Quickie: Public Comment Period

From Planned Parenthood:

President Obama began the process of overturning the Bush administration rule that limits the rights of patients to receive complete and accurate reproductive health information and services. This is huge — as you might know, we've been fighting the rule for months, and I'm just about ready to breathe one heck of a sigh of relief.

But it's not over yet. We still need your help!

In order to overturn the Bush administration rule, President Obama has to allow the public to comment on what he plans to do. That is where YOU come in. It is important that we show the administration that we support the president's proposal. Will you take a moment right now and add your name to the list of people who support reversing Bush's dangerous rule? Thank you, once again.

For background on this issue, click here.

Happy New Year

Quote for today

From Paul Harris at the Guardian:

There seems little doubt that Palin is still the darling of a huge section of red state America. But what works for the Republican base no longer works for the country as a whole.

So very true. How many more days until BushCo. leaves the building? 100 lloonngg ones...

h/t Daily Kos.

Choice USA

Choice USA

mobilizes and provides ongoing support to the diverse, upcoming generation of leaders who promote and protect reproductive choice both now and in the future.

and,

as a national pro-choice organization, Choice USA gives emerging leaders the tools they need to organize, network, and exchange ideas to build a youth centered pro-choice agenda and mobilize communities for reproductive justice.

With less than 3 weeks until Bush's proposed HHS changes take effect, it is past time to get involved.

Outrageous Reproductive Wrongs

Two issues today:

Ohio HB 287 - would require paternal (yes, that's right, paternal) identification and consent prior to a woman obtaining an abortion. So, basically, if the man says "No" the pregnancy cannot be terminated. The minutia of the bill is ridiculous and a very big ol' slap in the face to all women. Nice.

Bush is proposing a Health and Human Services rule change - not open to debate or subject to a vote of any kind - that will funnel tax dollars into anti-choice "crisis pregnancy centers" and, per Feministing,

The Bush administration wants to require all recipients of aid under federal health programs to certify that they will not refuse to hire nurses and other providers who object to abortion and even certain types of birth control.

Under the draft of a proposed rule, hospitals, clinics, researchers and medical schools would have to sign "written certifications" as a prerequisite to getting money under any program run by the Department of Health and Human Services.

The rule defines "abortion" so broadly that it could also apply to birth control pills and emergency contraception. And because the rule would apply to federal health programs, low-income and uninsured women will be most affected.

Ugh, ugh, ugh.

Here's how you can help:

To stop the insanity in Ohio, click here.

To give Bush a piece of your mind, click here.