TODAY: Write to your Senators!

[sun_set_bravely]

I woke up today to read in the New York Times that an anti-choice funding bill has been tucked into the House and Senate's agenda on their final business day of the year. The bill is going through the House and Senate today.  Its language would give hospitals, doctors, and clinics the option to refuse to perform abortions for women, because of "religious reasons."  It would also give the option to refuse Medicaid funding for emergency procedures for low-income women. Currently, the government can withhold taxpayer money from healthcare providers that do any of the above. After this bill, there would be no consequences for refusing these services.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/20/politics/20spend.html

This is terrifying to me. Of course, it's only the first of many anti-choice, anti-women provisions that we're sure to see from President Bush's second term. But this bill has potentially far-reaching repercussions.

Senator Barbara Boxer (of California) has vowed to block this provision, even if she is unpopular in doing so.  I've already written to her, telling her I support her efforts.

PLEASE write to your Senators today! It's easy and quick -- I promise.  I've included my e-mail below so you can use it as a base to add your own comments.

If you don't know who represents you, check here: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Here are the main people who have spoken out against the bill. If you are in these states, please write to them with your support:

Barbara Boxer - California
http://boxer.senate.gov/contact/webform.cfm

Tom Harkin - Iowa
http://harkin.senate.gov/contact/contact.cfm

Olympia J. Snowe - Maine
olympia@snowe.senate.gov

Here's my letter:

Dear Senator Boxer,

I want to thank you for standing up for my reproductive rights.  I woke up this morning to see the article in the New York Times about the anti-choice provision that they're trying to pass through the Senate today.

Over and over, I have been dismayed by this administration's lack of respect for women as responsible and ethical human beings who are capable of making their own complex moral decisions.

I have protested and voiced my opposition as this administration has slowly drained our rights away, and I sometimes feel like my work is for naught.

I applaud your commitment to this cause, and I stand behind you as you block this provision.  You have said that you will not win a popularity contest in the Senate for doing this.  That may be true, but by standing up for what you believe in, no matter what the opposition, you are a winner in my book.

I thank you with all my heart,

(My full name here)
Brooklyn, NY
(my e-mail address here)

RE:
New York Times
Negotiators Add Abortion Clause to Spending Bill
By SHERYL GAY STOLBERG and CARL HULSE
Published: November 20, 2004

~ ~ ~

And please, once you've written a letter, copy and paste this notice everywhere that people need to see it. Know other people in California? Send them to this journal post! Copy this into an e-mail and send it to all of your pro-choice contacts.

Our representatives have to know that we're paying attention, and that we care.

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/lindalee_/]

do you mind if i link this post in my LJ? this needs to be known everywhere!!

[sun-set-bravely.livejournal.com]

Please do link to it!

[http://users.livejournal.com/lindalee_/]

thank you!

[prosicated.livejournal.com]

I wrote to them all, by the way -- my MA & PA senators for support, and the ones you listed for approval. SHould've posted it, ran too late.
Hope senators appreciate 8am emails!