Not Under The Bus
The Senate voted down the Stupak-like Nelson amendment, which would have severely restricted a woman’s right to an abortion and other related reproductive health procedures, during its healthcare debates this week. But women’s rights activists don’t think we are out of the woods yet. Both the Stupak-Pitts and the Nelson amendment were aggressive moves to take away women’s reproductive rights. Both amendments would have left women with fewer health benefits than they have now – despite the fact President Obama has promised no American will be worse off after a health bill passes.
The fact that these two amendments were even introduced and carried so much weight, signals a renewed interest by some to restrict women’s rights, not expand them. Women have raised their voices during the national debate on healthcare to demand equal coverage for equal premiums – to tell Congress we are not a pre-existing condition. And we were dismayed to see how our health was ultimately used as a bargaining chip to pass healthcare reform.
In order to “to amplify the voices of women and organizations devoted to a health care reform that is fair to women,” the Women’s Media Center has launched “Not Under The Bus.”
From the WMC:
NotUnderTheBus.com opposes recent amendments which propose the most draconian restrictions on women since the 1977 Hyde Amendment that cut federal funding for abortions by Medicaid.
NotUnderTheBus.com will serve as an aggregator and media resource center in the fight to safeguard women’s reproductive rights in the national health care reform debate.
NotUnderTheBus.com calls on all women and men who support women’s equality to take the initiative, climb aboard and start driving the bus right down Pennsylvania Avenue to ensure that health care is fair, safe, and accessible to all.
Visit Not Under the Bus to get informed and Take Action to protect women’s health.
Thanks for this shout out to notunderthebus.com
Readers are invited to share their news and activist campaigns favoring health care that’s fair to women and covers all reproductive health services.
The Senate is working through the weekend and there’s a long way to go (with many opportunities for anti-choice mischief) before a bill is passed there, negotiated through the reconciliation process between House and Senate, and sent to Obama’s desk for signature. We can’t let up the pressure. Check out http://www.notunderthebus.com and take action.