Beware another Bush attack on women

A memo released Tuesday outlines a Bush administration proposal that would drastically limit women's access to abortion and contraception. The rule change would deny federal funding to medical providers who will not hire doctors or nurses that object to abortion. It significantly expands the definition of the abortion procedure. <!--break--> The proposal radically redefines abortion as &quot;any of the various procedures -- including the prescription and administration of any drug or the performance of any procedure or any other action -- that results in the termination of the life of a human being in utero between conception and natural birth, whether before or after implantation,&quot; according to Reuters. This would falsely label several types of birth control, including IUDs, the pill and emergency contraception as abortion. Hospitals, clinics, researchers, and medical schools would be required to sign &quot;written certifications&quot; to uphold this rule in order to receive funds from the Department of Health and Human Services, reports The New York Times. &quot;This proposed rule will put women’s access to birth control and the information they need to make health care decisions at risk,&quot; said Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood in a written press release. &quot;As a result, women's ability to manage their own health care is at risk of being compromised by politics and ideology.&quot; Since Bush was appointed to office, his administration has been working diligently to undermine women's rights especially reproductive rights. His attempt and partial success with limiting over the counter access to Plan B, otherwise know as the morning after pill was only the beginning. Then came the government making medical decisions on procedures that can be used when a woman needs to terminate a pregnancy after the first trimester rather than allowing a physician and patient decide the safest procedure in that particular circumstance. Of course we can't forget real sex education being undermined by federally funding abstinence only education in our schools, thank you Bush. Now our fascist dictator is attempting to redefine abortion to include the most common forms of birth control and to broadly interpret who can refuse to provide services because of moral or religious beliefs. How does this effect you. If implemented, these regulations will likely preempt state laws that protect women's access to health care and undermine the nation's fragile network of safety net providers that serve low income women and youth. The Administration justifies this by saying that they have respect for individual's conscience and religious freedom. In so doing, they impose through government mandate a single religious ideology. You might ask, “Can they really do this?” The short answer is, yes. Regulatory changes like this proposal do not require legislative action. It is time to get active. Without reproductive rights, women can not live up to their potential educationally, professionally or financially. Here are just a few suggestions on how to fight back, volunteer to escort women into the clinic at Planned Parenthood, organize or join a protest, write a letter to the editor, educate others about the importance of real sex education and reproductive rights and encourage them to get involved. We need to say that our rights will not be used for political purposes or be dictated by the religious fundamentalists. I am woman, hear me roar!!!

<p>A memo released Tuesday outlines a Bush administration proposal that would drastically limit women's access to abortion and contraception. The rule change would deny federal funding to medical providers who will not hire doctors or nurses that object to abortion. It significantly expands the definition of the abortion procedure.</p> <!--break--><p>The proposal radically redefines abortion as "any of the various procedures -- including the prescription and administration of any drug or the performance of any procedure or any other action -- that results in the termination of the life of a human being in utero between conception and natural birth, whether before or after implantation," according to Reuters. This would falsely label several types of birth control, including IUDs, the pill and emergency contraception as abortion.</p> <p>Hospitals, clinics, researchers, and medical schools would be required to sign "written certifications" to uphold this rule in order to receive funds from the Department of Health and Human Services, reports The New York Times.</p> <p>"This proposed rule will put women’s access to birth control and the information they need to make health care decisions at risk," said Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood in a written press release. "As a result, women's ability to manage their own health care is at risk of being compromised by politics and ideology."</p> <p>Since Bush was appointed to office, his administration has been working diligently to undermine women's rights especially reproductive rights. His attempt and partial success with limiting over the counter access to Plan B, otherwise know as the morning after pill was only the beginning. Then came the government making medical decisions on procedures that can be used when a woman needs to terminate a pregnancy after the first trimester rather than allowing a physician and patient decide the safest procedure in that particular circumstance. Of course we can't forget real sex education being undermined by federally funding abstinence only education in our schools, thank you Bush. Now our fascist dictator is attempting to redefine abortion to include the most common forms of birth control and to broadly interpret who can refuse to provide services because of moral or religious beliefs.</p> <p>How does this effect you. If implemented, these regulations will likely preempt state laws that protect women's access to health care and undermine the nation's fragile network of safety net providers that serve low income women and youth. The Administration justifies this by saying that they have respect for individual's conscience and religious freedom. In so doing, they impose through government mandate a single religious ideology.</p> <p>You might ask, “Can they really do this?” The short answer is, yes. Regulatory changes like this proposal do not require legislative action.</p> <p>It is time to get active. Without reproductive rights, women can not live up to their potential educationally, professionally or financially. Here are just a few suggestions on how to fight back, volunteer to escort women into the clinic at Planned Parenthood, organize or join a protest, write a letter to the editor, educate others about the importance of real sex education and reproductive rights and encourage them to get involved. We need to say that our rights will not be used for political purposes or be dictated by the religious fundamentalists. I am woman, hear me roar!!!</p>