We must continue to stand up for women’s health

By NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia

As we wrote yesterday, women’s health centers in Virginia will soon be subject to new, politically-motivated regulations.

An article in yesterday’s Chesterfield Observer further discussed the upcoming new regulations:

Senate Bill 924 passed the General Assembly earlier this year, requiring all health facilities that perform five or more first trimester abortions per month to meet the same standards as a hospital.

The bill, which was signed into law by Gov. Bob McDonnell as an emergency regulation, will go into effect Dec. 31. Seen by some as a health issue and others as a way to shut down abortion clinics that can’t afford to meet the requirements, the Virginia Department of Health currently is working on preliminary regulations to give to the State Board of Health on Sept. 15.

Anti-choice officials in Virginia have been undermining women’s health in our state for years. Now they’ve chosen to single out doctors who provide abortion for additional regulation, despite the fact first-trimester abortion remains one of the safest in-office medical procedures and despite the strong safety records of women’s health centers in Virginia.

NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia’s executive director Tarina Keene cut to the heart of the issue:

“We are appalled at these repeated attacks on women’s health,” stated Tarina Keene, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia, via email. “Gov. McDonnell and his legislative cohorts have pursued a singleminded agenda to undercut women’s health in our state. There are no legitimate medical purposes for singling out abortion for further regulation. … [The] new regulations have nothing to do with women’s safety and everything to do with a political attempt to restrict access to reproductive healthcare.”

Elected officials and anti-choice groups who have spent years railing against abortion and attempting to impose additional restrictions on reproductive rights in Virginia now claim they are just trying to make abortion – an already-safe procedure – safer!

But we aren’t fooled. We know this is just another tactic in the overall anti-choice strategy of chipping away at reproductive rights and making it as difficult as possible for women to practically access abortion care.

If there was any doubt about their motives, the same article reminds us of the motivations of the groups that supported SB 924 and are now pushing for medically-unnecessary regulations:

“Olivia Gans, a spokesperson for the Virginia Society for Human Life, says the organization hopes the General Assembly will pursue further legislation to prohibit abortions.

We are pleased that the legislature realizes the seriousness of this issue,” Gans said. “As a mother who had an abortion, I’m deeply concerned … with the number of women who have abortions.”

Rather than working to decrease rates of unintended pregnancy – perhaps by pursuing policies that would provide access to affordable birth control, promote comprehensive, medically-accurate sex education or better support women who choose to parent – anti-choice lawmakers are instead seeking to decrease the number of legal abortions by simply keeping women from accessing quality reproductive healthcare.

We have to stand up and let the Board of Health and the governor know we will not stand for new regulations that are focused on a political agenda rather than the health and wellbeing of Virginia women.

Join us as we stand up for women’s health in Virginia:

• Join the over 700 Virginians calling upon Governor McDonnell to approve regulations based in medicine, not in politics
•  “Like” the Virginia Coalition to Protect Women’s Health on Facebook
• Follow @VACoalitionWH on Twitter

As Tarina points out, “If political motives and ideological passions interfere in the regulatory process, then the safety of women’s health may be jeopardized.”

The launch of a new campaign to take on Gov. McDonnell

By NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia

Virginia’s Governor McDonnell is moving onto the national stage as the new chair of the Republican Governor’s Association.

According to Politico:

[Texas Governor Rick Perry will] be joined by Virginia’s Bob McDonnell, who will replace him as chairman of the Republican Governors Association — a perch that is all but guaranteed to boost McDonnell’s political fortunes by providing a national platform and access to a fundraising network that would be useful in a future run for higher office.

The article goes on to describe McDonnell as a “pragmatic conservative”:

In his nearly two years in office, the Virginia governor has carefully positioned himself as a pragmatic conservative who is fixated on job creation (not the social issues that were important to his early political rise) and capable of working with Democrats to get big things done.

However, we know that McDonnell is focused on social issues, especially when it comes to attempts to undermine the health of Virginia women.

In March, Governor McDonnell signed SB 924, a bill that classifies women’s health centers in the state as a category of hospitals, making them subject to new regulations created by the Department of Health. These laws, called “TRAP laws” for Targeted Regulations of Abortion Providers, single out abortion providers for new, burdensome regulations.

These laws play politics with women’s health and safety.

After Gov. McDonnell signed the bill into law in March, the “emergency” process for new regulations began; a process meant to limit public comment and participation.

These new regulations could have devastating consequences for women throughout Virginia.

The process will move quickly, which is why we are pleased to announce the launch of the sign the petition today to help us keep the pressure on the Governor to support regulations based in medicine, not in politics!

Join the nearly 700 Virginians asking Gov. McDonnell not to play politics with women's health

Three ways to help keep Virginia women out of an anti-choice TRAP

Governor McDonnell and his allies in the General Assembly wage a continuous campaign to undermine access to comprehensive reproductive health care for Virginia women.

That is why we are working with the Virginia Coalition to Protect Women’s Health to stop the McDonnell Administration from playing politics with women’s lives.

Be sure to read our latest action alert and visit our website to learn more about the issue and how you can join us in standing up for continued reproductive health access for women across the Commonwealth.

Freedom doesn’t come free…

By Leigh

Last week, we saw that, according to a George Mason University Mercatus Center study entitled, “Freedom in the 50 States: An Index of Personal and Economic Freedom,” Virginia is the ninth overall freest state in the nation. Furthermore, it is the fifth in economic freedom and 22^nd in personal freedom.

In the article, “Virginia ranked 9^th in overall freedom,” the Richmond Times-Dispatch states that, “policies were weighted on how much they matter to those affected, and how many people they affect.” But how did the study judge who was affected? According to Kent Willis, executive director of the ACLU of Virginia, the list of “those affected” did not encompass all Virginians. Willis says, “freedom is only meaningful if it applies equally to all, and that’s where Virginia falls short.”

NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia believes there are still many Virginians, especially Virginia women, who are continually experiencing restricted freedom. Governor McDonnell, Lt. Governor Bolling, Attorney General Cuccinelli, and a majority of state legislators are completely anti-choice. Having a choice equates to having freedom; therefore, it makes sense that Virginia is only 22^nd in personal freedom. Governor McDonnell’s administration and their legislative allies have successfully passed numerous laws that prohibit a women’s freedom to full healthcare access.

In the 2010 legislative session, Virginia prohibited public funding for abortion for those women who are eligible for state medical assistance, except if the woman’s life is in danger or in the case of rape or incest. The 2011 session also provided an abundance of proposed anti-choice legislation. Two bills would have limited private insurance plans from providing abortion coverage (with the governor adding a last-minute amendment banning such coverage). Three separate bills would have given constitutional rights to a fetus at all stages of development. Additionally, one proposed bill would have meddled in the doctor-patient relationship by requiring that a pregnant female receive an ultrasound before she has an abortion.

Anti-choice lawmakers also singled out women’s healthcare for new restrictions.

On July 1^st, a bill passed through political maneuvering officially became law. This Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providers (TRAP) law states that if a facility performs more than five first-trimester abortions a month it is now considered a hospital. Such regulations are politically-motivated and aim to restrict the freedom of women to comprehensive, reproductive health care.

An opinion piece in The Daily Progress entitled, “Freedom is in the eye of the beholder,” further discussed Virginia’s ranking and highlighted a specific quote from the authors of the study: “In our [the authors of the study] view, individuals should be allowed to dispose of their lives, liberties, and properties as they see fit, as long as they do not infringe on the rights of others.”

Out-of-touch Virginia elected officials continue to infringe on a woman’s right to choose complete, affordable healthcare. Thus, Virginia’s high ranking once again does not extend to Virginia women.

Though people and elected officials may have different ideals about what constitutes freedom, there is no denying that an increase in government regulation reduces an individual’s liberty.

With anti-choice politicians, the freedom of Virginia women is constantly in jeopardy.

The War Against Women: Coming to a Town Near You

By Brooke

Yesterday, Amanda Iacone of Virginia Statehouse News published an article documenting the war on women that is occurring locally as well as on a national level.

Several states have pursued “copycat” legislation with the overall goal of limiting women’s access to reproductive healthcare. (Copycat laws are just that – laws passed in one state to further restrict women’s health that another state copies.)

Virginia is no exception.

Banning abortion coverage through private insurance exchanges is just one example of such legislation across the country and in Virginia.

Virginia women have also been subjected to TRAP (Targeted Regulations of Abortion Providers) laws that passed in the last session of the General Assembly; a type of legislation that Virginia Statehouse News calls “one of the most common methods lawmakers use to curb the number of abortions by limiting women’s access or shutting down the providers.”

President of NARAL Pro-Choice America, Nancy Keenan, was featured in the article, calling out politicians who came into office with big promises of job creation and economic relief, but have thus far only delivered attacks on women’s rights. Keenan stated: “In (the) next 18 months, I think you’re going to see a backlash of the public. First they thought this was about jobs and the economy — it really has been more about outlawing abortion care in this country.”

The fear for Virginia women and families now lies in the potential for other copycat legislation. Virginia’s anti-choice elected officials put Virginia at risk of anti-choice legislation that has been seen in other areas of the country such as the defunding of Planned Parenthood, requirements that women wait up to 72 hours before abortions, or even criminalization of doctors who perform abortions.

To see the damage that has been done by anti-choice officials in the General Assembly and Governor McDonnell’s administration regarding this war against women, check out our “The McDonnell Administration’s War on Women’s Health: By the Numbers” video. Don’t forget to see how you state legislator stacks up on women’s health issues by reviewing our 2011 Legislative Scorecard.

Virginia: Great for business, terrible for women

By Brooke

According to the Washington Post, Virginia has just been ranked the number one state for business. Governor McDonnell credited the awarding of this new ranking to “keeping taxes low, getting government spending under control, [and] having a strong right-to -work law.” In other words, freedom to run a business without unwarranted or unnecessary burden is key to economic growth in our state.

Unfortunately, the focus on protecting and promoting Virginia business does not extend to women’s healthcare.

As we revealed in our recent video on Governor McDonnell’s war on women’s health, Virginia is ranked 39 (out of 50 states and DC) in terms of access to reproductive healthcare. Eighty-six percent of Virginia counties have no dedicated abortion provider. In addition to limited options for women seeking safe, legal abortion care in Virginia, Governor McDonnell and his allies have pursued an aggressive political agenda continuing to undermine women’s health. Since 2010, Virginia’s anti-choice politicians have:

• Blocked low-income women’s access to abortion when their health is at risk.
• Banned Virginia women from using their own money to purchase private insurance coverage for abortion care, even in tragic health-threatening and fetal anomaly cases.
• Approved a bill calling for new, unwarranted regulations to turn first-trimester abortion providers into hospitals.
• And restored nearly $900,000 in funding for failed, “abstinence-only-until-marriage” programs for our youth.

But don’t just take our word for it. PolitiFact verified our “By the Numbers” video earlier this week.

This fall will be a pivotal point for continued access to reproductive choice in the Commonwealth and our chance to change the score. We have to make sure that Virginia moves forward and not backward.

To avoid hypocrisy, Governor McDonnell and our elected officials should support the same freedom for Virginia women that they believe is so essential for Virginia business.

Celebrating women, one story at a time…

By Rebecca Lenn, LoYL Board Member

All of us have a story to tell, but rarely are we asked to share it, especially when it’s a story about health, sickness, strength and resilience as women. And when it is told, too often does it fall on deaf ears. That’s why last Thursday’s LUNAFEST event was so unique.

Thanks to the NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia Foundation in partnership with the LUNAFEST campaign, forty-four women and men of all ages gathered in Arlington for an evening to celebrate women’s lives and stories – a powerful occasion considering how hard women’s health advocates have fought to keep women’s stories and voices at the fore of the debate on reproductive freedom in Virginia. This was NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia Foundation’s fourth annual LUNAFEST event benefiting not only the organization’s research, outreach and education work on reproductive rights, but also the critical work of the Breast Cancer Fund. In her welcoming address, Executive Director Tarina Keene reminded us that as pro-choice advocates we must lift up all women’s health concerns as equally important. Governor McDonnell and anti-choice leaders in Richmond are waging a war on women that isn’t just putting access to safe, legal abortion and birth control at risk. Their efforts are restricting and could shutter health care facilities that provide critical preventive services like breast cancer screenings. Threats to reproductive freedom and preventive care are undoubtedly threats to the whole of women’s freedom. Thursday night’s gathering fully embraced this reality.

Following Tarina’s address, the evening continued with a series of captivating short films by, for and about women. The series was commissioned by LUNAFEST (established in 2000 by LUNA) to simultaneously promote women filmmakers, raise awareness about women’s issues and support worthy organizations benefiting women throughout the U.S. and Canada, including NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia Foundation. From quirky animations about love to moving documentaries about illness and aging, the 10 selected films gave an exceptionally vivid glimpse into the lives of women throughout the world. The audience glimpsed into the life of a woman on the verge of suicide whose motives take a different turn when approached by a caring bystander, the first woman cable car operator in the U.S., a young table tennis champion, a South African teenager who struggles to live and love with AIDS and a ninety-two-year-old woman who suffers from Alzheimer’s. Each film was followed by loud rounds of applause, sighs of relief and/or spirited conversation. Whether it was the pain of loss, the thrill of victory or the struggle of overcoming obstacles, it was clear that the stories of these women resonated with each and everyone one of us.

In addition to the screening, the celebratory evening was abuzz with warm fellowship, laughter, new acquaintances and reflection. Advocates and supporters enjoyed a wine and hors d’oeuvres reception and the opportunity to contribute to NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia Foundation and the Breast Cancer Fund in a silent auction featuring great finds from local artisans and businesses.

This was one of many great NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia events this year where pro-choice Virginians could celebrate women’s lives and fight to protect reproductive freedom in our state. I hope you will join NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia and its League of Young Leaders (LoYL) for the next event on June 4th where the storytelling and movement-building will continue.

P.S. Be sure to check out pictures of the event.

What Happened and What is Ahead?

By Sara Cardelle

Once a year, NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia hosts a Legislative Debriefing event following the General Assembly session as an opportunity for our members and activists to meet and hear from our pro-choice legislature allies. This year, we had nearly 40 pro-choice supporters, which is our largest attendance to date. The audience had an opportunity to hear from six senators and delegates who spoke about our victories and defeats and what lies ahead for reproductive rights in the state of Virginia. (Be sure to check out photos from the event here.)

For the last four months I have been watching the General Assembly and the unfolding of the anti-reproductive rights plan to attack a woman’s right to choose in Virginia. I have watched live videos of anti-reproductive health bills on the floor and heard our allies as well as anti-choice legislator’s debate on the bills. So for me, it was an incredible opportunity to hear from six of our strong pro-choice allies as they shared their stories and views from the session. I especially found it sad but interesting that only a handful of conservative organizations have the power to scare many of our legislators into never voting in support for any reproductive rights issues, and that this hold has only gotten stronger in the last year or so. It was an amazing experience to be in a room full of passionate and excited people who care so strongly about reproductive rights. I left the event feeling unbelievably empowered by all of the attendees and legislatures.

This year’s speakers included:

• Senator Mary Margaret Whipple, D-Arlington, Senate Democratic Caucus Chair
• Senator George Barker, D-Fairfax
• Delegate Charniele Herring, D-Alexandria, Reproductive Rights Caucus Chair
• Delegate Adam Ebbin, D-Alexandria
• Delegate Vivian Watts, D-Fairfax
• Delegate Patrick Hope, D-Arlington, Progressive Caucus Chair

Each speaker had a different topic, so I want to hit the highlights for me of their presentations.

Delegate Ebbin talked about how important the 2011 elections are going to be in protecting and defending reproductive rights in Virginia over the next several years. He also spoke about the current redistricting battle going on in the House of Delegates and state Senate, which, come election time, could lead to an increase in the number of legislators opposed to comprehensive health care for Virginia women.

Delegate Watts talked about Senate Bill 924, which calls for the Board of Health to regulate facilities providing five or more first-trimester abortions per month as a category of hospital. She noted new regulations could not just affect abortion providers, but also OB/GYN offices. Describing recent attacks against women’s health care, she stated that this is the “worst year that I have seen [regarding] abortion legislation.“

Delegate Hope talked about a bill he patroned this year, HB 1488, which prohibits a correctional facility from using restraints (shackles) on any prisoner who is pregnant and in labor. The exception would exclude women who are a flight risk or pose serious harm to herself or others. This bill was tabled in the Military, Police and Public Safety Committee.  Even though the bill was defeated this year, Delegate Hope stated the discussion led to a meeting he and other members will have with the Director of the Department of Corrections to get further guidance and create better regulations.

Delegate Herring spoke of one of the bills she patroned, which was HB 2436. The bill stated that any qualified health benefits plan offered through an exchange shall be neither required to provide nor prohibited from providing insurance coverage for abortion services. This bill was a proactive bill to prevent anticipated bans on private insurance coverage for abortion services. Unfortunately, her bill was tabled in committee. Sadly, we did see a ban on private insurance coverage of abortion care, in the form of Governor McDonnell’s amendment to House Bill 2434, which would have simply created the state’s insurance exchange.

Senator Whipple discussed the TRAP (Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providers) bill and the importance of the Senate Committee on Education and Health in defeating anti-choice legislation. She stated that many negative bills pass the House, but are defeated by women’s health allies in the Senate Committee on Education and Health. Several years ago, legislators wrote into the rules of the Senate that any bills related to abortion would automatically have to go to this Committee, which has been able to defeat a multitude of anti-reproductive-rights bills (even when the Committee had a Republican* majority).

Senator Barker talked about one of the positives coming out of this year’s 2011 General Assembly, which was Senate Bill 967. This bill would have added Family Life Education to the standards of learning guidelines and required all FLE programs be medically-accurate and science-based. The bill passed the full Senate and was defeated by a tie vote in House sub-committee (which is great progress). Senator Barker noted FLE has helped reduce teen pregnancy by a large percent. He also explained how some more moderate representatives used to vote for reproductive rights in the past but are now under extraordinary pressure from conservative organizations to vote no on any reproductive right bills. The fear is that any conservative legislator who votes even once for reproductive rights will automatically have a primary challenger who will most likely beat them in the primaries. Senator Barker said that “if we were able to have secret votes on the floor of the Senate on these types of bills, then we would have 25 to 30 votes on every one of these bills, to kill these bad bills.”

I, like many of the attendees, left this year’s Legislative Debriefing feeling passionate and angry over the current erosion of reproductive rights. This is an important time for people to get angry and to fight back, as reproductive rights are under attack all across the country right now. (In fact, 916 bills dealing with reproductive rights have been proposed across the country this year alone.) Anti-choice groups are no longer looking to outright overturn Roe v. Wade because they know that they can whittle down reproductive rights through the states, one bill at a time. This is why it is so important for Virginians to volunteer for pro-choice candidates in the summer and fall and to come out and vote for pro-choice candidates in this year’s statewide election.

As a helpful guide to know how your legislator ranks, we had a first glimpse of our 2011 scorecard during the debriefing. The scorecard allows you to see how your elected official stacks up on choice. Check back soon to see the full scorecard online.

*Supporting access to comprehensive reproductive health care options is not a partisan issue.

The Panel Presents the Status of Choice

Pro-Choice Allies Speak to the Group

Lesson Learned

By: Brett Copeland, League of Young Leaders (LoYL) Co-Chair

Guest Blogger

Last week I went to my first volunteer training with NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia. Frankly, it left me appalled and inspired—appalled at how much anti-choice activity is going on in the state at any one time and inspired that I now know how to do something about it.

Joey Richards, NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia’s Program and Communications Manager, connected the dots for us, from the legislative achievements for the year to anti-choice officials’ radical social agenda and, lastly, Senate Bill 924.

The largest lesson I learned from the orientation was that the battle for choice is being waged at the state-level, everyday, all the time. Out-of-touch members of the Virginia General Assembly have proven they are not afraid to champion their anti-choice crusade from the seat of elected power—to the detriment of men and women all over Virginia.

SB 924 is so disturbing because it will force in-office providers to be defined as a category of hospital—but only for abortion providers. Anti-choice lawmakers could not be clearer—they are going to strip away fundamental reproductive human rights, and they are going to do it through shady political maneuvering right under the noses of citizens.

The silent assault they perpetrated puts choice at a higher risk in Virginia than it has been for a long time—17 of the 21 clinics that provide valuable healthcare services to Virginians may close due to SB 924. It would be a devastating moment for healthcare in Virginia. The worst part is that there is only a small window for our public comment.

So what exactly can we do about it? For starters, we can contact Governor McDonnell and ask him to veto the new abortion restrictions. We can write letters to local papers to let our officials know these unprecedented and reckless attacks on women’s healthcare will not stand. We can also be prepared to attend the September 15 Board of Health meeting. In the meantime, I’m looking forward to learning more about what’s next by attending more NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia trainings. Will you join me?

*To sign up to volunteer or attend an upcoming orientation and training, contact Joey*

Ask Governor McDonnell to veto new abortion restrictions [Action Alert]

Anti-choice politicians in Virginia have shown yet again just how far they are willing to go to increase government interference in reproductive health care and restrict Virginia women’s ability to choose abortion.

Now it’s time to show them that we won’t back down.

The Virginia General Assembly’s anti-choice legislators launched a sneak attack as the 2011 legislative session came to a close. Members in the House of Delegates added an amendment onto a bill that originally had nothing to do with abortion that redefines first-trimester abortion providers’ facilities as “hospitals” and instructs the State Board of Health to single them out from among similar medical professionals for additional regulation.

Anti-choice Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling cast the tie-breaking vote to pass this bill in our state Senate. Now this legislation moves to Gov. Bob McDonnell, who could sign it any day now.

This is a blatant attempt to put the majority of Virginia’s abortion providers out of business and cut off the ability of women throughout the Commonwealth to access safe, legal abortion care.

I hope you will join us in telling Gov. McDonnell that this egregious attack on reproductive health-care providers and the women they serve is unacceptable.

Even if the governor chooses to place women’s health in danger and signs this legislation into law, this fight is far from over. It would then be up to the State Board of Health to issue new regulations, which means we will have a chance to ensure that abortion providers are not unfairly singled out to serve an ideological agenda.

NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia is ready to fight back and mobilize pro-choice Virginians to oppose regulations that would restrict a woman’s right to choose in our state. Will you join us?

It will be a tough battle, but access to abortion and reproductive health care is just not something Virginia’s women can afford to lose. That’s why we need you to contact the governor today to protect women’s rights and health. Thank you for your support!