OP-ED by NL- Some zealots in congress want to take a way a woman’s choice to have an abortion by making it "NOT COVERED" by medical insurance, including medicaid. So those who can afford to have children least, will have no choice in the matter if they accidently become pregnant. Unless of course we go back to boiling water and wire hangers….
From Planned Parenthood-
Today marks the 38th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the court decision that recognized the right of women to make personal, private medical
decisions and control their bodies and their reproductive health. Thirty-eight years seems like a long time, and lots of young women
today don’t remember a time when abortion was banned outright in states across the country, forcing women to seek dangerous and
sometimes deadly illegal abortions.
But 38 years is no time at all when it comes to women’s health and the right to choose, and this week we had a harsh reminder that the fight
to protect our access to reproductive health care is not over — not by a long shot.
Two days ago, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) introduced a bill that marks a new attack on women’s health. Rep. Smith and the new Republican
leadership campaigned on a promise to focus on jobs and the economy — but now that they’re in power, their first order of business
is taking away health insurance benefits that the majority of women currently have access to.
It’s a sign of just how focused our opponents are on undermining women’s access to care. Rep. Smith’s bill is intended to end insurance
coverage for virtually all abortions, including private insurance coverage that women pay for themselves.
With the help of Planned Parenthood supporters like you, we’ve been able to defeat anti-choice legislation like this in the past, but
we’ve never seen anything like this. Smith’s bill goes far beyond any other proposal ever introduced in Congress to take health
care coverage away from women. If it passes, it will put the lives of women with life-threatening pregnancies in danger, and even threaten
abortion coverage for many women who are raped and become pregnant.
The anniversary of Roe v. Wade is a reminder that advances for women’s health and rights do not come easily. We have to speak out and stand
up together to make progress — and we have to do whatever it takes to protect the gains we’ve made from people like Rep. Smith who
want to turn back the clock.
Today, I celebrate what we achieved 38 years ago with Roe v. Wade, and I rededicate myself to protecting women’s right to make their own
private, personal medical decisions. With anti-choice politicians newly empowered in Congress and statehouses across the country, Rep.
Smith’s bill is just the first in what is sure to be a long string of attacks on women’s health. We’ll be counting on you to help defeat the
Smith bill over the coming weeks — and then to stand with us as we continue to protect and promote women’s health.
Thank you for your ongoing support of Planned Parenthood and the women, men, and teens who rely on us.
Sincerely,
Cecile Richards, President
Planned Parenthood Federation of America