The Republicans in the House are on a crusade, and if the current House appropriations bill passes in the House, and it will, it could also pass in the Senate, and they will essentially be defunding Planned Parenthood, and thus both cancer screenings and birth control for women. Nick Baumann for Mother Jones [emphasis mine]:
Capitol Hill's abortion fight was already heating up, with skirmishes over federal funding for abortion, the effect of the tax code on abortion, and a controversial "forcible rape" provision. But on Wednesday, the Republican-led House of Representatives declared war.
A draft continuing resolution to fund the government, due out tomorrow from the House appropriations committee, will cut $327 million in family planning funding that goes to organizations like Planned Parenthood but that cannot be used to pay for abortions. This money, instead, is used to fund cancer screenings, birth control, and other health care services for poor people. The $327 million is the sum total of this sort of funding under current law. The House GOP is trying to zero out Planned Parenthood.
From a statement released by Cecile Richards, who heads up Planned Parenthood:
Unbelievably, the House Leadership has set its sights on abolishing a program that provides lifesaving and preventive care to millions of women and saves taxpayers money by helping women plan their families. This is an extreme proposal, and the new leaders of the House are pushing it forward at great risk to women and at their own political peril.
Bob Cesca makes an excellent point about the lack of action from the Left [emphasis mine]::
Part of this has to do with the Republican war against women's rights, and part of this has to do with a James O'Keefe/Breitbart style sting operation against Planned Parenthood.
And why isn't every Democrat in the world screaming: "Why are the Republicans against cancer screenings for women?! Why are Republicans against healthcare for women?!"
We need to take action NOW. What can YOU do to help? A few suggestions:
~ You can contact the White House and ask the President to veto the bill should it be passed by both the House and Senate. In fact, it would be a good idea to ask the President to warn lawmakers PRIOR TO passage, that he will veto the bill if this resolution is in the appropriations bill that lands on his desk.
- Contact info for the White House
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Please include your e-mail addressComments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461
TTY/TDD / Comments: 202-456-6213
~ You can also contact our own lawmakers via phone AND email, and make it clear that we will not tolerate this blatant lack of concern for women’s health.
- Contact info for your senators
- Contact info for your representatives
~ You can contact friends and family members to make them aware and ask them to take action also.
