Roundup: Conservatives Continue to Threaten Women's Rights to Abortion Care in Private Insurance

Women's Rights Continue to be Threatened by Conservatives Seeking to Eliminate Private Insurance Coverage for Abortion

Various articles today report on the continued threats to women's rights to basic sexual and reproductive health coverage in health care reform.  The focus is on the role of conservative Democrats, led by Michigan Democrat Bart Stupak, in seeking language that would prohibit private plans from covering abortion care if in fact any federal funding were found in the same system.

The Washington Post reports:

The abortion dispute centers both on federal subsidies that would be provided for people who cannot afford health-care coverage themselves and the much-debated government insurance alternative, which is included in the House version of the bill but is still being debated in the Senate. Under a 1976 law, federal funds are generally barred from being used for abortions, except in cases of rape or incest or to ensure the life of the mother.

') ; }Democratic leaders early this summer backed a provision that would allow people to use subsidies under the bill to buy insurance plans that cover abortion, but only funds from individual or employer health-care premiums could go toward paying for an abortion. Effectively, insurance companies would be tasked with segregating money from government payments from those coming from private sources, and only the latter could be used for abortion.

But Stupak and some Democrats, along with congressional Republicans, have criticized this provision as an accounting distinction. They say the federal subsidies and the private payments are combined for a person to buy a health plan; therefore, federal dollars are helping fund insurance plans that allow abortions.

 

The Daily Beast in fact underscores the disappointment among members of the pro-choice community on how abortion is currently treated in the bill.

The Pelosi bill contains a number of provisions that would improve women’s access to affordable health care, including ending “gender rating”—in which insurers charge women more for coverage—and making it illegal to classify C-sections, domestic violence, and even pregnancy as pre-existing conditions that disqualify women for health insurance. It includes new funding for comprehensive sex education, supplanting some of the abstinence-only programs favored by the Bush administration. The bill also aggressively expands Medicaid, the existing federal health-insurance program for low-income women and their children, which includes generous birth-control coverage.

But on the narrower issue of abortion access and affordability, the major pro-choice organizations aren’t shy about expressing their disappointment: The legislation references abortion more than 25 times, mostly in an effort to restrict access to the procedure.

“We think all reproductive health care should be treated just like other health-care services,” said Cecile Richards, the president of Planned Parenthood. “Unfortunately, in this bill, it isn’t. All the versions we’re seeing of the health bill single out abortion.”

Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, told The Daily Beast: “It’s a disappointment there isn’t more in the bill to proactively further women’s rights. I wish I was counting ways to improve women’s access to abortion. But right now, we’re counting ways to keep women from losing the coverage they already have.”

Clinic buffer zone ordinance struck down

A federal appeals court has struck down a Pittsburgh ordinance that created two types of buffer zones around facilities that perform abortions, according to Philly.com.

In a ruling issued Friday, the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found the 2005 Pittsburgh ordinance unduly restricted leafletting and other free speech by abortion protesters. The Pittsburgh ordinance bans protesters from within 15 feet of entrances, but also makes them stay eight feet away from clients in a 100-foot zone around entrances.

The court says either zone, by itself, could be legal, reports Philly.com. But, combined, the court found the zones violate the free speech rights of the protesters who find it difficult to hand leaflets to clinic clients.

City attorneys aren't commenting on the opinion because they've yet to review it.

Church and Conservative Groups Oppose Wisconsin Measure to Reduce Unintended Pregnancies and Infections Among Youth

WITI-TV in Green Bay, Wisconsin is reporting that the Catholic Church and conservative groups in Wisconsin are opposing efforts to reduce unintended pregnancies through comprehensive sexual health education.

A bill to be debated in the state Assembly in Madison today would require that schools which teach sex education provide students with accurate information on the use of birth control. 

Under the measure, if schools opt to teach sexual education, they would be required to address the health benefits, side effects and proper use of contraceptives and other methods to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

Correct and consistent contraceptive use dramatically reduces unintended pregnancy and hence the need for abortion.  The law is written such that parents can view the instructional materials and chose to not have their child participate in class.

Nonetheless, the measure is being opposed by anti-choice groups and the Wisconsin Catholic Conference, both of which claim they want to reduce the number of abortions.  Supporters of the new requirement include Planned Parenthood, groups representing nurses and health departments, and the state teachers' union.

Planned Parenthood Leader Changes Sides First Things

Upon Seeing Evil - Kathryn Jean Lopez National Review

Has pro-life movement struck a nerve? OneNewsNow

I Am Zygote, Hear Me Roar Newsweek

Pro-Life group gains access to school facilities Alliance Alert

Panella's Abortion Flip-Flop Makes Him Unworthy Philadelphia Bulletin

Abortion, spiritual conversions, and stimulus money Washington Examiner

Kennedy Will Meet With Bishop Tobin After Saying Catholic Church Not Pro-Life LifeNews.com

Gladney Center for Adoption Celebrates National Adoption Month Reuters

PR adoption proposal favors married couples WZTV

Adoption awareness month KIDK

Thousands of kids await adoption in Texas Amarillo.com

Appeals Court Issues Key Ruling Striking Down Abortion Center Buffer Zone Law LifeNews.com

40 Days for Life Pro-Life Campaign Concludes With 2000 Abortions Prevented LifeNews.com

'Choice' Abortion's Accomplice, Unmasked As a Killer in Pro-Life Website Christian News Wire (press release)

Are Feminists Jealous of Sarah Palin? FOXNews

Pro-lifers want amendment, foes vow fight The Havre Daily News

Abortion Under Fire The Daily Beast

Pittsburgh abortion clinic buffer law struck down Philadelphia Inquirer

It's Not The Economy, Stupid: Abortion Is Primary Issue For GOP ... Jezebel

Is Stupak Really Willing to Make an Abortion Compromise? Tapped

Abortion laws protect only the abortionist Shore News Today

Opposition to Pro-Abortion Health Care Bill Jumps After New Pelosi Bill Introduced LifeNews.com

Fate of abortion notification law unclear The Southern

US responds to man accused in abortion doc threat Atlanta Journal Constitution

Democrats' split over abortion puts health-care bill in balance Washington Post

Teens can demand morning after pill by text Daily Mail

Whose Right to Sex Education? HuffPo

CWRU museum chronicles long history of birth control. Plain Dealer

November 3, 2009

Pro-life congress to attract more than 1000 from around the world Catholic News Agency

Shutting Out Parents; Trusting Strangers Chicago Daily Observer

The trauma of 15 abortions Washington Post

Abortion Language Creates Snag For Health Bill NPR

Wisconsin Assembly considers proposal to require teaching of birth control FOX6Now.com Milwaukee

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