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Blogs Comment On 'Common Ground' Bill, Abortion Coverage In Health Reform Legislation, Other Topics

The following summarizes selected women"s health-related blog entries.~ "Democratic Bill Could Be a Preview of Obama"s Abortion Plan," Dan Gilgoff, U.S. News & World Report"s "God and Country": A recently introduced bill aimed at reducing the need for abortion is "big news because moderate to liberal faith-based advocates are urging the White House to adopt the bill ... as the core of its forthcoming "common ground" plan on abortion and reproductive health," Gilgoff writes. Some conservative religious groups, including the Southern Baptist Convention and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, "have warned the White House" that the bill is a "deal breaker" for them because of its support for comprehensive sex education and contraception, he writes. The White House "has refused to say which way it"s leaning," Gilgoff writes, adding the Obama administration could "buck" the groups that support the bill and "get behind" the Pregnant Women Support Act, "which is generally considered more robust on reducing demand for abortions and which leaves out contraceptive funding." However, he concludes, "that would be a pretty big surprise" (Gilgoff, "God and Country," U.S. News & World Report, 7/23).~ "New Report: Abortion Providers = American Human Rights Defenders, Now Under Increasing Attack," Jodi Jacobson, RH Reality Check: A new Center for Reproductive Rights report "calls on both the federal and state governments to address the growing threats against and stigmatization and abuse of abortion providers throughout the United States," Jacobson writes. The report "focuses on a key obstacle to the realization of women"s reproductive rights ... and recognizes their work as human rights defenders," she writes, adding that the U.S. has "historically been a leader both in creating and in encouraging accountability to human rights principles throughout the world." However, "[a]ccess to reproductive health care generally and abortion care specifically are basic human rights largely ignored within the context of U.S. domestic politics," Jacobson writes, noting that abortion access in the U.S. "has been increasingly limited due to the range of obstacles created through anti-choice advocacy." The report highlights several "types of rights violations [that] are most pervasive in limiting women"s choices and the rights of abortion providers," including "intimidation and harassment," "stigma" and "legal restrictions." The report makes a "series of recommendations for change at the state and local level for changes in policy and in law enforcement practices, as well as for the federal government, medical community and non-governmental organizations," Jacobson concludes, adding that the report "makes a special plea for the United Nations Special Rapporteur to document violations of women"s human rights in the United States" (Jacobson, RH Reality Check, 7/22).~ "Sixteen Governors Call on Congress To Include Medicaid Family Planning State Option in Health Reform," Jodi Jacobson, RH Reality Check: "Sixteen governors have written a letter to both Senate and House Leadership "expressing strong support for the Medicaid Family Planning State Option,"" which is included in President Obama"s fiscal year 2010 budget proposal, Jacobson writes. The governors wrote, "Many of our states have created family planning expansion programs, though we have done so with great difficulty," adding, "Since the early 1990s, 27 states have been granted federal waivers to expand their Medicaid family planning coverage. These demonstration projects have been unqualified successes, providing care to millions of women while saving states [millions] of dollars." Jacobson continues, "The current Medicaid waiver process, however, "puts unnecessary roadblocks in the way of our efforts to maintain and expand coverage for family planning services,"" according to the governors. She adds, "Passing this law as part of health care reform "would give us the needed flexibility to quickly and efficiently expand coverage for this basic preventive health care under Medicaid,"" the letter says (Jacobson, RH Reality Check, 7/23).~ "How"s That "Common Ground" Going?" Frances Kissling, Salon"s Broadsheet: "After four years of behind-the-scenes negotiating, pro-choice groups turned out in full force" behind Reps. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) and Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) on Thursday to announce the latest version of a bill aimed at reducing the need for abortion, Kissling writes. She adds that the "bill is bound to get good media coverage, as it fits nicely with the president"s "can"t we all get along" plea for common ground on abortion." According to Kissling, "[a]pparently everyone could not get along, and the task of lining up supporters for the bill ... was a bruising experience" for the people crafting the measure. "Pro-lifers were disappointed that contraception was included," and "[p]ro-choicers were concerned the language of the bill sent an "abortion is bad" message," she writes, adding, "It was a bitter pill for both sides to swallow, though, so far, no one has choked." Kissling continues, "Frankly, it"s the kind of bill that should have been passed 20 years ago -- what a shame that for women to get what they need, it must be framed in terms of reducing the need for abortion." She writes, "Whether all this represents common ground is debatable, but it clearly represents renewed public attention on abortion, which is under attack by anti-choice members of Congress in the health care reform package," concluding, "Let"s keep talking" (Kissling, "Broadsheet," Salon, 7/23).~ "Want Insurance To Cover Your Reproductive Health Care? White House Advisor Tells Grassroots "It"s Time To Bring It"," Jodi Jacobson, RH Reality Check: "Want your basic reproductive health services covered under health reform? Want to keep the coverage for reproductive health care, contraception and abortion care you already have? Want to ensure that you, your mother, daughter, sister, friends, neighbors and the millions of women in the United States living without health insurance get coverage for primary reproductive health care once Congress gets through serving up sausage for your health benefits?," Jacobson asks, adding, "Then it"s time for women to "bring it" and get back into campaign mode." Jacobson quotes Tina Tchen -- director of the White House Office of Public Engagement -- who addressed the 2009 Planned Parenthood Organizing and Policy Summit last week. According to Jacobson, Tchen "provided participants with a status update on health care reform and reiterated the Obama administration"s commitment to women"s health" and "reminded the group that they had elected a pro-choice president" who has "publicly re-affirmed his support for a woman"s right to choose." Jacobson also examines the hurdles that women"s rights groups might face in their efforts to get insurers to provide coverage for reproductive health care, as well as the opposition to such efforts. She writes that "despite the evidence, the benefits and the clear public support for women to continue making their own medical decisions with their families and their doctors, and for full coverage of these services, anti-choice activists and politicians continue to play the same political shell games with women"s health and lives" (Jacobson, RH Reality Check, 7/22).~ "How To Win a Culture War," Jim Wallis, God"s Politics: The "biggest fear of those leading the culture war" against abortion rights is "common ground," Wallis writes, noting, "Culture wars require a clash of incompatible ideologies; common ground acknowledges differences but finds practical shared goals." Wallis continues that the "next casualty" in the culture wars "will be meaningful health care reform," citing the current debate over abortion coverage by private insurance companies. "At this point in the debate, abortion should not become a wedge issue that could doom the chances of any legislation passing," he writes, adding, "Any final legislation should make clear that no private insurance company will be mandated to pay for an abortion, nor should they be prohibited from paying for an abortion." Such provisions "would maintain the current status quo and demonstrate how sensible common ground can bring people together," Wallis writes. He also praises the Ryan-DeLauro bill, which aims to reduce the need for abortion by preventing unintended pregnancies. The bill "demonstrates how searching for common ground can lead to higher ground, in ways that both sides of the debate can embrace without compromising their core principles," he writes, adding, "We have a great opportunity to advance our shared values and common goals at a crucial moment in our country"s history." Wallis concludes that Sojourners "strongly support[s] this good and wise piece of legislation and applaud[s] the creative solutions it offers for real action" (Wallis, God"s Politics, 7/23).Antiabortion-Rights Blog ~ "Pro-Life Leaders Unite To Fight "Abortion Mandate" in Health Care Reform," David Brody, The Brody File: Focus on the Family"s James Dobson and the Family Research Council"s Tony Perkins on Thursday led a "big pro-life webcast devoted to trying to stop potential abortion coverage in any future health care reform bill," Brody writes, adding, "Like the White House didn"t have enough fires to put out on health care." While President Obama "may have made some inroads with evangelicals" during the 2008 presidential campaign, "he may very well pay a steep price with religious voters" if abortion coverage is included in "any Obama-led health care plan," Brody writes. He notes that he is "not talking just conservative evangelicals," but is including "moderates and especially among Catholic voters." Brody writes that the bills currently in Congress "do not specifically call for abortion coverage, but they also don"t specifically exclude it either," which "leaves the issue very murky and therefore pro-lifers are definitely

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