Historic Pro-Choice Bill To Be Introduced In Congress

[sheshe2]

posted: 11/13/2013 10:03 am EST | Updated: 11/13/2013 12:27 pm EST

Following an unprecedented three-year wave of state legislative attacks on abortion and family planning services, a group of Democratic lawmakers in the House and Senate plan to go on the offensive Wednesday with a historic bill that would make it illegal for states to chip away at women's reproductive rights.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) will introduce the Women's Health Protection Act of 2013, joined by Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and Reps. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio), Judy Chu (D-Calif.) and Lois Frankel (D-Fla.). The bill would prohibit states from passing so-called Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providers (TRAP) laws, which impose strict and cost-prohibitive building standards on abortion clinics, require women seeking abortions to have ultrasounds, and create other barriers to abortion access.

SNIP/

"In states like Texas and Wisconsin, legislatures are passing bills with the false pretext of protecting health when their only objective is to obstruct and curtail access to safe and legal abortions and reproductive services. These laws are largely unconstitutional, and some measure of certainty and clarity is required to preempt these regulations and laws so women are not deterred in their very personal decisions based on their own values on how they want to use their constitutional rights," Blumenthal said. "The Women’s Health Protection Act will provide a clear and certain response to these regulations and laws that impose unnecessary tests, procedures and restrictions — including requirements for physical layout in clinics — on reproductive services."

Blumenthal's bill wouldn't automatically overturn states' existing anti-abortion laws, but because federal law trumps state law, it would provide a means to challenge them in court. The bill would direct judges to consider certain factors in determining whether a restriction is legal, such as whether it interferes with a doctor's good-faith medical judgment, or whether it's likely to interfere with or delay women's access to abortion.

MORE/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/13/pro-choice-bill-womens-health-protection-act_n_4266599.html

Our Bodies Ourselves! Vote for it 2014!

[CTyankee]

1. Oh, wonderful! Go at them hard and fast!

I love it!

The people strike back!

[TreasonousBastard]

2. We can only hope this doesn't die in committee in the House, and...

it gives us further incentive to work the election next year to get us decent House where it won't die in committee..

[Heather MC]

12. Can't they bring it back after 2014 assuming the Dems take the house and Senate?

[TreasonousBastard]

14. Sure-- that's my point, but...

we have to get the House back and keep the Senate.

[Myrina]

28. ... would it be retroactive to all the existing shit laws being passed at the state level?

I don't know if the Fed can pass something that says "Hey, that law you passed 2 years ago? Uh uh. Repeal it."

[customerserviceguy]

31. This will be as effective

as the House votes to scrap Obamacare. That's red meat for the reich wing, this is the same for us.

Not going anywhere, and I just don't see how we get the House back any time soon. Barack Obama will never again be at the top of a ticket, and even when he was in 2012, we still couldn't make the gains we did in 2008.

[hlthe2b]

3. very pleased to be the first to k&R

[sheshe2]

6. Thank you for the first rec, hlthe2b!

[PeaceNikki]

4. Very happy to see Tammy Baldwin's name on this. I will be following its progress.

Thanks for posting some good news.

[sheshe2]

7. Love Tammy, thank you Peace Nikki!

[rurallib]

5. reccing for all the women in my life.

[sheshe2]

8. Oh. I am with you on that one, rurullib! nt

[JudyM]

9. What? We're going on the offensive? How long have I been sleeping?

So uplifting to read about this.

[RainDog]

10. k&r n/t

[whttevrr]

11. America needs a massive Get Out The Vote campaign for 2014

I think this country would be much better off with Republicans in the minority.

[Heather MC]

13. we have our winning talking points

1. Raise Minimum Wage
2. Strength ACA
3. Get Government out Of women's Health
4. marriage equality
5. Legalize Marijuana


The Candidate that runs on that platform Could win crazy big

[FoxNewsSucks]

15. I would add to that:

6: End corporate welfare
7: Overturn Citizens United
8: ALL income taxed at the same rate as paycheck-wages
9: End tax credits for job off-shoring
10: 60% marginal tax rate for income over $100 million/year until the debt is paid off.
11: End the warmongering.

[ColumbusLib]

16. Yes!

Love this 5 point platform!

[arely staircase]

17. yes

yes

[HijackedLabel]

18. First, the $10.10 min. wage.

Now this.

I'm glad some of them are finally being the populists of which we all knew they were capable of being.

[defacto7]

19. I'm all for it...

but I'm also worried about the timing. Do they have to put an opening in it so states can take it to court or is that because it helps insure its passage even though the courts can disallow it? That's why I'm concerned about the timing.

[freshwest]

20. ...

[sheshe2]

21. Thanks, freshwest~

United we stand....

[Jamastiene]

22. Oh, hell yeah!

Democrats with some spine standing up for the party's values is what I like to see.

[Wounded Bear]

23. Obviously, this will go nowhere this session....

But I fucking love it. Just fucking LOVE it!'

Put every goddamn Republican on record that they stopped or opposed this one.

Come 2014, a chorus of, "He/she voted against a woman's right to health care."

Go Dems!

[davidpdx]

33. I'm glad it's being introduced, but I agree there's really no way it will go anywhere

It won't even make it to a floor vote.

[LostOne4Ever]

24. Kick ass

About time we took the fight to them!

We got to get the vote out in 2014

[cali]

25. that is great news. It's just the sort of legislation that's desperately needed

regardless of its chances of passage.

thanks for posting

[HappyMe]

26. This is exactly what's needed.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

27. another example--democrats are NOTHING like repukes.

And politicians are NOT all "lying bums".

THANK YOU, Senators!

[SunSeeker]

29. Yes! A good offense is the best defense. nt

[lindysalsagal]

30. With so many states over=turning gay marriage acts this year, it seems a good time

I've read that Pope Francis has had something to do with that.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

32. ... and a Repub bill will de-fund ObamaCare

Which bill has a chance-in-hell of being brought to the floor of the House for a vote?

[Warren DeMontague]

34. K&R