eliminate gender discrimination in healthcare premiums. Ohio's women would no longer have to unfairly pay more for equal coverage.

"Women deserve to be treated equally to men, and this legislation will make that possibility closer to a reality," Rep. Garland stated. "Ohio's women cannot be forced to pay higher insurance premiums any longer. Not only does this put a financial strain on individuals, but on small businesses that are owned by or employ women. This injustice must end."

Republicans have made Ohio the epicenter of their attacks on women's health and women's rights. Women from across Ohio come together today for a day of networking and advocacy and to show them they are watching and will hold them accountable.

Attendees received an issues briefing from members of the OHDWC, an expert "how to lobby" training, the opportunity to sit in on the legislative session, and materials to help each woman speak to legislators about the issues concerning women and families in Ohio.

Here's the agenda for the day:
8:30am - Registration & light breakfast
9:00am - Welcome
9:15am -Issues briefing from members of the Ohio House Democratic Women's Caucus
10:00am - "How to Lobby" info session
10:30am - Walk from ProgressOhio to the State Capitol building
10:45am - Meeting with the full House Democratic Caucus
11:00am - Sit in on House session; attendees will be introduced from the floor
Noon - 3:30pm - Group lobbying appointments with legislators
1:30pm - Press conference on exciting new legislation the Caucus is introducing to support Ohio women and families!

WASHINGTON, DC - Standing up for Ohio women to ensure that they are never discriminated against in the workplace during their pregnancy, Congresswoman Betty Sutton (OH-13) has signed on as an original co-sponsor of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, legislation introduced today that will establish strong protections for working women.

The Obama campaign issues a new ad on Mitt Romney and his stance on Women's issues.

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Has the line between 'left and right' or 'fair and unjust' ever been as clear and well defined as it is now.

Sutton co-sponsors legislation to reauthorize critical, life-saving program

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congresswoman Betty Sutton (OH-13) released the following statement calling on Congress to pass H.R. 4271, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2012:

"For nearly two decades the Violence Against Women Act has given women the peace of mind of knowing that there are laws in place that ensure their safety and security; we must work to reauthorize this law and do so immediately.

This is a law that works, not only for women who have fallen victim to violence, but for every American who strives to live in a more just, safer world. For all of our differences, we should come together and show the next generation of Americans that we will always agree that violence against women is wrong, and we should support every effort to fight it."

A lifelong leader on women's rights and trailblazer on domestic abuse issues, Congresswoman Sutton first introduced legislation strengthening domestic violence laws in 1993 as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives and has been a strong supporter in strengthening and extending the Violence Against Women Act in Congress.

The American electorate can tolerate quite a bit from politicians, but no one respects a coward.

The Violence Against Women Act revolutionized the way violent crimes against women are prosecuted and prevented. Since it became law, domestic violence has dropped by more than half.

But some Republicans in Congress are opposing the Violence Against Women Act because they want to exclude some women from its full protections. And Mitt Romney won't even take a stand.

All women deserve protection from abuse -- no matter if they are white, black, immigrant, Native American or gay -- and no violent criminal should get away with hurting them.

How can Republican politicians who are too afraid to stand up for that principle live with themselves? Just exactly how much violence against women are they are willing to accept?

The health care law is working for women, helping them get the care they need. So why are opponents of the law fighting to take away all these important benefits and common-sense protections.

Take a stand and help us protect women's health care. Join the National Women's Law Center's campaign and tell opponents of affordable care "I Will NOT Be Denied."

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College women targeted during testimony in today's Finance Committee hearing

COLUMBUS - Today, as an Ohio Right to Life advocate was testifying in the ongoing Finance Committee hearings on the Mid-Biennial Budget Review (HB 497), which now includes a provision to defund Planned Parenthood, State Representative Kathleen Clyde (D-Kent) was taken aback by the inappropriate comments made about young women.
During her testimony before the committee, the Ohio Right to Life advocate stated, "We know why Planned Parenthood clinics are in places like Kent."  The statement was made as if there is something wrong with locating a Planned Parenthood clinic near a college campus, where thousands of young women would be in proximity to the clinic's important, life-saving services.  That sentiment was expressed further during questions and answers.   
"These insinuating comments are completely out of line and disrespectful to young women around this state," said Rep. Clyde.  "Many college students are away from home, do not have a primary care physician on campus, and are not insured or are out of their network while away at school.  They often do not have the financial means to go elsewhere for these very basic and private healthcare needs such as annual pap smears."

House Republicans' new plan will curb access to vital health services

(Columbus) - State Senator Nina Turner (D-Cleveland) issued the following statement today in response to House Republicans' latest attempt to halt public funding for Planned Parenthood:

"What kind of state are we living in? It is unbelievable that elected officials--stewards of the public interest--would seek to deliberately deny millions of working class and underprivileged women access to high quality healthcare services.

This new plan is another vicious, heartless, and unconscionable volley in the Republican war on women. This narrow policy will disproportionately affect low income and rural areas, and will have consequences that will ripple across the state. I urge Ohio's 5.8 million women and the men who love and respect them to speak out against it."

Recently introduced bills will advance rights and opportunities for all women

COLUMBUS - The Ohio House Democratic Women's Caucus today held a press conference to discuss several pieces of legislation focused on advancing rights and opportunities in all aspects of women's lives.

"Women are a majority of the population and can make a difference when we unite behind legislation that will improve lives of women and families," said State Representative Nancy Garland (D-New Albany), Chair of the Women's Caucus. "Women's History Month is a great time to refocus our attention on common-sense policies designed to support, benefit and encourage the advancement of women here in Ohio."

Several bills recently introduced by members of the Women's Caucus help ensure all women have access to quality healthcare, including HB 419, the CARE Act; HB 281, the Prevention First Act; and HB 412, to establish health insurance exchanges in Ohio. All three bills were introduced by State Rep. Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood).

Over 200 activists from across the state took part in the Freedom of Choice Ohio Storm the Statehouse Emergency Lobby Day today. FOCO is a statewide coalition that supports safe, accessible reproductive health care and comprehensive safe sex education.

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COLUMBUS, OHIO - Today, Sherrod Brown's campaign launched Women for Sherrod Brown, a group of Ohioans supporting Sherrod Brown for his proven track record of standing up for Ohio's women. Coordinated by Co-Chairs Rhine McLin and Mary Boyle, the group will play a critical advisory role on women's' issues and work to get Ohio women involved in the campaign.

Co-Chairs Rhine McLin, the former State Senate Minority Leader of Ohio and Dayton Mayor, and Mary Boyle, the first female Majority Whip in the Ohio House of Representatives  announced their endorsement of Senator Brown today in the below statement:

"Senator Sherrod Brown is working everyday in the Senate to beat back the constant attacks against women's rights and women's healthcare and there's no doubt he's on the side of Ohio's women. Sen. Brown championed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act to erase workplace discrimination,  supported legislation to assist victims of sexual assault, extended the amount of time our children could be covered on their parents healthcare plans, and stood with women in our fight against the Heartbeat Bill.

"Now more than ever women across the state need a champion for women's rights in the U.S. Senate and they have one in Sherrod Brown. We must do all we can to ensure he can continue fighting for us in the years to come."

COLUMBUS - Today women leaders including Ohio House Democratic Women's Caucus Chair and Representative Nancy Garland (D-New Albany), State Senator Charleta Tavares (D-Columbus), President and CEO of the Betty's Family of Restaurants Elizabeth Lessner, Raising Women's Voices Ohio Regional Coordinator Nancy Pitts and Ohio Democratic Women's Caucus Director Lauren Harmon denounced recent attacks on women's health by Republicans at the state and national levels.

During a press conference at Ohio Democratic Party headquarters, the leaders voiced their strong support for President Obama and Senator Sherrod Brown's records on women's health and their leadership in ensuring that all women have access to contraceptives.

State Senator Nina Turner (D-Cleveland) and State Representative Nickie Antonio (D-Lakewood) discuss the CARE Act on Ohio in Focus.

The CARE Act would require that all hospital emergency rooms provide sexual assault survivors with treatment that can prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, if the survivor wishes to use them.

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Calls on General Assembly to stop assault on women's rights

Columbus - State Senator Charleta B. Tavares (D-Columbus) announced today that she is introducing a resolution in the Ohio Senate to designate the week of January 22-29, 2012 as "Reproductive Rights Awareness Week."  The announcement coincides with the 39th anniversary of the U. S. Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision.

As of June this year, states enacted 162 new provisions related to reproductive health, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a New York-based policy and research center.  Of those new laws, 49 percent seek to restrict access to abortion, a near doubling of 26 percent in 2010. Eighty abortion restrictions were enacted this year, more than triple enacted in 2010 and double the previous record of 34 abortion restrictions enacted in 2005.

"This flurry of restrictive access to a legal medical procedure is negatively impacting the health and welfare of women throughout the Nation," stated Senator Tavares.  "This resolution was developed by women to bring education, awareness and action to protect women's health and safety and to ensure reproductive rights under the federal law."

Senator Tavares is one of 18 legislators from throughout the U.S. who participated in the July 15-17 2011 Strategic Action Convening on Reproductive Rights and Justice sponsored by the Center for Women's Studies.  The group of female lawmakers pledged to introduce a resolution in their 15 states designating a week in January for awareness of reproductive rights. They hope the resolutions will provide a rallying cry to pro-choice advocates nationwide.

Resolution proclaims the week of Jan. 22-28 as Reproductive Rights Awareness Week

COLUMBUS -State Representatives Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) along with Senator Tavares (D-Columbus) today introduced companion resolutions to proclaim the week of Jan 22-28 "Reproductive Rights Awareness Week" to encourage public awareness, conversation, and support for reproductive rights and justice.

"Access to contraceptives and comprehensive reproductive health education and information is a human rights issue that requires our support to ensure the health and wellness of women across Ohio," said Rep. Antonio.

The resolution states that contraception enables women to better prevent unintended pregnancies and plan for pregnancy when they do want to have a child, and that publicly funded contraceptive services and supplies prevent nearly two million unintended pregnancies each year in the United States. The resolution also states that racial disparities exist with regard to sexual health care and medically accurate sex education. Legislators throughout the country are introducing this resolution in uniting and reaffirming reproductive rights and justice.

Gloria Feldt is the best-selling author of No Excuses: 9 Ways Women Can Change How We Think About Power, a frequent keynote speaker, 30-year CEO, and passionate women's advocate.

On Wednesday, October 12, she will keynote at the Columbus Metropolitan Club at noon and at the Hilton Columbus at Easton at 7:00 p.m. for the New Directions Career Center.

How Women Succeed by Being Who They Are

Study after study finds that companies with greater numbers of women in leadership make more money. Managers are learning they must retain high performing women to succeed. Today's economic and social turbulence has jarred traditional boundaries, opening opportunities for women prepared to take them. Christine Lagarde is now atop the IMF. Crain's New York credits women such as Jill Abramson, the first female managing editor of the New York Times and Newsweek/Daily Beast's Tina Brown with coming to the rescue of the media industry. 

While many doors have opened in the legal sense for increasing numbers of "first" women in almost everything, overall numbers remain numbingly immobile. Despite women being 60 percent of college graduates and half of the workforce, they hold just 18 percent of upper management positions across all employment sectors. Women sit in fewer than 15 percent of corporate board seats and hold a penurious 3 percent of Fortune 500 CEO positions.  

Though many structural and cultural barriers remain, my own research finds an equally pernicious barrier within. Many women resist embracing power even within their grasp. 

When women earn today's average 77 cents a dollar compared to men, "nice-girl" salary negotiating tactics cost us a cool half million dollars on average over a working lifetime. 

Even though we may feel stuck or helpless, but we are in the best position to unstick ourselves.

The North Portico exterior of the White House is illuminated pink, Oct. 3, 2011, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month - a time to remember those who have lost their lives to breast cancer and those who are battling it now, and to celebrate with those who have survived. It is also a time to reaffirm our commitment to fighting breast cancer and to remind ourselves of the importance of prevention and early detection.

Breast cancer remains one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers among American women and despite remarkable advances in treatment and prevention, it remains the second leading cause of cancer death.

The Greater Driving Park Democratic Caucus, Tuesday, held the first of many Woman's Health Care and Reproductive Rights Forums to occur in neighborhoods across the state.

This Community Forum allowed Community Health Groups to discuss the fact that Women's health and rights are in jeopardy and close local sites for women's health care is harder to find.

The numerous requests that the Ohio Democratic Women's Caucus has received from around the state for this forum only highlights the need for discussion on women's health and women's rights.

Concerned for Ohio womens' access to reproductive health care under new law

COLUMBUS - State Rep. Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) today released the following statement in response to Gov. Kasich's signing of HB 78, which would ban abortions after 20 weeks. Rep. Antonio's statement is below:

"Putting HB 78 into law will have a chilling effect on women's reproductive health care in Ohio.  This law is a legislative overreach which could possibly put women's lives in danger" said Rep. Antonio.  "I once again urge the General Assembly to join me and Sen. Minority Leader Cafaro in supporting the Ohio Prevention First Act we recently introduced.  This bill supports women as fully responsible and capable citizens who are entitled to full access to contraceptives, comprehensive reproductive health information and compassionate assistance for rape victims."

COLUMBUS - Female lawmakers from both the Ohio House and Senate today raised concerns over the lack of women appointed the JobsOhio corporate board and the underrepresentation of women in state government as a whole.

Sen. Minority Leader Capri Cafaro (D-Hubbard) and State Rep.  Nancy Garland (D- New Albany), Chair of the Ohio House Democratic Women's Caucus, sent a letter to Gov. Kasich today requesting a woman be appointed to fill the final vacancy on the JobsOhio Board. They also raised concerns about the overall lack of female representation currently in state government.

A copy of the full letter is below:

COLUMBUS - The Ohio House Democratic Women's Caucus today issued the following statement regarding the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Dukes et al. The case involved 1.5 million female Wal-Mart employees who alleged the company disproportionately favored their male counterparts for pay and promotions. The Court ruled 5-4 in favor of the retailer.
 
"The U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in this case is disheartening because it brings to the forefront the culture of gender-based discrimination that still exists in the American workplace," said Rep. Nancy Garland (D-New Albany), Chair of the Ohio House Democratic Women's Caucus. "It is unfortunate that in 2011 we are still dealing with issues of gender inequality at work; however, it is a reality for many hardworking women in the United States. Reports consistently find women of equal qualification to their male counterparts are paid less for the same work. This historic and present inequality is unacceptable, and I applaud the women in this suit for working tirelessly for a decade to ensure their voices are heard."
 
Court records show at the onset of the lawsuit, women held seventy-percent of hourly positions at Wal-Mart but only a third of management positions. A March 2011 White House Report, Women in America, finds on average women still only make about seventy-five-percent  as much as their male counterparts.

Breast cancer survivors and advocates from the four Ohio Affiliates of Susan G. Komen for the Cure® today expressed their concern with the budget approved by the Ohio state House of Representatives, which cuts more than $228,000 out of the general revenue fund for breast cancer screening for low-income women.  As the budget debate moves to the state Senate, the Komen Affiliates urge senators to explore all options to maintain level funding for this program so that access to its life-saving services is preserved.
 
"We fully understand the difficult challenges our state faces due to the economy and the tough choices that must be made," said Megan Knapke, Director of Community Outreach with the Komen Columbus Affiliate. "Yet we also know first-hand how important this program is to the thousands of women in our state who find themselves with nowhere else to turn for the cancer screenings that may save their lives. This situation could not be more serious and the consequences of further cuts more devastating. "
 
The budget passed by the Ohio House would result in a cut of more than 70 percent since FY 2008-2009. This would leave the program trying to serve a growing population of women in need with just a quarter of the funds it previously had to work with.

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COLUMBUS, OHIO - At a time when the state faces some of the most unconstitutional and onerous restrictions against a woman's right to reproductive choice, Ohioans took part in the Freedom of Choice Ohio (FOCO) Trust Women Lobby Day 2011.  FOCO is a statewide coalition that supports safe, accessible reproductive health care and comprehensive safe sex education.

The daylong Trust Women Lobby Day 2011 at the YWCA Columbus, 65 S. Fourth St., Columbus, featured legislative briefings and break-out sessions in the morning followed by a luncheon with keynote speaker Lois Uttley, co-founder of Raising Women's Voices, a national initiative to ensure women's health is protected as health care reform measures go into effect across the country.

"Today, pro-choice Ohioans came to the Ohio Statehouse with a simple message, Trust Women.  Right now there are seven anti-choice bills under consideration by the Ohio General Assembly, all of which will restrict access to safe, legal abortion services for women who need them, and none of them will actually do anything to reduce the number of unintended pregnancies in our state," said Jaime Miracle, co-chair of the Freedom of Choice Ohio Coalition.  "Medical decisions need to be left to women and doctors.  Legislators should instead focus on ways to increase access to family planning services and comprehensive sex education so people have the information and resources they need to make healthy decisions."

COLUMBUS - The Ohio House Democratic Women's Caucus today raised serious concerns with the state budget passed by the House. The caucus points to a series of provisions that slash funding for programs and services for women and children despite a state spending increase of $5 billion. The budget passed by a vote of 59-40.
 
"In these tough economic times, it is more important than ever we focus on policies that create jobs, promote quality education and strengthen the middle class to position Ohio for success moving forward," said Rep. Nancy Garland (D-New Albany), Chair of the Women's Caucus. "The budget House Republicans passed today does not accomplish any of these goals. Instead, it makes deep cuts to schools, local governments and other programs that primarily serve women and children. This is a jobs loss bill and not a jobs bill, especially for women."
 
Among the budget provisions that will be most harmful to women and children are:

Ohio's women activists are holding their annual Lobby Day today.

Democratic women from around the state gathered to make their voices heard by Ohio legislators.

1:00 p.m. Welcome and Lobbying Presentation
1:30 p.m. Issues Briefing
2:00 p.m. Greetings from Justice Yvette McGee Brown
2:30 p.m. Role-Play: Preparing to Lobby
3:00 p.m. Lobby Your Legislator!

5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Strong Women, Strong Voices: An Event Honoring Women's Activism

Data Released by Policy Matters Shows that Women and African Americans More Likely Employed in Public Sector Occupations

COLUMBUS - Ohio House Democratic Members from the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus (OLBC) and House Democratic Women's Caucus were joined by Policy Matters Ohio at a Statehouse Press Conference today to express their concerns over data which shows that Senate Bill 5 (SB 5), the anti-working family legislation, will disproportionally impact women and minorities. A study completed by Policy Matters Ohio, a non-partisan policy research institute, with assistance from the Economic Policy Institute shows that taking away the rights of workers to bargain will not only hurt women and minorities, it will also hurt Ohio's economy.

Speaking on behalf of the OLBC, State Representative Sandra Williams (D-Cleveland) said, "Senate Bill 5 will harm all public sector workers and in particular the 18.5 percent African American public sector employees who are struggling to provide for their families in the wake of the economic recession and rising food and gas prices."

According to research from Policy Matters Ohio, women and African Americans are more likely to be employed in public sector jobs in Ohio. While more than 15.4% of all Ohio workers are employed in the public sector, the research concludes that women and African Americans are more likely to be employed in these public positions. Out of 709,731 public sector workers in 2008-2010, 407,681 or 57% are women. The study also breaks down the demographics of public sector workers and shows that women and African Americans are employed at higher percentages than typical in the Ohio labor force. In 2008-2010, 17.6% of working women in Ohio were employed in public sector jobs, which is nearly 15% higher than is typical in the Ohio workforce. Approximately 18.5% of working African Americans were employed in the public sector. For working African American women, nearly 20% were employed in public sector jobs.

Last week Governor Kasich unveiled his budget proposal, which relies on massive cuts to balance the state budget. Gov. Kasich is attempting to balance a projected $8 billion budget deficit on the backs of Ohio's children, seniors, sick and our hard working middle class.

Join One Ohio Now and others from all over Ohio on Tuesday, April 5th at the Statehouse to send a message to Gov. Kasich and Ohio's general assembly that they need to find a middle ground instead of reducing vital services and programs that will further hinder Ohio's economic vitality.

Tuesday, April 5th at 12pm

Ohio Statehouse

1 Capital Square, Columbus, OH 43215

(North Plaza/Broad Street)

Please let us know that you're coming.

Celebrate the 100th Anniversary of International Women's Day with Oxfam:

Ending Hunger Starts With Women

Enjoy a free evening of light fair from Dragonfly Neo-V, a brief film screening, and panel discussion with some of Central Ohio's pioneers for ethical change, food experts, and leaders in business.

Tuesday, March 22nd, 6:30-8:30pm

Where: Broad Street Presbyterian Church

               760 East Broad Street

               Columbus, OH 43205 (directions) 

Panel Discussion featuring: 

• Wendy Ake from the Kirwan Institute
• Tanisha Robinson from Fudha.com
• and more...

Partners Include:

• United Nations Association of Columbus
• The School Study Council of Ohio
• Local Matters

Please RSVP Here

Questions? Contact columbus@oxfamactioncorps.org or Elissa - 970 420-8784 or Jenn - 614 256-5167.

In his weekly address, President Obama focused on Women's History Month and paid homage to the accomplishments of former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt in the effort to increase the role of women in government.  Despite the important strides that have been made to create a more equal society, he emphasized his resolve to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act as an important step towards achieving egalitarian status for women.

Watch It:

Wisconsin, Ohio, and other states around the country are considering legislation that would abolish or sharply limit public employees' collective bargaining rights.  Women who work in state and local government work in fields critical to our communities, such as teaching, nursing, and social work, as well is in jobs such as police officer, firefighter, and janitor.  Child care workers and home health care workers also have secured collective bargaining rights in some states. 

Collective bargaining helps ensure that these jobs providing important community services also provide decent wages, benefits, and working conditions.  Women who are members of unions or covered by union contracts earn more than their non-unionized peers and experience a smaller gender wage gap.  Collective bargaining has helped women achieve economic security for themselves and their families.  In workplaces across the country, collective bargaining has allowed women to obtain better working conditions.  Moreover, when workers in positions like nursing or child care achieve better working conditions, this often benefits the women and families who rely on the services they provide, by reducing employee turnover and enhancing their ability to do their job.

Attacks on public employees' rights to collectively bargain directly threaten working women and the public services they provide.

Speaker John Boehner and House Republicans are launching one of the most egregious attacks on women's health we've ever seen:

• They want to stop women from using their own private money to buy insurance covering a full range of reproductive health care.
• They want to block access to mammograms and other preventative health care services.
• They want to punish families and businesses that try to keep or buy insurance that covers a full range of reproductive health care.
• Before the public outcry, they even proposed changing the definitions of rape and incest to actually take away health care services from victims of these heinous crimes.

When a bill like this comes along, we have to act fast and we have to be strong. Thousands of Americans have joined us already -- and we need you, too.

Join our fight to keep Congress from infringing women's health.

Kirsten Gillibrand U.S. Senator

Barbara Boxer U.S. Senator

House GOP To Redefine Rape, Incest

There are a lot of serious problems facing the nation right now, so of course the new GOP led House of Representatives have to make their priorities clear. Those priorities now consist of repealing HCR, which will lower the deficit and create jobs, and now redefining rape and incest.

Federal funding is only allowed to pay for abortions in the case of rape, incest, and when the life of the mother is endangered. But a new bill with 173 co-sponsors would further limit federally funded exceptions, only allowing Medicaid to pay for abortions in the case of "forcible rape."

Forcible rape has no formal definition under federal law, Baumann notes, but legal experts and abortion advocates told him that the new wording would most likely prevent Medicaid from paying for abortions for victims of statutory rapes not involving the use of force. Baumann's sources also told him that the revised wording might also disallow funding of abortions in cases where perpetrators used date-rape drugs on their victims, or targeted mentally incapacitated women.

Some states have no definition of forcible rape on the books, calling into question whether any abortions would qualify for federal funding in such jurisdictions.

It's unlikely that such a bill would ever be signed into law, but its always good to know that your newly elected congress is working tirelessly to remedy the things that truly matter. You know, like the founding fathers worked tirelessly to end slavery which is to say not at all.

Mr. Boehner where are the jobs?

EMILY's List, the political action committee aimed at electing pro-choice Democratic women to public office, is launching a new campaign Tuesday taking on John Boehner -- the man likely to become the next Speaker of the House -- and the "cronies" with whom he surrounds himself.

"The GOP may be pleased as punch about their new 'Boy's Club' leadership team, but Boehner's good ol' boys are up to no good when it comes to representing women," said Stephanie Schriock, President of EMILY's List. "For those of us who care about equal representation, it's just a sad throw-back to a time we thought we'd left behind. We need leadership that gives voice to everyone; and so today EMILY's List re-launches Boehner's America to tell John Boehner and his cronies not to turn back the clock for America's women. Like ashtrays in offices, some retro ideas should stay in the past."

COLUMBUS, Ohio - October 4, 2010 - Kasich "will risk everything we've earned" says a new AFL-CIO mail piece going out union retiree households across the state today.  The mailer features a message from union retirees Norma and Jim Schlosser who are not supporting gubernatorial candidate John Kasich because of his support of Social Security privatization and involvement in pushing deals, while at Lehman Brothers, that cost Ohio pension funds $480 million.

The mailer is one of three AFL-CIO mailings on the Governor's race.  The other pieces include a comparison piece that details Governor Strickland support for prevailing wage laws and opposition to Social Security privatization and trade deals that outsourced jobs, issues that Kasich has a record of supporting. 

The final mailer highlights Governor Strickland's strong record on sportsmen rights.  Strickland voted against the Clinton Gun Ban and has received the endorsement of the National Rifle Association (NRA).  John Kasich voted for the Clinton Gun Ban and received an "F" rating from the NRA.

The mailers are part the Ohio Labor 2010 program and a nationwide mail effort by the AFL-CIO that hits 3 million union members' mailboxes this week.

The Ohio Labor 2010 program is mobilizing union volunteers across Ohio to educate tens of thousands of workers each week about their choice in the mid-term elections.  The program - launched by the Ohio AFL-CIO and participating unions in July - is the largest voter mobilization efforts in the state, reaching union households daily through telephone, direct mail, door-to-door walks, and worksite leafleting. 

The Ohio AFL-CIO represents 650,000 workers from 1,600 local unions across Ohio to fight for working families, brings economic justice to the workplace, and to achieve social justice for all Ohioans.

I just came across this heavy hitting print piece from Just Detention International:

Right now is an open comment period on creating national standards to curb prison rape. Just Detention is apparently taking your thoughts and signatures to deliver to Attorney General Eric Holder this Monday, so you still have a chance to support this cause.

Saturday April 24, 2010
8:00 am to 5:30 pm (registration begins at 8 am)

The Columbus YWCA
65 S. Fourth St.
Columbus OH 43215

Featuring:
First Lady Frances Strickland
Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher
Lieutenant Governor Candidate Yvette McGee Brown
Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner
Secretary of State Candidate Maryellen O’Shaughnessy
Senate Minority Leader Capri Cafaro
Supreme Court Candidate Judge Mary Jane Trapp
Statewide officials, candidates, labor and community leaders

Cocktail Reception to Follow the Convention from 6:00 - 7:30 pm

Not to paint Stupak with a broad brush, but after being proved completely wrong on his "interpretation of the language in the Senate Bill" which passed with a super majority on Dec. 24th, he seems to be coming around:

TAWAS CITY, Mich. – Prospects are good for resolving a dispute over abortion that has led some House Democrats to threaten to withhold support of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul, a key Michigan Democrat said Monday.

Rep. Bart Stupak said he expects to resume talks with House leaders this week in a quest for wording that would impose no new limits on abortion rights but also would not allow use of federal money for the procedure.

"I'm more optimistic than I was a week ago," Stupak told The Associated Press between meetings with constituents in his northern Michigan district, including a crowded town hall gathering where opinions on health care and the abortion issue were plentiful and varied.

"The president says he doesn't want to expand or restrict current law (on abortion). Neither do I," Stupak said. "That's never been our position. So is there some language that we can agree on that hits both points — we don't restrict, we don't expand abortion rights? I think we can get there."

In our current health care system, women often face higher health costs than men and multiple other barriers to health insurance. Fewer women are eligible for employer-based coverage, and comprehensive coverage in the individual health care market is often unavailable or prohibitively expensive. In the individual insurance market, women face discrimination – being charged substantially higher premiums for the same coverage as men or being denied coverage for such “pre-existing conditions” as pregnancy, having had a C-section, or being a victim of domestic violence. In a recent study, more than half of women — compared with 39% of men — reported delaying needed medical care due to cost. And just last fall, the Joint Economic Committee released a report finding that since the recession began, American women have lost 1.6 million jobs — many seeing their health insurance disappear with their jobs — and over a million women have lost insurance because their husband lost his job.

At today’s meeting with President Obama at the Blair House, Chairwoman Louise Slaughter discussed the need for health insurance reform, particularly for women.

Watch It:

All Americans should be treated the same. Let me give you a little history on that. Eight states in this country right now have declared that domestic violence is a pre-existing condition on the grounds, I assume, that if you have been unlucky enough to get yourself beaten up once, you might go around and do it again. 48% is the higher cost for women, in many cases, to buy their own insurance. Believe you me that is really discriminatory. In 1991, women were not included in any of the trials at the NIH because we had hormones. It wasn’t until we had a critical mass of women here that said this will not do for more than half the population of the United States who pay taxes and we made certain that diseases like osteoporosis, mainly a women’s disease, and cervical cancer, only a women’s disease, and uterine cancer and others were really looked at. Up to that point, 1991, all research at the Institutes of Health was done on white males. Now think about that for a minute, if you will. We couldn’t do that because we said, ‘kindly, will you stop doing that?’ It took legislation. Doing this will take legislation.

Women will continue to face discrimination in both coverage and cost if health reform fails. Our health insurance reform legislation is vital for women, making it illegal for insurance companies to use “gender rating” – charging women more than men for the same coverage – and makes it against the law for insurance companies to deny coverage or charge higher premiums on the basis of a “pre-existing condition”.

Learn more about women and health insurance reform»

I received a superb email today from Planned Parenthood, regarding the anti-choice TV ad that is to air during this year's Super Bowl. The message from Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards got to the heart of what it means to be pro-choice (see below).

I've signed on to the Planned Parenthood statement and I hope other members of the Progress Ohio community will too. Locally, click here to check out the advocacy campaigns led by Planned Parenthood Affiliates of Ohio Action Network.

Dear Lorraine,

By now you've most likely heard all about it — the anti-choice group Focus on the Family is spending millions to run an ad during the Super Bowl featuring football player Tim Tebow and his mom talking about a deeply personal medical decision she made years ago. She decided to continue her pregnancy against medical advice, due to what had been diagnosed as a high-risk pregnancy.

People have been asking us at Planned Parenthood what we think about the ad and Mrs. Tebow's decision. It's simple. Planned Parenthood respects the right of every woman to make important medical decisions for herself.

Mrs. Tebow weighed medical and moral considerations and decided what was right for her. She made her choice in private, and without government interference. That's exactly what we want every woman to be able to do.

The truth is, the Tebows' experience is completely consistent with what Planned Parenthood doctors and nurses have learned from the millions of women they've served over nearly a century. Women take decisions about their health very seriously. They consider their doctors' advice, they talk with their loved ones and people they trust, including religious leaders, and they carefully weigh all considerations before making the best decision for themselves and their families.

That's the way it should be. And that should be our shared goal — on Super Bowl Sunday and every day.

I hope you'll show your support for ensuring that every woman makes her own personal medical decisions by adding your name to a brief statement from Planned Parenthood.

Thank you for joining with us today.

Sincerely,
 
Cecile Richards, President
Planned Parenthood Federation of America

One year ago today, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act became the first major act of Congress signed into law by President Barack Obama.

The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act restored employees rights to challenge pay discrimination. In the year since the law took effect, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission reviewed over 1,100 cases where people were denied wage compensation, and some 4,800 charges alleging wage discrimination were filed with the Commission. Numerous court cases have cited the law in an effort to win compensation for back-earnings. 

Watch It:

Women are still treated unfairly in the workplace. Wage disparity persists, and women still earn, on average, only 77 cents for every dollar earned by men. If the wage gap was eliminated, annual family incomes would increase by $4,000--and the poverty rate would be cut in half. Paycheck fairness for our country's working women would in of itself act as an economic stimulus package.

For all of these reasons (and more), we must strengthen laws against wage discrimination. But don't just take my word for it --hear what Lilly Ledbetter herself thinks we can do to keep women in the workforce from being discriminated against:

"We need to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act....The bill would empower women to negotiate for equal pay, create stronger incentives for employers to follow the law, and strengthen federal outreach and enforcement efforts. It would also strengthen penalties for equal pay violations.

[...] "One of the most important aspects of the Paycheck Fairness Act is a provision that would prohibit retaliation against workers who ask about employers' wage practices or disclose their own wages to co-workers. This would have been particularly helpful to me, because Goodyear prohibited my colleagues and me from talking about our wages. This policy delayed my discovery of the pay inequities between my male counterparts and me by -- literally -- decades."

It's high past the time for women to have the same rights, the same opportunities and the same freedom to pursue their dreams as men do. If we don't get this legislation passed, our daughters could end up having to fight for fair treatment and pay in the workplace--just like their mothers and grandmothers.

The Paycheck Fairness Act is now pending in the Senate.  Senator Sherrod Brown  is a co-sponsor of the Paycheck Fairness Act (S. 182).  Take action now and tell George Voinovich to support the Paycheck Fairness Act.

Received via email from our friends at Americans United For Change:

What happened in Massachusetts yesterday is a call to action, not a cause for retreat.

The people of Massachusetts voted for change and they are frustrated with the seeming lack thereof. They are hurting and they have not yet seen Congress come forward to ease their pain, punish those who caused this crisis or make sure it cannot happen again.

Unfortunately, they picked the wrong side to blame. Regardless of how you feel about the way the health insurance reform effort has played out, it's important to note that most Democrats in Congress, and certainly the White House, supported swift, bold and effective change. The majority of Democrats in the Senate, for example, support the public health insurance option. But they couldn't get it done because the minority Republicans blocked an up-or-down vote.

When it comes to financial reform, the Obama Administration and Senate Banking Committee Chair Chris Dodd proposed strong legislation to reign in the abuses of the big banks that led to this mess in the first place. The banking committee's Republican leader, Senator Richard Shelby said "no way, no how, not ever."  

You get the idea: Lack of change is not for lack of trying on the part of the majority of congressional Democrats. But despite being the majority, the Republicans have blocked them from voting.

Scott Brown is only going to make it harder to do what we need to do in America - like clean up Wall Street and provide good, affordable health care for all. He has shown on the campaign trail that he will stand firmly with his Republican colleagues in favor of the Bush-era policies and politics that got us into this mess in the first place.

And if that doesn't scare you into fighting even harder, I don't know what will.

Call your member of Congress at 202-225-3121 or write your Senators and Members of Congress through our website.

Tell them to fight hard against Wall Street, the insurance companies and those elected officials who carry their water.

Breaking a three-day stalemate, the Senate approved an amendment to its health care legislation that would require insurance companies to offer free mammograms and other preventive services to women.

The vote was 61 to 39, with three Republicans joining 56 Democrats and the two independents in favor.

The Republican senators voting in favor were the two women from Maine, Olympia J. Snowe and Susan Collins, and David Vitter of Louisiana. Among Democratic senators, Russ Feingold of Wisconsin and Ben Nelson of Nebraska opposed the proposal.

The Democrats’ legislation had already contained requirements that insurers cover a wide range of preventive care. The amendment, put forward by Senator Barbara Mikulski, Democrat of Maryland, goes further, mandating coverage for a broader package of services for women.

“The insurance companies take being a woman as a pre-existing condition,” Ms. Mikulski said. “We face so many issues and hurdles. We can’t get health care. We can’t get health insurance because of pre-existing conditions called a C-section.”

She added, “My amendment offers key preventive services, including an annual women’s health screening that would go to a comprehensive assessment, including the dangers to women in heart disease and in diabetes.”

In other Senate health reform voting news, the amendment proposed Monday by Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) to remove nearly $500 billion in Medicare cuts from the Senate bill was turned down in a 58 42 vote.

Had the proposal passed, the Senate bill would have had to be returned back to the Senate Finance Committee.

Chris Matthews corners Rhode Island Bishop Thomas Tobin, who has banned Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I., from receiving Holy Communion due to his views on abortion.

In the interview Mathews exposes the moral hypocrisy at the heart of the Church's abortion position: If it's really and truly murder, you're talking about prosecuting mothers, sisters, lovers and friends for having them. Mathews is quite aggressive with the bishop, demanding to know exactly what legal penalties he thinks should be legislated.

Watch It:

First Lady Michelle Obama speaks about the difficulties senior women face in today's health insurance market and the importance of reform.

Watch It:

“I don’t want the government making my healthcare decisions.

I do want the government making a woman's healthcare decisions.”

I am Ohio Secretary of State and a candidate for the United State Senate. I have been an outspoken proponent of health care reform with a strong public option. However, the last-minute Stupak-Pitts anti-choice amendment to the House health care reform bill, adopted late Saturday by a vote of 240-194, is an insult to women and an assault on the right to privacy. While passage of the health care reform bill is on balance a positive step, it is critically important that America not allow the anti-choice forces to achieve through Congressional legislation what the courts have repeatedly refused - the practical elimination of a woman's right to choose a legal medical procedure.

The right to choose is not negotiable. I strongly urge the Senate to protect a woman's right to choose by rejecting this unacceptable change to health care reform.

The Stupak-Pitts amendment makes it virtually impossible for private insurance companies that participate in the new system to offer abortion coverage to women, even if they pay for such coverage with their own funds. The amendment disallows any coverage of abortion in the public option and disallows anyone receiving a federal subsidy from purchasing a health insurance plan that includes abortion.  Under the amendment, private health insurance plans are forbidden from offering through the planned insurance exchange a plan that includes abortion coverage to both subsidized and unsubsidized individuals purchasing through the exchange.

The Stupak-Pitts amendment would leave women worse off than they are today in obtaining reproductive health services by denying them the right to use their own money to purchase an insurance plan with abortion coverage. This restriction is far more onerous than the Hyde Amendment, which has prohibited public funding of abortions since 1977. Presently, more than 85 percent of private-insurance plans cover abortion services.

By voting late Saturday to block women from essential reproductive health care services, the anti-choice obstructionists in Congress have abandoned women and would render a woman's constitutional right to choose ineffective at best. The final health care bill must not only guarantee each American woman’s right to the health care she needs when she needs it, it also must also provide access to reproductive health services for all, regardless of income level and regardless of whether or not they receive government subsidized care.

Read The Full Post From Jennifer Brunner at Daily Kos

After months of work by House Democrats on major health care legislation, the floor debate on the bill was at risk of being overshadowed by an internal dispute among Democrats over the issue of abortion. In the end, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi decided that abortion opponents would be allowed to offer an amendment that would impose tight restrictions on abortions that could be offered through a new government-run insurance plan and through private insurance that is bought using government subsidies. Sponsored primarily by Michigan Representative Bart Stupakhe, the amendment to the legislation passed 240 - 194

Last night, the U.S. House of Representatives passed landmark legislation intended to provide health coverage to most every American, by a vote of 220-215.

Within the bill, the House also approved an amendment sponsored by Bart Stupak, the Michigan anti-abortion Democrat restricting use of federal funds for abortion.

What it comes down to is this . . .

To save the health care bill Speaker Pelosi had to give in to abortion opponents in her party and allow them to propose tight restrictions barring any insurance plan that is purchased with government subsidies from covering abortions.

The 240-194 vote for the Stupak amendment included the support of 64 Democrats in addition to Republicans. It came as lawmakers considered a larger bill designed to cover 36 million uninsured Americans and curb rising medical costs.

“I am not writing a new federal abortion policy,” Michigan Representative Bart Stupak, who sponsored the amendment, said in floor debate tonight. The amendment will preserve the “principle of no public funding of abortion and no public funding of insurance policies that pay for abortion.”

Stupak had threatened to join with fellow Democrats to block consideration of his party’s health bill over the issue.

That prompted House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to agree to allow the vote to clear the way for debate on the legislation.

“If enacted, this amendment will be the greatest restriction of a woman’s right to choose to pass in our careers,” said Representative Diana DeGette, Democrat of Colorado, one of the lawmakers who left Ms. Pelosi’s office mad.

Representative Rosa DeLauro, Democrat of Connecticut, said the bill’s original language barring the use of federal dollars to pay for abortions should have been sufficient for the opponents. “Abortion is a matter of conscience on both sides of the debate,” Ms. DeLauro said. “This amendment takes away that same freedom of conscience from America’s women. It prohibits them from access to an abortion even if they pay for it with their own money. It invades women’s personal decisions.”

But Ms. DeGette, Ms. DeLauro and other defenders of abortion rights said they would nonetheless vote in favor of the health care bill and fight for changes in the final version, to be negotiated with the Senate.

“We will be making history with our vote,” Pelosi told reporters after she and fellow Democrats met with Obama on Capitol Hill. “We will pass health-care reform.”

Still, a later fight over abortion looms as supporters of abortion rights vowed to oppose any final measure that included the restriction. The Senate is struggling to find consensus on its own plan and later would work with the House on a compromise, if both chambers pass their versions.

“To say that this amendment is a wolf in sheep’s clothing would be an understatement of a lifetime,” said Colorado Representative Diana DeGette during floor debate. It “will be the greatest restriction of a women’s right to choose” passed by Congress “in our career.”

One Democrat who favors abortion rights, however, Virginia Representative Gerald Connolly, said the Stupak amendment is “not adding new restrictions” and is only “extending existing provisions” to a new government-subsidized program.

“I don’t believe that is an unfair ask for the Pro-Life Caucus,” Connolly told reporters.

The provision -- which would force women who purchase health insurance with a government subsidy to buy a special rider for abortion coverage with their own money -- is no different than the longtime rules for federal government workers, said Connolly, who represents the Virginia suburbs of Washington.

Here's how the Ohio Caucus voted om the Stupak Anti-Abortion amendment:

A "yes" vote is a vote to expand prohibition of federal funding of abortions.

Democrats — Boccieri, Y; Driehaus, Y; Fudge, N; Kaptur, Y; Kilroy, N; Kucinich, N; Ryan, Y; Space, Y; Sutton, N; Wilson, Y.

Republicans — Austria, Y; Boehner, Y; Jordan, Y; LaTourette, Y; Latta, Y; Schmidt, Y; Tiberi, Y; Turner, Y. 

Republicans in the House are 80% Male and 100% White. So racism was their first choice of how an "opposition minority party" should act out. After they got called out for those tactics they moved on to try misogyny.

The National Republican Congressional Committee is attacking Nancy Pelosi and is really hoping that Gen. McChrystal will put her in her place in their latest fundraising press release.

Now, Pelosi is backpedaling on Afghanistan amidst increasing criticism from the radical left:

"I've also made it clear it's a very difficult vote to get from the members," she added. "Their constituents don't like an escalated war in Afghanistan. They'd like to see a different approach. But let's see what the president has to say." (Glenn Thrush, “Pelosi skeptical about Afghan surge, McChrystal,” Politico, 10/05/2009)

“General Pelosi has no problem sacrificing her own credibility as the Obama administration and liberals in Congress attempt to walk back a strategy they strongly advocated just months ago,” said NRCC Communications Director Ken Spain. “Nancy Pelosi continues to make party politics a higher priority than our national security. Rather than listening to a four-star general’s assessments on Afghanistan, General Pelosi somehow believes she is better suited to craft our country’s military policy.” If Nancy Pelosi’s failed economic policies are any indicator of the effect she may have on Afghanistan, taxpayers can only hope McChrystal is able to put her in her place.

Speaker Pelosi responded to the NRCC like this:

"It's really sad they don't understand how inappropriate that is," Pelosi told reporters at her weekly press conference. " I'm in my place. I'm the Speaker of the House, the first woman Speaker of the House. And I'm in my place because the House voted me there. That language is something I hadn't heard in decades."

Watch It:

Republicans seem to think a woman's place is in the home.

Nancy Pelosi shows them it's in the House.  . . . and GOP frat boys, . . . before you try the sexist crap again, remember she's Leader of the House.

In our current health care system, women often face higher health costs than men and multiple other barriers to health insurance. Fewer women are eligible for employer-based coverage, and comprehensive coverage in the individual health care market is often unavailable or prohibitively expensive.

In the individual insurance market, women face discrimination – being charged substantially higher premiums for the same coverage as men or being denied coverage for such “pre-existing conditions” as pregnancy, having had a C-section, or being a victim of domestic violence.

In a recent study, more than half of women — compared with 39% of men — reported delaying needed medical care due to cost. And just last month, the Joint Economic Committee released a report finding that since the recession began, American women have lost 1.6 million jobs — many seeing their health insurance disappear with their jobs — and over a million women have lost insurance because their husband lost his job.

Yesterday, Speaker Pelosi and the Democratic Women’s Working Group joined leaders from women’s organizations for a press conference outside the Capitol to discuss how women stand to gain the most from health insurance reform.

Watch It:

Women will continue to face discrimination in both coverage and cost if health reform fails. For all woman, this is what’s in America’s Affordable Health Choices Act for specifically you.

On September 29, 2009 Senator Teresa Fedor and Representative Tyrone Yates came together in the Ladies' Gallery of the Ohio Statehouse to formally introduce the Ohio Prevention First Act..

Senator Fedor's statement on Senate Bill 176.

Watch It:

The Ohio Prevention First Act is a comprehensive bill that would increase access to family planning and comprehensive sex education in Ohio.  

The provisions of the bill include:

• Forbid a health insurance company from limiting or excluding coverage for FDA-approved prescription contraception if the policy covers other prescription drugs or devices.
• Require sex education classes to provide students with medically accurate information about abstinence, contraception and condom use as ways to prevent unintended pregnancy and STD's including HIV/AIDS.
• Create a teen pregnancy prevention state task force that would recommend medically accurate and scientifically proven effective programs for reducing Ohio's teen pregnancy rate.
• Require a pharmacy to dispense any prescribed drug, devise, or over-the-counter medication in stock without delay, consistent with the normal time frame.
• Ensure that sexual assault victims have access to emergency contraception and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases in all hospital emergency rooms.
• Require the Department of Health to create and make available on their website, materials to educate medical professionals and the general public about emergency contraception.

During debate of health care amendments involving required coverage today, GOP Sen. Jon Kyl (AZ) made an unbelievable statement: “I don’t need maternity care. And, so requiring that to be on my insurance policy is something that I don't need and will make the policy more expensive."

Without missing a beat, Sen. Debbie Stabenow (MI) fired back: “…I think your mom probably did.”

Watch It:

Most individual health insurance markets don’t cover maternity care. In fact, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, only 14 states have a requirement for such coverage, and the number of plans without maternity coverage continues to rise dramatically.

Could there be any better example of the importance of electing women to office?

Join Emily's List in sending Sen. Jon Kyl a message:

There is no stork, Jon, and maternity care is essential to women and families.

Today, too many women in Ohio depend on a health care system that is failing them. They have trouble affording necessary care, face unfair insurance industry practices, or struggle to find insurance that covers the benefits they need. Health reform must ensure that all women in Ohio and across the nation have access to the comprehensive, high-quality, and affordable health care they need.

In the absence of health reform, more and more women and families will lose their health insurance, with an estimated 184,730 Ohio residents losing coverage between 2008 and 2010. Family premiums will continue to skyrocket, reaching a projected $23,139 for Ohio families by 2016. Women in Ohio simply cannot afford the status quo. Women’s well-being—and that of their families—depends on health reform that meets their needs.

Women in Ohio Face Unfair and Discriminatory Insurance Industry Practices

• Insurers in Ohio are allowed to consider gender when setting premium rates in the individual health insurance market, where people buy coverage directly from insurance companies. As a result of “gender rating,” women are often charged more than men for the exact same coverage.

• In Ohio, insurance companies are allowed to reject a woman’s health insurance application for a variety of reasons including her medical history or her current health status.

• Insurers in Ohio can also exclude coverage for certain “pre-existing” conditions; if a woman has previously had a Cesarean section, for instance, insurers may refuse to pay for future C-sections or reject her application altogether.  In Ohio, where close to a third of all births were by C-section in 2006, tens of thousands of women.

Women in Ohio Have More Trouble Affording Necessary Health Care

• Women are generally poorer than men, and in Ohio earn just 74 cents for every dollar men earn. Women also use the health care system more, in part due to their reproductive health needs.

• Because they are poorer and use more care, women spend a greater share of their income on their health needs. Women are more likely than men to struggle with medical bills or debt, and to report cost-related problems with accessing health care.  For instance, 15% of women in Ohio report not visiting a doctor due to high costs.

• Women without coverage are especially likely to experience cost-related barriers to care. In 2007, 14% of all women in Ohio were uninsured.

• Even women with health insurance report problems affording health care. Unaffordable cost-sharing requirements, annual limits on covered services, or health plan limits on lifetime expenditures have a disproportionate impact on women. They are more likely than men to be underinsured, meaning they have coverage that leaves their financial and physical health at risk.

SEIU is calling attention to the fact that the health insurance industry considers domestic violence to be a “pre-existing condition” in some states. “Under the cold logic of the insurance industry, it makes perfect sense: If you are in a marriage with someone who has beaten you in the past, you’re more likely to get beaten again than the average person and are therefore more expensive to insure.”

Insurance companies have used the excuse of "pre-existing conditions" to deny coverage to countless Americans.

From cancer patients to the elderly suffering from arthritis, these organizations have padded their profit margins by limiting coverage to patients deemed "high risk" because of their medical condition.

But, in DC and eight other states, including Idaho, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Wyoming, insurance companies have gone too far, claiming that "domestic violence victim" is also a pre-existing condition.

Words cannot describe the sheer inhumanity of this claim. It serves as yet further proof that our insurance system is broken, destroyed by the profit-mongering of the very companies whose sole purpose should be to provide Americans with access to care when they need it most. In 1994, an informal survey conducted by the Subcommittee on Crime and Criminal Justice of the United States Senate Judiciary Committee revealed that 8 of the 16 largest insurers in the country used domestic violence as a factor when deciding whether to extend coverage and how much to charge if coverage was extended.

In our current health care system, women often face higher health costs than men and multiple other barriers to health insurance. Fewer women are eligible for employer-based coverage, and comprehensive coverage in the individual health care market is often unavailable or prohibitively expensive. As a result, many women are under- or uninsured, and simply can’t afford the services they need.

This afternoon, Chair of the Joint Economic Committee Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) and Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA) released a new report examining what’s at stake for women in the health insurance reform debate. The report, Comprehensive Health Insurance Reform: An Essential Prescription for Women, details how our current health insurance system isn’t working for women and how women are more vulnerable to high health care costs than men. The JEC also found that since the recession began in December 2007, American women have lost 1.6 million jobs — many seeing their health insurance disappear with their jobs — and over a million women have lost insurance because their husband lost his job:

Other key findings in the report:

As a consequence of single mothers’ job loss, at least 121,000 children have lost health insurance coverage since December 2007.

75% of women between age 55 and 64 report delaying health care because their own coverage was jeopardized by a spouse’s transition onto Medicare.

28% of all young women (ages 19-24) do not have health insurance coverage. The weak job market has hit young workers particularly hard, with the unemployment rate amongst young women at 15.7% in June 2009, the highest in a quarter century and substantially higher than the national unemployment rate of 9.5%.

An estimated 64 million women lack adequate health insurance.

Over half of all medical bankruptcies are filed by female-headed households.

While many Americans are taking desperate measures to cope with the medical bills that pile up following an illness, women are more likely than men to deplete their savings accounts in order to pay medical bills. One-third (33%) of under-insured women deplete their savings to pay medical bills, as compared to 25% of under-insured men.

The health consequences of inadequate coverage are more severe for women than for men and women are more likely than men to run into problems receiving adequate medical care. Over a quarter (27%) of women had health problems requiring medical attention but were not able to see a doctor, compared to 21% of men. Similarly, nearly a quarter (22%) of women reported that they were unable to fill a needed prescription, as compared to 15% of men.

18% of all women report that they delayed or did not receive needed medical care because they were unable to take time off work. Over a quarter (27%) of all low-income women report that an inability to take time off work prohibited them from obtaining needed medical care.

Because women are less likely than men to be employed full-time, they are less likely to be eligible for employer-provided health benefits. 26% of employed women work part-time, and are therefore excluded from their employers’ health insurance benefit plans. In contrast, just 13% of working men are part-time employees.

The Ohio Domestic Violence Network released a study today indicating that demand for services is up while funding for shelters and other crisis programs is being cut in Ohio.

 “Ohio already ranks near the bottom nationally in support for victims of family violence,’’ said ODVN Executive Director Nancy Neylon.  “At a time when demand for services is up, domestic violence programs are forced to cut back or turn people away, resulting in more victims returning to abusers because they feel as if they have no other choice.’’

Key figures in ODVN's survey of 81 shelters and non-residential providers of domestic violence services:

• 82 per cent of respondents saw an increase in demand for services over a two-year period and nearly half of them said more families are seeking shelter;
• More than half said the number of survivors returning to their abusers for economic reasons is on the rise;
• 79 per cent saw an increase in the number of days families remain in shelters;
• 70 per cent reported a decrease in funding, including cuts in mental health levies and decreased support from foundations and the United Way.

  “If we don’t increase funding to provide services for victims, then we will see more injuries,  more police calls and higher court costs,’’ said Linda Johanek, Executive Director of Cleveland’s Domestic Violence Center. “In essence, we are opting to pay more on the back end rather than invest in prevention and other services that will decrease violence and the costs associated with it.’’

Neylon said it is important to understand the link between the economic downturn and domestic violence. “Domestic violence is about power and control, so poverty does not cause violence,’’ Neylon explained. “But a lack of economic resources can serve as a huge barrier to escaping a violent partner. When it is harder to leave, the violence often escalates. When it is harder to access resources, the risk of having to return to the abuser goes up.’’

Charlene Ventura, President and CEO of the YWCA of Greater Cincinnati, said the combination of deep funding cuts and rising demand comes at a time when the economy is making it increasingly difficult for survivors to escape.

“The lack of affordable housing and employment opportunities creates additional hardships for survivors as they work to transition out of protective shelter to live independently and free from violence,” Ventura said.

 “Given the severity of Ohio’s budget problems, ODVN thought it impossible to seek additional state funding at this time,’’ Neylon said. “But we are asking lawmakers to help us save lives and save money by passing bills to prevent violence and protect victims.’’

One bill, House Bill 10, would give juvenile court judges the power to better protect teens in violent relationships by allowing juvenile judges to issue civil protection orders.

House Bill 19 would require schools to teach dating-abuse prevention in health classes.

Legislation to create civil protection orders for minors and to add dating abuse prevention education were inspired by teens who were murdered by former boyfriends. Both are also supported by Johanna Orozco, a Cleveland woman, who was nearly killed two years ago after her ex-boyfriend stalked her and shot her in the face with a shotgun.

Orozco, now 20, championed an identical civil protection order bill in the last legislative session. Although the measure passed the Ohio House of Representatives, it was stopped in the Republican-controlled Ohio Senate.

Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray has championed both HB 10 and HB 19.

Additionally, House Bill 167 seeks new protections for victims of domestic violence in housing and employment – two key resources victims often need to end abusive relationships.

To donate to organizations advocating for survivors of domestic violence:

http://www.actionohio.org/how_help.htm

http://www.odvn.org/

Full list of domestic violence shelters in Ohio – all can use your help:

http://www.actionohio.org/dvshelter.htm

Dr. George Tiller, a frequent target of threats, was killed this morning minutes after he finished handing out bulletins at Reformation Lutheran Church in Witchita, Kansas.

Violent opposition to physicians that provide abortions are by no means a thing of the past. Ohio's Patrick Johnston has put forth biblical arguments as to why it is moral to kill abortion clinic workers and provides photos and license plate numbers of said workers. He ran against Troy Balderson in the 94th District Republican primary for a seat in the Ohio House.

You know what is so offensive? Those damn P.C. police pressuring the president to place a second woman on the Supreme Court. You know, because it's not embarrassing or anything that although 51 percent of the population is female, only 11 percent of the Court is. And it's not like the Court routinely makes decisions that affect women's health and very autonomy! No, siree. Let's get a white dude in there!

--Dana Goldstein

The President enjoyed a quick shoot-around from earlier this week when the undefeated women's basketball national champions, the UCONN Huskies, came to the White House.

Watch It:

The President's full remarks below:

The Plain Dealer today has a business page perspective piece on retiring UAW Region 2-b Director Lloyd Mahaffey.

Director Mahaffey was and is not only a staunch defender of organized labor, but a staunch defender of diversity in the workplace. He has always known how to wield his power for not only his workforce, but more broadly to all working women and men.

His past 11 years, no doubt given the auto industry, have been tough on his members -- at times I'm sure he wondered what his leadership could have done in more robust times.

But I could not think of a more appropriate labor leader to negotiate through the minefield of his times -- at all times standing up for those in need of his leadership.

Here is hoping that even in his much deserved retirement, he chooses to continue to be a leader in Ohio's Progressive Movement. His voice and advice is both welcomed and needed.

Cordray Focuses on Domestic Violence Underreporting

Ohio salons designated neighborhood safe places for victims; new statistics made available

(COLUMBUS, Ohio) - Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray today announced that his office is teaming up with the Ohio State Board of Cosmetology to re-launch Cut It Out, a national domestic violence awareness effort.  Through the program, Ohio salon professionals will be trained to recognize indicators of domestic violence and salons across the state will be designated as neighborhood safe places for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

At a news conference, Cordray also introduced statewide statistics compiled by the Attorney General's Office and analyzed by the Ohio Family Violence Prevention Project. The 2008 statistics reveal the relationships between Ohio domestic violence survivors and their offenders, how many domestic dispute calls Ohio law enforcement agencies respond to, how often charges are filed as a result of a domestic dispute call and the ethnicity of the survivors and offenders.

"These statistics give us valuable insight into the problem of domestic violence and who it affects," said Cordray.  "When our law enforcement partners gather this information, they help us understand the realities of the problem. We are calling upon them to provide this information to us as quickly as possible throughout the year so that it can be used to address the issue of domestic violence in the most effective ways possible. It is imperative that we all work together to build awareness, encourage empowerment and strengthen enforcement."

Recognizing the unique relationship stylists have with their clients, Cordray is working to expand Cut It Out to all 88 counties.

"Often, one of the only places survivors of domestic violence are permitted to visit on a regular basis is their salon," said Cordray. "Salon professionals are in the unique position of not only being able to recognize the physical signs of abuse, but may also have the ability to identify the emotional and psychological symptoms as well. With distance from the abuser, the relationship of the stylist to the client often evolves into that of a confidant. Providing salon professionals the resources to take action only makes sense."

Cut It Out offers continuing education credits to stylists who attend two-hour seminars offered by the Attorney General's Office.  The seminars focus on how to identify signs of domestic violence and help the victim. Trainings are being scheduled for April and May in Columbus, Cleveland and Twinsburg, with more to be added.

Since its 2001 inception in Alabama, Cut It Out has expanded to all 50 states and Australia.  To date, more than 40,000 salon professionals have been educated through Cut It Out. Ohio first became active in the program in 2004. Over the years, the program fell into disuse.

For a list of Ohio safe places and additional information on Cut It Out, or to view the 2008 Domestic Violence Report compiled by the Attorney General's Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation, visit www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov/cutitout.

Celebrating Women’s History Month, First Lady Michelle Obama visited Anacostia High School, where she spoke to students about their career goals and achieving their dreams. She also attended a roundtable discussion with students on Women’s History Month.
Washington, DC : 21 min.

Watch It:

President Barack Obama is planning to sign an executive order on Wednesday that will create a White House Women's Council overseen by senior adviser Valerie Jarrett, according to two senior administration officials.

The officials said the president will make the official announcement at the White House and is likely to be joined by his wife, first lady Michelle Obama.

One of the officials said the president wants the office to "have a presence at the White House to address the issues facing women and girls," including pay equity and the balancing act working mothers face.

Lawmakers Press for Mothers' Share of U.S. Budget

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WOMENSENEWS)--On the day that President Obama unveiled his budget for the upcoming fiscal year, a bipartisan group of lawmakers and advocates gathered at the office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to press Congress to do more to prevent an everyday event that causes millions of needless deaths around the world: childbirth.

"When mothers survive childbirth, they give birth to healthy families, healthy communities and healthy nations," Theresa Shaver, president and executive director of the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood, a global organization based in Washington, D.C., said Thursday at a conference to kick off the campaign.

Helping mothers survive childbirth has far-reaching implications, Shaver said.

When a mother dies in childbirth, her baby is less likely to survive infancy, and her other children are more likely to drop out of school, lose access to health care and even die, according to the alliance. If she survives, she is more likely to raise healthy, educated children, which in turn helps stabilize her country's economy and political state.

Pelosi was unable to attend the event, but other lawmakers gathered in her office included Democratic Reps. Lois Capps and Doris Matsui of California and Betty McCollum of Minnesota, and Republican Rep. Jean Schmidt of Ohio.

The event Thursday launches a campaign--called Mothers Day Every Day--to spur U.S. lawmakers to put more money in foreign aid to reduce maternal mortality. Specifically, they hope the United States will be a greater force in a global initiative to reduce maternal mortality by 75 percent and to provide women around the world with universal access to reproductive health services by 2015.

"Women around the world should not have to go into labor in fear," said Mary Jo Kilroy, a newly elected Democrat from Ohio who spoke at the campaign's kick-off conference.

Ohio 15th District Representative Mary Jo Kilroy held a press conference today with medical professionals and advocates on the investments in health care included in the Recovery and Reinvestment Plan. She officially signed on as a supporter of the HealthCare For America Now! campaign.

In her remarks, the Congresswoman highlighted the significant investments made in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to lower the cost  and increase the quality of health care. She emphasized that the package is one of the initial steps towards health care access for every American.

The bill passed by Congress last week and soon to be signed into law by President Obama would:

• Save out of work families paying for health care through COBRA over $8,000 per year allowing 7 million Americans to keep health insurance;
• Invest $19 billion for health information technology;
• Provide $2 billion to modernize community health centers and provide care for 1.8 million more patients;
• Commit $500 million to help train more primary care doctors, pediatricians, dentists, nurses and other professionals working in family medicine;
• Create a $1 billion initiative for wellness and chronic disease prevention.

Dr. Kristina Lehman, a family physician at the Grandview area practice that hosted the press conference, spoke about the portions of the bill that invest in wellness and disease prevention and doctor and nurse training and loan repayment.

Megan Davis of the Children's Defense Fund of Ohio spoke about the importance of the expansion of SCHIP and the importance of healthcare coverage for children. During her first month in office, Congresswoman Kilroy voted to expand the State Children’s Health Insurance (SCHIP) program to provide health care to 11 million children.

Phil Cole of the Ohio Association of Community Action Agencies thanked Representative Kilroy for her vote on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, pointing out that $2 billion will go to community health centers for modernization and patient care.

Additional photos here.

On last night’s show (February 9th, 2009) O’Reilly compared Ms. Thomas to “the Wicked Witch of the East” along with disparaging remarks about her appearance and age. You can view an excerpt here. Guest Bernard Goldberg added his own insult, and even Alan Colmes, while attempting to defend her, seemed to be having too much fun.  This kind of verbal degradation in the guise of humor is unacceptable, and as Media Matters has documented, it’s part of an on-going pattern where he’s targeted Thomas.

It was an attack no woman deserves—including this accomplished, award winning journalist working in the White House press corps, where women are underrepresented. The Women’s Media Center demonstrated in its Sexism Sells But We’re Not Buying It viral campaign that sexist remarks went unchecked by networks during the primary season. Now, as then, the WMC demands accountability.

An immediate public apology is required.

Click here to join the WMC in demanding an apology from O’Reilly for insulting legendary reporter Helen Thomas

The Ledbetter law, recently signed by President Obama, overturned the Supreme Court decision denying Lilly the $360,000 of back pay and benefits that the trial court had ruled she was entitled to. But the newly signed law isn't retroactive; it only applies to cases going forward!

Ms. Ledbetter, now in her 70s, worked in a Goodyear Tire factory for almost 20 years to support her family. The success of the Lilly Ledbetter Act is a step forward in gender equality for all women, but as a new widow facing retirement, Lilly Ledbetter deserves to receive the pay she was cheated out of for so long!

Ask Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company - a company that reported profits of $602 million in 2007 - to reimburse the $360,000 of backpay they owe Lilly.

Sign the Petition!

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner commended President Barack Obama and the US House and Senate for the passage and signing of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. 

The act provides workers with the right to seek compensation for pay inequity for a two-year period without requiring the worker to discover it and file suit within 180 days of a company's initial decision to pay a worker less than it pays another worker doing the same job. 

Lily Ledbetter worked for 19 years at the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. plant in Gadsden, Alabama, but was denied her chance to recover because in 2007 the court determined she discovered it too late. 

"In the passage and signing of this legislation, it is clear that fairness must govern the sacrifices of men and women in doing their parts to help heal the nation's economy.  In the end, policies that promote the quality of life for all Americans produce the most lasting results," said Brunner.

Later this year, Brunner's office will release a web-based index of Ohio life quality indicators to map the status and trends of factors that affect the life quality of Ohioans.  The index is designed to assist with budget and policy making decisions and to provide a "snapshot" of Ohio's workforce to attract new and better jobs to the state.

The Ohio Secretary of State's office serves all Ohioans as the launching point for business in Ohio.  The office provides business filing services, special official filings, and serves as an official partner in the Ohio Business Gateway Project, which offers Ohio's businesses time and money-saving ways to work with state government.

Washington, D.C. -- Representative Mary Jo Kilroy released the following statement after passage of the landmark Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. It is also expected to be the first piece of legislation signed into law by President Barack Obama on Wednesday. Kilroy was a co-sponsor of the original bill passed by the House of Representatives during the first week of the 111th Congress.

“Ending pay discrimination is an issue of fairness and an issue for our families. I am proud to stand with Lilly Ledbetter and thousands of women that were victims of a wage gap only because they were women. Restoring the legal remedies for those affected by this injustice helps break down the disparities between men and women in the workplace that continue to exist, but this Congress has made the rights of all workers a priority.

“I expect President Obama to continue this legislation’s historic path by signing it into law this week.  For too long the Bush Administration promised to veto this fair initiative that will change the inequality ingrained for generations and will put working families first. This action is a clear example of the positive, bipartisan change unfolding in Washington.”

On her first work weekend home in Ohio’s 15th Congressional District the Congresswoman meets with constituents directly affected by the economic downturn

Congresswoman Kilroy's Opening Remarks:

Congresswoman Kilroy Spends First Weekend Home Meeting With Constituents

• A single mother about to work her way through law school without full health care benefits for her children because she cannot afford her employer’s health care options.

• An experienced IT professional out of work for over a year and about to lose her dream to own the house she grew up in.

• A husband and wife that are about to lose their home because a serious illness has consumed their savings.  They also have two children graduating from high school.

Ohio 15th District Open House Saturday!

In a 6-0 vote last night, Columbus City Council passed revisions to the Columbus City Code that will add gender identity and expression (as well as age and disability) to the list of protected classes under the city civil rights code -- including all non-discrimination sections and the ethnic intimidation (hate crimes) section. More about the measure here.

Councilwoman Priscilla Tyson, who introduced the proposal December 8, was not in attendance because her mother passed away on Saturday.

Activists from Stonewall Democrats, Buckeye Region Anti-Violence Organization (BRAVO), and Equality Ohio were present for the vote, after having emailed and called members of City Council urging support of the measure.

To send a thank you message, click here for email addresses of City Council members.

RELATED POST:

MONDAY: Columbus City Council Votes on Non-Discrimination and Hate Crimes Policy

The ordinance updates sections of city code covering employment non-discrimination, fair housing, public accommodations and ethnic intimidation.

The sections are similar, but not uniform in listing who is covered, though commonly, race, religion and sexual orientation are included. Sexual orientation was added to the housing and accommodation code in 1984, and to the others in 1992.

The updates add gender identity or expression and, if the sections don’t already have them, sex, ancestry, age, disability and familial status.

No Ohio or federal law prohibits discrimination by sexual orientation or gender identity, although a bill to add them is currently in the state legislature. Four other Ohio cities include both in their non-discrimination ordinances: Cincinnati, Toledo, Dayton and Oxford.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Email Priscilla Tyson's aide and express your support for the revisions: cgwilliams@columbus.gov

Attend the City Council meeting on Monday, December 15 at 5 PM: Columbus City Hall Council Chamber, 2nd Floor 90 West Broad St., Columbus, OH 43215

Activists will gather in Columbus this Wednesday, December 10 to commemorate the sixtieth anniversary of the adoption of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

At 4:00PM at the State House (exact location TBD), the declaration will be read in its entirety, and speakers will make commentary.

Sponsors and participants include: United Nations Association - Columbus Chapter, Central Ohioans for Peace, Faith Communities Uniting for Peace, Interfaith Association of Central Ohio, SweatFree Ohio, Ohio AFL-CIO, Ohio Conference on Fair Trade, and Columbus Area Jobs with Justice

Click here to RSVP and comment.

Click on the image to read the full declaration.

From the Introduction:

All human beings are born with equal and inalienable rights and fundamental freedoms.

The United Nations is committed to upholding, promoting and protecting the human rights of every individual. This commitment stems from the United Nations Charter, which reaffirms the faith of the peoples of the world in fundamental human rights and in the dignity and worth of the human person.

In the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the United Nations has stated in clear and simple terms the rights which belong equally to every person.

These rights belong to you.

They are your rights. Familiarize yourself with them. Help to promote and defend them for yourself as well as for your fellow human beings.

After three long years, and after 12,600 supporters signed a petition urging a hearing, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of Ohio's request for a hearing for the Ohio Prevention First Act has finally been granted.

From Planned Parenthood's Announcement today:

Ohio House Health Committee Chairman Lynn Wachtmann (R-Napoleon) has scheduled House Bill 251 for a hearing on Wednesday, November 19, 2008. 

Sponsored by Representatives Jon Peterson (R-Delaware) and Tyrone Yates (D-Cincinnati), HB 251 focuses on the prevention of unintended pregnancies through comprehensive sex education for teens, including abstinence, and affordable, accessible birth control.

Among the provisions of the Ohio Prevention First Act are to:

    * ensure that Ohio's state funded sexual education programs provide young people with the information they need to make safe, informed, responsible choices;
    * launch a teen pregnancy prevention grant program;
    * ensure access to emergency contraception in all emergency rooms for sexual assault victims;
    * require pharmacies to fill all in-stock legal prescriptions and to dispense all over-the-counter medications;
    * require insurance plans that cover prescriptions to also cover birth control; and
    * earmark existing state funds for family planning purposes.

Incidentally,  also being heard on November 19th is the most sexist, insulting anti-choice bill in, well, who knows how long: HB 287, sponsored by Representative John Adams (R-Sidney).

If HB 287 passes, a woman or girl would be required to get written consent of the prospective father of the fetus before being allowed to have an abortion.

If the identity of the prospective father is unknown, the woman must submit a list of possible fathers. Those men would have to be tracked down, would have to agree to paternity testing, and the prospective father would then have to grant permission for the abortion.

Rape and incest survivors would need a police report.

A woman or girl who does not know (or doesn't want to reveal) who the man is, or cannot track him down, or cannot secure permission, would be unable to have an abortion.

Planned Parenthood supporters are invited to attend the hearings next Wednesday. From Planned Parenthood:

The hearing is scheduled to begin at 2:30PM or later depending on the length of the preceeding House voting session.  Because of the session schedule, lengthy committee agenda, and seating capacity limitations, interested persons are encouraged to contact Stephanie Craddock of Planned Parenthood of Central Ohio at 614-358-8729 or advocacy@ppcoh.org for further details about the hearing

Look for an email blast soon from Progress Ohio about ways you can take action.

So why haven't they been able to get a hearing in the past three years?

The Ohio Prevention First Act (HB 251) is a bipartisan bill that will reduce the number of unintended pregnancies in Ohio by increasing access to birth control and comprehensive sex education. It provides funding for family-planning programs, guarantees access to birth-control prescriptions at pharmacies, and promotes emergency contraception access and education.

NARAL today delivered more than 2,100 postcards signed by Ohioans urging lawmakers to schedule a hearing on the bill.

Planned Parenthood is running a new TV ad in swing states asserting that John McCain's health care plan would be bad for women.

“John McCain’s health care plan can be summed up in three words: worse for women,” said Cecile Richards, president of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, in a statement released to reporters.

“What McCain has proposed is a radical health care plan that would deregulate the health care industry, let insurance companies deny coverage for pre-existing conditions, even pregnancy, impose a health care tax, would not guarantee coverage of cancer screenings, and would potentially leave millions of women who receive employer-based health insurance at risk of losing their coverage.”

Watch It:

There are only 12 more days until Election Day and this election is critical to protect the reproductive rights of women in Ohio and around the country.  There are stark differences between the two candidates for president; one respects our right to make private medical decisions and the other thinks that politicians should make them for us. 

Overturning Roe v. Wade would treat women and doctors like criminals, and it is up to us to make sure that people in our communities understand this stark reality.  On Wednesday one of our coalition partners, the Winning Message Action Fund, announced a huge media buy in Ohio.  This 30 second commercial will deliver a strong message to candidates who support overturning Roe v. Wade, by painting a picture of the consequences and asking, "If you want to make abortion illegal and treat women like criminals how much time should she do?" 

Watch the commercial now and please share it with everyone you know.  We need to make sure that people across this country know what is at stake on November 4th.   

Today we are working with our partners at Progress Ohio to make sure that we can show that Ohioans will not stand by and let our elected officials outlaw abortions in Ohio.  There is already a bill introduced in the Ohio House that will ban ALL abortions, even those necessary to protect a woman's life.  Sign the petition today  and pledge your support for access to safe, legal abortion services in our state.   

Please take action today and show your support for women and doctors making medical decisions, not politicians.

Brian Rothenberg
Executive Director
ProgressOhio.org

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In their cavalier efforts to win over extreme conservative voters, both Sen. John McCain and Gov. Sarah Palin are ignoring the logical consequences of their position on abortion. They enthusiastically seek to overturn Roe v. Wade and ban abortion. But painful history shows that banning abortions won't stop them, it will just make them extremely dangerous. It seems hard to believe that McCain and Palin don't know this history. Will they really stand by and let that happen... again?

The reality is that 21 states would move to ban abortion immediately if Roe is overturned and Ohio would be plunged into a divisive battle over the future of legalized abortion within its borders. But if abortion is outlawed, women and their doctors will be treated like criminals. Will states put women behind bars? Will good doctors stop providing abortions? What will John McCain do then?

Voters deserve answers.

Watch Part II of the Press Conference and announcement of the ad held yesterday at ProgressOhio.

Watch It:

Part I of the press conference can be viewed here.

McCain Flatlines With Women

Wait a minute -- weren't we all supposed to rush to McCain/Palin when Hillary folded her tent? After all, Palin wears a skirt (oh yeah, and high heels and lipstick), and McCain obviously figured we girl voters were too dumb to know the difference. But like so much else in his ill-fated campaign, the Palin ploy backfired. Even so, up to now it's been a few WASP (Women Against Sarah Palin) t-shirts, homemade signs, and street corner demonstrations.

Now a major new website and online organizing tool has gone up on the web (FeministsForObama.org), courtesy of the Feminist Majority, whose President is veteran feminist Eleanor Smeal. "We don't want a lingering doubt for any Hillary Clinton supporter or any independent woman about where McCain and Palin stand on women's issues," Smeal asserted.

The group knows Obama is ahead in the polls, but the site was launched to help drive up the margin of victory even higher for Obama/Biden, and just incidentally take out a little insurance against a repeat of Florida in 2000 or Ohio in 2004, when thousands of votes disappeared or weren't counted correctly. "Yes Obama is leading. But we can take nothing for granted. Too much is at stake for women. We must make sure the margin is so large it cannot be stolen this time," Smeal continued.

FeministsForObama.org, offers a side-by-side comparison of the Democratic and Republican nominees on four major women's issues: Violence Against Women, Abortion and Contraception, Women and Work, Breast Cancer, and Health Care. Because words aren't always enough, the Feminist Majority created three striking online videos that illuminate some of the grave truths about the McCain/Palin record on women's issues.

Full Story

Visit FeministsForObama.org

Learn More About McCain's War On Women

see Sarah Palin pictures

» Recaption This

Read More About John McCain's "War On Women"

In trying to paint Obama as being for the great Republican bugaboo of late term abortions (because, you know, there are so many women running around and deciding after being pregnant for six or more months that being pregnant is no longer convenient for them), Obama replied that he didn't vote for the late term abortion ban because it had no provision for the health or life of the mother.

And that's when McCain proved how heartless and clueless he is.

Watch It:

Remember Greg Hartmann, the failed Secretary of State candidate who let a rapist, who later killed his victim, go and then complained the rape (soon-to-be murder) victim hadn't shown Mr. Hartmann enough "courtesy"? 

This morning, Mr. Hartmann attended a Sarah Palin fundraiser and had the following condescending, sexist comment to say about Palin:

"What a great cheerleader for our ticket, because we've got a lot of work to do."

Never have so few pronouns, revealed so much.

P.S. Greg, Sarah Palin actually won her statewide election and she didn't even have the benefit of being related to Dick Cheney's lawyer or the owners of a giant, corrupt casketmaker.

Gov. Sarah Palin's introduction onto the national stage has ignited scores of Alaska-based narratives and mini-controversies as reporters and voters scrambled to learn more about her political past.

But has any other Palin issue produced the type of visceral response ignited by the revelation that while she was mayor of Wasilla, the town began charging rape victims or their insurance companies for costly emergency-room rape kits and post-assault examinations?

The story remains woefully under-covered by the mainstream media, where most outlets have shied away from tackling the touchy topic as a straight news story about Palin's political past. But the issue continues to generate all kinds of discussion in the opinion pages and online. (AmericaBlog was among the first big-name liberal blogs to highlight the story.)

The persistent buzz, I think, stems from the fact that the Wasilla story just seems so ... weird. What municipality would bill rape victims for traumatic post-assault forensic exams? And especially in Alaska, where the rape rate is twice the national average. And wouldn't charging the victims or their insurance companies (assuming the victims were insured) simply drive down the number of women who are willing to report sexual attacks?

Having that story hover around Palin as she introduced herself to the American people could not have helped the Republican ticket. And I suspect that's why the conservative press and right-wing bloggers have tried so hard to knock the story down, why they have been so quick to condemn journalists who dared report the rape-kit story as being unethical and biased.

But facts are not a fungible commodity.

And the hurdle the GOP press simply cannot clear in its debunking effort is that the policy did exist while Palin was mayor. Boxed in by the obvious, overeager bloggers instead claim Palin didn't "support" or even know about the policy and that Palin did not personally bill the victims herself. (Strawman alert: Nobody ever suggested Palin went around knocking on doors demanding payments.)

Sadly for Palin partisans, they got schooled on the Wasilla specifics by a 20-year-old blogger and junior at George Washington University who did what so many on the right can't quite pull off: fact-based reporting.

He proved without a doubt that Palin, as mayor, signed off on the initiative that forced rape victims or their insurance companies to foot the bill for the post-assault exam kits.

It's important to highlight the deficiencies of the so-called debunking of the rape-kit story so that reporters don't continue to ignore the issue, which raises questions about Palin's leadership. So they don't take seriously the conservative claims that the story has been proven a "lie," a "smear," a "myth," and a "bunch of baloney."

The loud pronouncements by the right have become almost a cult-like mantra online, and they seem to be effectively scaring the press off the story.

For instance, The Washington Post has never written about the rape-kit story in its news pages, according to a search of Nexis, nor has The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Tribune, the New York Daily News, The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Baltimore Sun, The Boston Globe, Newsweek, or Time.

Credit goes to USA Today for treating the issue seriously, while CNN.com posted a detailed investigation. And on the air, CNN seems to have reported more on the issue than its cable competitors, which isn't saying much, since its competitors have virtually ignored the story.

As for the news networks, there's been a blackout on the rape-kit story. Journalists ought to be reporting the story and asking Palin to give detailed, unambiguous answers, since the rape-kit issue could offer some insights into how she governs.

Instead, the press has treated the story as something of a taboo. And the loud, bogus claims about it being "debunked" likely add to its untouchable status.

Trust me, nothing has been debunked.

Read The Full Story From Media Matters

Sarah Palin charging rape victims for their forensic exams 

Watch It:

See Also: 

Is The Palin And Victims Paying For Rape Kits In Wasilla Scandal Over Taxpayers Funding "Emergency Contraception"?

Palin attacked over rape-kit controversy
Alaska law forces taxpayers to fund 'emergency contraception'

Palin Had Direct Role In Charging Rape Victims For Exams

Compassionate Conservative? Under Palin Wasilla Charged Rape Victims For The Forensic Tests Needed To Prove The Crime

McCain Voted Against Biden Law Requiring Free Rape Exams

Learn More About John McCain's War On Women

Planned Parenthood is going up with an absolutely brutal new ad hammering the policy of Wasilla, Alaska of charging rape victims for gathering evidence when Palin was mayor:

Watch It:

See Also:

Compassionate Conservative? Under Palin Wasilla Charged Rape Victims For The Forensic Tests Needed To Prove The Crime

Palin Had Direct Role In Charging Rape Victims For Exams

Is The Palin And Victims Paying For Rape Kits In Wasilla Scandal Over Taxpayers Funding "Emergency Contraception"?

CNN's Campbell Brown:

"Tonight I call on the McCain campaign to stop treating Sarah Palin like she is a delicate flower that will wilt at any moment," said Brown. "This woman is from Alaska from crying out loud. She is strong. She is tough. She is competent. And you claim she is ready to be one heart beat away form the presidency. If that is the case, then end this chauvinistic treatment of her now. Allow her to show her stuff. Allow her to face down those pesky reporters... Let her have a real news conference with real questions. By treating Sarah Palin different from the other candidates in this race, you are not showing her the respect she deserves. Free Sarah Palin. Free her from the chauvinistic chain you are binding her with. Sexism in this campaign must come to an end. Sarah Palin has just as much a right to be a real candidate in this race as the men do. So let her act like one."

Watch It:

WASHINGTON -- Women have donated twice as much money to Barack Obama than John McCain in the 2008 election, reversing past trends that favored Republicans, according to an analysis by the Women's Campaign Forum Foundation.

n the 2000 election, women donated twice as much to then-presidential candidate George W. Bush as to his Democratic rival, Al Gore. In the 2004 election, women donated about the same amount to Mr. Bush and to Democratic Sen. John Kerry.

Women are also on pace to contribute far more money to the presidential campaigns than ever before, the analysis showed. But they still make far fewer political donations than men -- and are showing few signs of catching up.

According to the analysis, which was based on campaign-finance data through the July 31 disclosure period, women had given a total of $109.5 million to the presidential campaigns of Sens. Obama and McCain. That nearly matches the $115.2 million that women contributed to Messrs. Bush and Kerry in the 2004 race -- and nearly triple the total women donated to Messrs. Bush and Gore in 2000.

As part of the Women for the Change We Need Week of Action, Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton got together for a conversation with women on the issues that are most important to them.

Watch It:

Despite denials by the Palin campaign, new evidence proves that as mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, Sarah Palin had a direct hand in imposing fees to pay for post-sexual assault medical exams conducted by the city to gather evidence.

Palin's role is now confirmed by Wasilla City budget documents available online.

Under Sarah Palin's administration, Wasilla cut funds that had previously paid for the medical exams and began charging victims or their health insurers the $500 to $1200 fees.

Although Palin spokeswoman Maria Comella wrote USA Today earlier this week that the GOP vice presidential nominee

"does not believe, nor has she ever believed, that rape victims should have to pay for an evidence-gathering test...To suggest otherwise is a deliberate misrepresentation of her commitment to supporting victims and bringing violent criminals to justice,"

Careful parsing there.

In May 2000, the Alaska legislature enacted a law that would provide rape victims with the tests, free of charge – along with testing for sexually transmitted disease and access to emergency contraception.

Palin, a mother of five children, has a pro-life voting record and has not indicated support for the morning-after pill. In November 2006, then gubernatorial candidate Sarah Palin declared that she would not support an abortion for her own daughter even if she had been raped.

She is a member of the anti-abortion group Feminists for Life. The organization has warned women against "blindly accepting" morning after pills as just another artificial contraceptive method. It claims Planned Parenthood and other proponents push the medication as a way to prevent pregnancy.

"Although these supporters call morning-after pills 'emergency contraception,' the term is a misnomer, as the pills actually act as an abortifacient in many cases by preventing the implantation of an already-fertilized human embryo," a 1999 Feminists for Life newsletter (PDF) stated.

View A Feminists For Life Advertisement Regarding Rape Victims (PDF)

How often have you heard the term "taxpayer-funded abortion" as a right-wing talking point?  The fact is, one of the main goals of the right wing fundamentalist has been to oppose any government assistance for any program that might provide funding for abortions.

This forms the basis of George Bush's so-called Mexico City Policy--rescinded by Clinton and re-enacted by George Bush--forbidding any taxpayer money going to any program that funds pregancy termination, no matter what adverse consequences may result.

Is this the reason behind Sarah Palin's consistent refusal to fund rape investigation kits with taxpayer money is that they contain emergency contraception, which her religious fundamentalism views as tantamount to an abortion, and she, like George Bush, is a firm believer in the Mexico City policy?

HT: Daily Kos

See Also: 

Palin attacked over rape-kit controversy
Alaska law forces taxpayers to fund 'emergency contraception'

Palin Had Direct Role In Charging Rape Victims For Exams

Compassionate Conservative? Under Palin Wasilla Charged Rape Victims For The Forensic Tests Needed To Prove The Crime

McCain Voted Against Biden Law Requiring Free Rape Exams

Learn More About John McCain's War On Women

Women's rights groups endorsed Barack Obama for president Tuesday, asserting the historic selection of a female Republican vice presidential candidate does not make up for John McCain's lack of support on issues important to women.

"We don't think it's much to break a glass ceiling for one woman and leave millions of women behind," said Eleanor Smeal, chairman of the Feminist Majority Political Action Committee.

Smeal was among leaders from six organizations that announced their endorsement of the Democratic presidential nominee at a news conference.

Obama also won the support of the National Organization for Women, which said it has not endorsed a candidate for president since Walter Mondale and Geraldine Ferraro shared the Democratic ticket in 1984. Ferraro was the first female major-party vice presidential candidate.

NOW backed New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton in the primaries. "We join with her in saying 'no,'" said NOW President Kim Gandy, referring to a line Clinton used at the Democratic convention last month. "No way, no how, no McCain."

Obama was also endorsed by leaders from Business and Professional Women/USA, the National Association of Social Workers, the National Congress of Black Women and the Women's Information Network.

 Ladies' Man

These days, many women voters are more likely to perceive Biden as a spoiler than as a supporter. Since his selection last month as Barack Obama's running mate, Biden has been pitted against women, first taking the job that many Hillary Clinton supporters felt was her due, then facing off against another historic woman, Sarah Palin, who could become the first female vice president of the United States. With his 30-plus years in the Senate, Biden can sound like the member of a male-only club, an impression reinforced by old-boy gaffes--from joking that his wife's doctorate "is a problem" to referring to Palin as "good-looking."

But the irony of this assessment is that Biden has some of the best feminist bona fides around. The mostly untold story of Biden's fight to support the "Civil Rights For Women" section of VAWA provides a window into his work for women, its origins, and how the defense of women's rights fits into his political worldview. Women voters may yet find something to cheer: In fighting for the legislation, Biden showed he was willing to trust the guidance of women activists and women judges, and then to contend against fierce and mostly male resistance in Washington, particularly from the Supreme Court.

That famous McCain temper flares up again . . .

As he throws another woman under the bus.

From CNN Chief National Correspondent John King

This campaign source said Fiorina would be discouraged from additional media interviews.

Another top campaign adviser was far less diplomatic.

"Carly will now disappear," this source said. "Senator McCain was furious." Asked to define "disappear," this source said, adding that she would be off TV for a while – but remain at the Republican National Committee and keep her role as head of the party’s joint fundraising committee with the McCain campaign.

Fiorina was booked for several TV interviews over the next few days, including one on CNN. Those interviews have been canceled.

A third source said "it was another bad day for her, and important people are mad because the timing is horrible… But I would not necessarily buy the Siberia storyline."

Fiorina has forced the campaign off message before. In July, she told reporters women often express frustration over the fact many health insurance plans cover Viagra but not birth control medication.

"Let me give you a real, live example, which I've been hearing a lot about from women. There are many health insurance plans that will cover Viagra but won't cover birth control medication. Those women would like a choice," she said.

It was a topic McCain wasn’t as keen to talk about. "I certainly do not want to discuss that issue," he said, when reporters asked if he shared that view.” That comment, and the pause that preceded it, captured headlines for days.

Top McCain Economic Advisor Carly Fiorina Says Neither Palin Or McCain Could Run A Major Corporation

In November 2006, then gubernatorial candidate Sarah Palin declared that she would not support an abortion for her own daughter even if she had been raped.

Granting exceptions only if the mother's life was in danger, Palin said that when it came to her daughter, "I would choose life."

Most people now know that, but most don't know this:

While Sarah Palin was serving as the Mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, the city charged victims of sexual assault between $300 and $1200 for their own rape kits necessary to prove their case.

A rape kit is a sexual assault forensic evidence kit, used to collect DNA that can be used in criminal proceedings to assist in the conviction of those who commit sex crimes. The tests are to be performed as soon as possible after a sexual assault or attack has been committed.

The Frontiersman / May 23, 2000

ANCHORAGE - Gov. Tony Knowles recently signed legislation protecting victims of sexual assault from being billed for tests to collect evidence of the crime, but one local police chief said the new law will further burden taxpayers.

The governor signed House Bill 270, sponsored by Rep. Eric Croft, D-Anchorage, outside the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) exam room at Alaska Regional Hospital. In attendance at the signing were members of victims advocate groups, law enforcement agencies and legislators.

The new law makes it illegal for any law enforcement agency to bill victims or victims insurance companies for the costs of examinations that take place to collect evidence of a sexual assault or determine if a sexual assault did occur.

We would never bill the victim of a burglary for fingerprinting and photographing the crime scene, or for the cost of gathering other evidence, Knowles said. Nor should we bill rape victims just because the crime scene happens to be their bodies.

While the Alaska State Troopers and most municipal police agencies have covered the cost of exams, which cost between $300 to $1,200 apiece, the Wasilla police department does charge the victims of sexual assault for the tests.

Wasilla Police Chief Charlie Fannon does not agree with the new legislation, saying the law will require the city and communities to come up with more funds to cover the costs of the forensic exams.

In the past we've charged the cost of exams to the victims insurance company when possible. I just dont want to see any more burden put on the taxpayer, Fannon said.

Now, the article from the Wasilla hometown paper doesn't mention Palin by name or whether she specifically supported charging the victim of a potential crime to investigate that crime itself, but clearly she did support Fallon for and as Police Chief of Wasilla.  In fact, she hired him in what at the time was a very controversial move.

It was Palin herself who fired the previous Chief  because he wanted to close bars in Wasilla at 2am instead of 5am due to drunk driving incidents and reduce hand gun conceilment to protect his officers.

His firing led to a potential recall of Palin by citizens of Wasilla.

She then hired Fannon as police chief:

Police Chief Accused Palin of Politically-Motivated Firing.

"Wasilla got a new police chief Thursday, one who said he will bring to the job a philosophy of personal freedom that doesn't include his predecessor's support of limiting bar hours…'I don't think the answer to crime is restricting people's freedom more and more.' Fannon is replacing Irl Stambaugh, whom the mayor fired in January. Palin said she did not think Stambaugh supported her administration...Stambaugh has sued the city, alleging Palin fired him because local bar owners and the National Rifle Association asked the mayor to do so. Stambaugh wanted the city to adopt earlier bar closings as a way to combat alcohol-related traffic accidents, according to the complaint." [Anchorage Daily News, 3/28/97] 

In a town the size of Wasilla (then 5,000) with public statements being made by her controversial handpicked Police Chief to the hometown press with respect to this specific issue, it would be hard to say that Sarah Palin did not know of the practice. Without any comment to the contrary  by Mayor Palin at the time or since other than her position that rape babies must be carried until birth, one can fairly conclude that she supported the practice of charging rape victims for these tests.

Yes, I know that a few other states and cities have until recently conducted the same practice.  Though in  Palmer, AK a neighboring town to Wasilla of similar size and similar values they did not at the time and never did.

Palmer police chief Laren Zager said that to his knowledge, no sexual assault victim has ever been billed by the city of Palmer for an exam to collect evidence of a crime. Zager, who has been police chief since January, said he would never expect a victim to be burdened with the cost of a police investigation.

Im prepared to pay every dime in an investigation. As long as I am chief, I would never bill a victim, Zager said.

The primary reason that the heinous practice of charging possible rape victims for producing their own evidence has ended  is that under The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) states lose federal funding and grants (something that would get Gov, Palin's attention) if they are not in compliance with the Federal Law protecting women.

Who sponsored and wrote the Violence Against Women Act?

None other than Democratic Presidential candidate Senator Joe Biden. 

Senator Biden wrote the ground-breaking Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) in the 1990s that set the national agenda on criminalizing violence against women and holding batterers truly accountable. It encouraged states to set up coordinated community responses to domestic violence and rape; was the catalyst for passage of hundreds of state laws prohibiting family violence; and provided resources to set up shelters so battered women abused by husbands and boyfriends had a place to go. The law also established the national hotline that over 1.5 million abused women have called for help. By empowering women to make changes in their lives, and by training police and prosecutors to arrest and convict abusive husbands instead of telling them to take a walk around the block, domestic violence is down 50 percent and rape is down 60 percent nationwide.

Each time the Senator renewed the Act – in 2000 and 2005 – he pushed for new initiatives. In 2000, the Act was attached to ground-breaking laws on human trafficking – crimes where over 80% of the victims are women. In 2005, the Violence Against Women Act tackled issues like domestic violence in public housing and treating children witnesses of family violence.

HT: AmericaBlog

Cindy McCain, wife of Republican presidential nominee U.S. Sen. John McCain stands at the podium during a walk thru on day three of the Republican National Convention (RNC) at the Xcel Energy Center on September 3, 2008 in St. Paul, Minnesota. By Alex Wong/Getty.

McCain Selects Anti-Choice Sarah Palin as Running Mate

Washington, D.C. – Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, said that Sen. John McCain’s selection today of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate is further evidence that a McCain presidency will be just another four years of the same old Bush-style anti-choice policies. Just like McCain, Palin opposes a woman’s right to choose. Palin has also stated her opposition to abortion even in cases of rape or incest.

"John McCain’s choice of Sarah Palin as his running mate proves just how rigid and extreme his administration would be when it comes to a woman’s right to choose," Keenan said. "For 25 years, McCain has opposed a woman’s right to choose, and we know that he will continue to push anti-choice policies in the White House. McCain’s pick of anti-choice Sarah Palin is further evidence that his White House will be just another four years of Bush-style policies. Any remaining doubts about McCain’s extreme anti-choice position should be put to rest when voters learn about the combined anti-choice records of Sarah Palin and John McCain."

Palin, a member of the anti-choice group Feminists for Life, said during her campaign for governor that she is opposed to abortion, even in cases of rape or incest. [Juneau Empire, "Abortion Draws Clear Divide in State Races," accessed 8/29/08 and Anchorage Daily News, "Governor’s Race: Top contenders meet one last time to debate," 11/03/06.] 

 

It was one week before Christmas 1972, and the senator-elect from Delaware awaited his first term. There was plenty to celebrate as his wife and three kids left home to find a Christmas tree.

Biden was already in Washington. It was his sister Val who took the phone call, her face drained of color when she hung up and told him of "a slight accident."

Biden thought immediately of his wife, Neilia. "She's dead, isn't she?" the politician asked.

She was.

As the Bidens were driving home in the family station wagon, their tree picked out, they were broad sided by a tractor-trailer. Neilia was killed, along with 13-month-old daughter, Naomi.

Sons Beau and Hunter, toddlers themselves, were critically injured. With their father's constant care and attention, both recovered.

Read The Full Story Here

So let me get this straight . . .

Biden lost his first wife and one of his three children due to a car accident.

McCain left his first wife and three children because she was disfigured in a car accident.

Yes, by all means, let's have the "Family Values" discussion once again this election.

A sequel that's even better than the original.

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but is apparently having trouble kicking volleyball.

It's early August and even Barack is on vacation- load up this Google Calendar of Olympic TV listings to catch your favorite events.

John McCain has worked closely with the national press to gain his “maverick” reputation - and that’s why women are choosing John McCain! On the complicated issues of womens’ rights and reproductive choices, we need a strong man with years, and years, and years of experience in the halls of Washington to think and speak for us - and that man is John McCain. With John’s record on choice, he’s uniquely qualified to make our most personal, private choices for us as President.

“I do not support Roe versus Wade. It should be overturned.” 

~ John McCain

“[R]epeal of Roe vs. Wade…would then force ‘x’ number of women in America to undergo illegal and dangerous operations.”

~ John McCain

John McCain’s leadership has earned him a 0% rating from NARAL, a 0% rating from Planned Parenthood, and his independent, bipartisan thinking is backed up by his impressive voting record and positions on women’s health and freedom of choice.

• Supports repealing Roe v. Wade. (May 2007)
• Voted YES on barring Health and Human Services funding to medical clinics for low-income women that perform abortions. (Oct 2007)
• Voted YES on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions. (Jul 2006)
• Voted NO on $100M to reduce teen pregnancy by education & contraceptives. (Mar 2005)
• Voted YES on criminal penalty for harming unborn fetus. (Mar 2004)
• Voted YES on banning “dilate and extract” abortions. (Mar 2003)
• Voted YES on maintaining ban on abortions at clinics on military bases. (Jun 2000)
• Voted YES on banning “dilate and extract” abortions. (Oct 1999)
• Rated 0% by National Abortion Rights Action League. 
• Rated 0% by Planned Parenthood.
• Despite his extreme voting record, 51 percent of women voters in battleground states have no idea what John McCain’s positions are on women’s reproductive health issues.
• Forty-nine percent of women currently backing McCain express pro-choice views, and 46 percent of women supporting McCain over Obama/Clinton want to see Roe v. Wade upheld.
• In McCain-Obama/McCain-Clinton matchups, 36 percent and 38 percent, respectively, of pro-choice McCain supporters say they are less likely to vote for McCain when told that he opposes Roe v. Wade.

 Show off your McCain Style with Women for John McCain .com Gear!

Click -> womenforjohnmccain.com on Facebook

McSexist

McCain’s War on Women

Sen. John McCain’s (R-Ariz.) campaign and the media would have us believe that herds of disaffected women voters will be stampeding to the Republicans this year because a woman candidate won’t be on the presidential ballot in November.

McCain’s campaign has been making a clear play for women voters in recent weeks, hosting conference calls with Republican women and touting that his policies on national security, the economy and healthcare appeal to women voters.

But the suggestion that women — and feminist women, at that — will be lining up behind him is a fairytale. At least, it should be. McCain’s record and policies on issues of importance to women are neither moderate nor maverick.

Read The Full Story Here 

More on McCain's War on Women Here 

Union Chinese Wal-Mart employees will get an 8% raise this year and next.

Non-union American Wal-Mart employees have averaged a 3% annual raise over the last 3.5 years.

Will the Ohio General Assembly Give Men the Final Decision about a Woman's Reproductive Health Care Choices?

One year ago, State Rep. John Adams (R-Sidney) introduced one of the most outrageous pieces of legislation we have ever seen.

House Bill 287 would require a woman to have the written informed consent of the prospective father of her fetus before being allowed to have an abortion.

That's right...If the man says "No," there will be no abortion. Period!

This bill may actually be scheduled for hearings in the coming weeks.

To raise awareness about this offensive bill, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of Ohio is partnering with ProgressOhio, an outreach organization that builds awareness of legislative issues.

Please click here to help us stop this bill!

You're not going to believe this...

HB 287 also requires that, if the identity of the prospective father is unknown, a paternity test must be performed to determine his identity so that his consent could be obtained prior to performing the abortion.

What is left unsaid is that prenatal paternity testing:

• cannot be performed until at least the 10th week of pregnancy, near the end of the first trimester,
• is an invasive procedure using a long needle through the abdomen to collect fetal cells,
• is expensive - up to $2,000 per test, and
• poses a potential medical risk.

The practical effect of the paternity test requirement would prevent some women from obtaining an abortion during the first trimester.

Once paternity is established, if the man says "No," there will be no abortion.

Please make a secure contribution to help us say "No!" to this outrageous bill!

Even worse...
• If the pregnancy resulted from rape, the woman would be required to provide a police report proving it.
• If the pregnancy resulted from incest, the woman would be required to provide a paternity test or a police report.
• If the woman chooses not to identify the prospective father (perhaps out of fear for her own physical well-being), her only recourse would be to continue the pregnancy against her wishes or have an illegal abortion, a first degree misdemeanor.

Speak out! Help ProgressOhio and Planned Parenthood "veto" this bill now!

We Can't Let Them Get Away with This!

Here's what you can do to help us fight this outrageous legislation:

• Click here to make a secure contribution to the PPAO Action Fund to support our efforts to fight this legislation and to support pro-choice candidates.
• Sign our petition against HB 287.

Visit the web address below to tell your friends about HB 287, the Abortion Veto Bill.
Tell-a-friend!



Brian Rothenberg
Executive Director
ProgressOhio.org

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ProgressOhio - "We're Powered By You"

Cecile Richards, president of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, questioned Sen. John McCain's commitment to women's health care after Sen. McCain could not answer when asked if he thought it was fair that insurance companies cover Viagra but not birth control.

"Time after time, Sen. McCain has shown that he is out of touch when it comes to women's health care," said Cecile Richards, Planned Parenthood Action Fund president. "Birth control is basic health care for women. But yesterday, Sen. McCain ducked a straightforward question about whether he thinks insurance companies should cover birth control. Women in America are still waiting for his answer." 

In 2003, McCain voted NO on the Murray Amendment (S.Amdt 258 to S. 3, vote 45, 3/11/03), which would have improved the availability of contraceptives for women and required insurance coverage of prescription birth control.

Yesterday, aboard his campaign bus, the Straight Talk Express, had this exchange with a reporter: 

Reporter: "? It was unfair that insurance companies cover Viagra but not birth control. Do you have an opinion on that?"

McCain responded: "I don't know enough about it to give you an informed answer."

McCain went on to say, "It's something that I had not thought much about, and I did hear about her response, but I hadn't thought much. But I will get, I will get back to you today on it."

According to the Guttmacher Institute, "Nearly all sexually active women (98 percent in 2002) have used at least one method of birth control."

Guttmacher also reports that women spend 68 percent more in out-of-pocket health care costs than men, in part because of reproductive health-related supplies and services.

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