"In Support of Abortion, It’s Personal vs. Political"

CAT volunteer Serena was interviewed for this NY  Times article: 
"In Support of Abortion, It’s Personal vs. Political"

"Parents' Sex Talk with Kids: Too Little, Too Late"

Check out this article about comprehensive, age-appropriate sex-ed: "Parents' Sex Talk with Kids: Too Little, Too Late"

(originally published in Time)

November meeting minutes

Community Action Team Meeting 11/21/2009 

Updates
Stupak ammendment:
We will continue collecting signatures on petitions protesting the Stupak amendment that was added to the House version of the Healthcare Reform bill. It is still possible that a similar amendment could be added to the Senate bill or to the bill when it is in Conference. 
National Day of Action:
The VOX team will be tabling on campus Wednesday, December 2 from 9:30-2:00. They will be asking people to call their senators and tell them that women’s healthcare must be fully covered in any healthcare reform bill.
House Bill 2564:
The State Attorney General has asked for a second hearing on the injunction granted several weeks ago. PP doesn’t anticipate any change in outcome in the ruling which is due December 16th.
Phoenix:
Brock is starting almost from scratch in building a volunteer group in Phoenix. He has one daytime volunteer and he has met with the four core VOX members. He and Emily are working hard to set up the facility with computers, phones etc. It’s been going slower than anticipated but they believe they will be ready in time to take action in the 2010 elections.

Upcoming Events 
Tabling at Club Congress:
Look for further details and consider volunteer at a very fun venue!

Escorting in Phoenix:
A contingency of volunteers who went through training earlier in the day will be going to Phoenix to help escort patients into the clinic on Sunday, December 6. If you have signed up to go please be at the Safeway on Broadway and Campbell no later than 6:30 a.m. We will not be wearing our PP t-shirts.
Thanksgiving in the Barrio:
Malinda will be tabling at this event being held in El Pueblo Community Center on Tuesday, November 24.
Data Entry:
Tuesday, November 24 from 5:30-7:30. Enter data, eat some pizza, enter more data. Repeat.

World Aids Day:
On Tuesday, December 1 we will be tabling in the Copper Room at the Hotel Congress from 4:00-8:00 p.m. Becki will take care of setting it up.

National Phone Bank Days:
The phone bank on December 8 will be a daytime event. Malinda has volunteered to help out.
The phone bank on December 9 will be in the evening and will be held at the Democratic headquarters where we will be able to use their predictive dialer

4^th Ave. Street Fair:
We will be crowd canvassing and Emily will ask for volunteers when she sends out the weekly e-mail. Malinda is available for Friday, Dec. 11 from 3:00-5:00. Liz and Emily will be there Saturday, Dec. 12 from 11:00-1:00.

Roe v. Wade Anniversary:
We will need volunteers to help with tabling and check-in on February 19 at The DoubleTree. We are also trying to put together a table of CAT volunteers at a cost of $35 per ticket.

Roe v. Wade Happy Hour:
The CAT will host a happy hour on January 22. We will have a planning meeting on Dec. 14 or 16. Info to come.



Discussion 

Michele in Phoenix will assume responsibility for lobbying the state legislature and Emily will be working with our local politicians. There is currently no Administrative Assistant support. They will be looking at revamping the Intern position to increase the amount of help. After January Becki will talk with Emily about administrative help.

Next Meeting
Tentatively set for Saturday, January 16 at noon from 11:00-1:00.

Margaret Sanger Called Tucson Home Published in the Arizona Daily Star, October 15, 2009 written by Elaine Raines

Ninety-three years ago, on Oct. 16, 1916, Margaret Sanger and two other women opened the first birth control clinic in the United States. Sanger’s goal was to provide women with accurate and effective birth control, so they could avoid unplanned and unwelcome pregnancies.

_{Undated file photo
Margaret Sanger}
For her lifelong efforts, Sanger faced incarceration, prosecution and condemnation, but her impact on the lives of women throughout the world continues to be felt today.

Having visited Tucson several times, in January 1938, Margaret Sanger declared her allegiance to the Old Pueblo with these words “I’m no longer just a winter visitor, I am a citizen of Tucson and a real Arizonan now.”

Sanger was instrumental in getting the first Tucson birth control clinic started in Dec. 1934. In an appearance before a special meeting of the Pima County Medical society, Sanger secured their support. An important part of the organizations success.

The society unanimously passed the following resolution:

“The Pima County Medical Society has taken cognizance of the fact that it is planned to organize and conduct a birth control clinic in Tucson, with the understanding it is to be conducted along the same lines and policies as similar clinics in other American cities and if and when such a birth control clinic is ready for operation, the president of the Pima County Medical Society is to appoint three of its members to act as a medical advisory committee to a birth control clinic.”

_{1936 file photo
Margaret Sanger, front row center with white bow, at the first Tucson birth control clinic.}
It was not long before the Tucson’s Mothers Clinic or Clinica para Madres opened at 28 E. Corral St., between Stone and Scott avenues. Sanger would continue her involvement with the organization which was also known as the Tucson Birth Control Clinic. Today Sanger’s legacy continues as Planned Parenthood of Southern Arizona.

Sanger died, on Sept. 6, 1966, in a Tucson nursing home. She was preceded in death by her second husband, J. Noah H. Slee. Sanger had a daughter, who died as a child, and two sons, who both became physicians.

Original post can be found here: http://regulus2.azstarnet.com/blogs/morguetales/17025/

STATEMENT BY CECILE RICHARDS, PRESIDENT, PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA CONDEMNING PASSAGE OF STUPAK/PITTS AMENDMENT

“Planned Parenthood condemns the adoption of the Stupak/Pitts amendment in HR 3962 this evening. This amendment is an unacceptable addition to the health care reform bill that, if enacted, would result in women losing health benefits they have today. Simply put, the Stupak/Pitts amendment would restrict women’s access to abortion coverage in the private health insurance market, undermining the ability of women to purchase private health plans that cover abortion, even if they pay for most of the premiums with their own money. This amendment reaches much further than the Hyde Amendment, which has prohibited public funding of abortion in most instances since 1977.

“Planned Parenthood serves three million women every year through its more than 850 affiliate health centers across the country and has worked tirelessly on behalf of those patients for affordable, quality health care. On behalf of the millions of women Planned Parenthood health centers serve, the Planned Parenthood Federation of America has no choice but to oppose HR 3962. The bill includes the Stupak/Pitts amendment that would leave women worse off after health care reform than they are today, violating President Obama’s promise to the American people that no one would be forced to lose her or his present coverage under health reform.

“The Stupak/Pitts amendment violates the spirit of health care reform, which is meant to guarantee quality, affordable health care coverage for all. In fact, this amendment would create a two-tiered system that would punish women, particularly those with low and middle incomes, the very people this bill is intended to assist. The majority of private health insurance plans currently offer abortion coverage, and the Stupak/Pitts amendment would result in the elimination of private abortion coverage in the ‘exchange,’ the new insurance market created under health care reform, as well as in the public option, if one is created.

“The Stupak/Pitts amendment would purportedly allow women who want comprehensive reproductive health care coverage to purchase a separate, single-service rider to cover abortion. But such abortion riders do not exist because women do not plan to have unintended pregnancies or medically complicated pregnancies that require ending the pregnancy. These so-called ‘abortion riders,’ which would be the only insurance policy through which abortion care could be covered in the ‘exchange,’ are discriminatory and illogical. Proposing a separate ‘abortion rider’ or ‘single-service plan’ is tantamount to banning abortion coverage since no insurance company would offer such a policy.


“It is extremely unfortunate that the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and anti-choice opponents were able to hijack the health care reform bill in their dedicated attempt to ban all legal abortion In the United States. Most telling is the fact that the vast majority of members of the House who supported the Stupak/Pitts amendment in today’s vote do not support HR 3962, revealing their true motive, which is to kill the health care reform bill. These single-issue advocates simply used health care reform to advance their extreme, ideological agenda at the expense of tens of millions of women.    

“Planned Parenthood applauds the members of Congress who stood up for women’s health and voted to oppose the Stupak/Pitts amendment. We will work with those members to rectify this travesty.  

“As a health care provider, Planned Parenthood is committed to passing health care reform that will guarantee affordable, quality health care coverage for all, including access to comprehensive reproductive health care.  In the coming weeks, Planned Parenthood will work with its allies in the Senate to ensure that the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and those who oppose abortion do not once again hijack the legislative process in their ongoing campaign to make abortion illegal. Planned Parenthood will join forces with women and their families and health providers to ensure that health care reform does not take away benefits that most women with private health coverage have today.  Together, women and their allies are going to make their voices heard, so that they do not become second-class citizens in a newly reformed health care system in the United States.” 

Happy Hour for Women's Health!

Hey CAT members:

Come talk Pro-Choice politics and begin our countdown to the 2010 Arizona election!

This is a great venue to bring your Pro-Choice friends who may be interested in volunteering with the CAT!

(Click on the image to view a larger version.)

Pro-Choice Politics in Illinois

Curious about what's been happening around the country in Choice politics?

Check out these articles about the latest issues facing residents of Illinois:

From the Chicago Tribune:

• Chicago says protesters must stay 8 feet from other people outside medical facilities

• Lawsuit challenges Illinois' parental notification law for abortions