As discussed in the News! section, Aug. 1st marks the first hearing on the defunding of Planned Parenthood.
Here's what I hope Judge Martens understands:
Planned Parenthood offers a range of health care services. Cancer screenings, STI testing and treatment, pregnancy testing and education.
I have personally used Planned Parenthood's services - when I was unemployed for 17 months, with NO health insurance, they took care of me for little to no money. The first thing they asked me was if I was safe, did I have enough to eat, a place to live.

The whole process was without judgement. They didn't grill me as to why I was unemployed, why I couldn't pay more. They just wanted to know what I needed.

The State's defense is that the state has the right to determine who gets the funds and that the legislation had nothing to do with Abortion. (Bullshit on the second part of that)

Here's the issue - The county health departments are overwhelmed as it is, we have a large number of uninsured in this community. Don't go to the health department - you have a couple of Catholic clinics in town that will see you, of course you won't be getting contraception there.  Planned Parenthood is specially equipped to handle issues of sexual health. Period.

The women of Wichita and Hays - need to understand what they will be losing if the state's case succeeds.

Planned Parenthood is a necessary and worthy recipient of our tax dollars. I just hope that Judge Martens agrees.

Check back tomorrow for updates!

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This post is just so I can link this blog to my Empire Avenue account - if any of ya'll are on there - my ticker is NICKI.

In August of 2009, Anti-Choice zealots descended on Bellevue, Nebraska. The atmosphere amongst those of us defending Dr. Carhart's clinic was a mixture that is hard to explain. Fear, excitement, compassion - anger...
Fear - because there are antis that are prone to violence. As much as we tried to prepare and protect everyone - the reality was, every one of us was at risk. The funny part was - the SWAT team seemed to pay more attention to US - than to them.

Excitement for the turnout and for the cause. It made me realize that I am not alone in my convictions - that there are people willing to stand up for what's right. Compassion for the patients subjected to such utter bullshit and for Dr. Carhart. I can only imagine what his life must be like (here's a bit of insight). And anger - I can't really explain the rage I felt in the aftermath of Dr. Tiller's assassination, but it was there - when I was walking the line or escorting a patient. The arrogance of the anti-choice movement is truly astounding and to be honest, it pisses me off just a wee bit.

As for the actual event - the weekend was a blur. There was an airshow going on at the airbase in town - so there was this constant noise of jet engines - it made it a bit surreal. I met some amazing advocates and am honored to have assisted them even in a small way.

To everyone attending the Summer Celebration of Choice in Germantown - I have a few pieces of advice:
1) Do what the organizers and/or the police tell you. You may not understand - but these things are for your  
    protection.
2) Try your best to remain calm - do not engage. Antis will try to provoke you and they are looking for a
    reason to call the cops on you. It helps their idea that some how THEY are the victims in this scenario. Try 
    not to get caught by yourself.
3) Drink lots of water - and take care of yourself. Even in a short amount of time, the heightened tension and
    the enviroment can get to you.  It looks like you all will be baking in some serious heat - so take care of
    each other and stay hydrated.
4) Wear your suncreen! (I am a whitest of the white girls - and a bit of a sunscreen evangelist). Sunburns are
    bad! Don't fight me on this.
5) Remember you are there for the patients and Dr. Carhart - they need you.

My heart is with you all - Stay SAFE! (and wear your sunscreen! Even on the tops of your ears - ask @ClinicEscort about that one).

Operation Rescue is a wee bit upset with Attorney General Derek Schmidt.  You see, the state must file an appeal of the temporary restraining order blocking the new clinic restrictions, by Monday.  However, so far Attorney General Schmidt has not done so.  Troy Newman and his roving band of terrorists have sent out an email urging the Anti-Choice folks to contact AG Schmidt and force his hand (going as far to threaten ethics complaints and calling it malpractice).
Now I want everyone reading this to take a deep breath - keep in mind your computer is not what you are mad at when you read this statement:

"It is unconscionable to allow this entire bill to be held up when the provisions can save the lives and health of women in this state," said Newman. "Women's lives are not political footballs.* Pro-life groups, including Operation Rescue worked long and hard for years to pass this legislation. To see these hard-fought Constitutional safety provisions just kicked to the side of the road is unbelievable, especially from an administration that purports to respect life." (Click on this like at your own risk).

Read more after the break :)
*Emphasis mine and added.

The Super-Attorneys hired by the state of Kansas to fight Planned Parenthood's lawsuit - decided to assert the sovereignty of the state of Kansas to decide what to do with funds. This little gem was included:
"In its formal response, however, attorneys for the state argued that no legislative history exists from which one might ascertain "legislative intent" behind the statute. It notes the budget provision does not mention abortion." (Quote via Kansas.com)

While they are correct in their assertion that the provision does not mention abortion - they are absolutely disingenuous about the legislative intent.

Let's flashback to 2009: Huelskamp Amendment (notice - nothing to do with abortion /sarcasm):
"Senator Huelskamp’s Amendment Defunds Planned Parenthood

Topeka, KS - Last December, State Senator Tim Huelskamp (R-Kansas) announced his legislative effort to end taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood in Kansas. Planned Parenthood, the largest abortion provider in the nation, has come under increasing scrutiny for alleged criminal violations, including illegal late-term abortions and failure to report sexual abuse of young girls.

Despite these allegations of impropriety — and more than a hundred criminal charges - this year Kansas taxpayers paid out nearly $300,000 to subsidize this entity."

2010: In responding to the line-item veto (again) of the "Huelskamp Amendment"
“By vetoing these provisions, the Governor has thrown his political support to left-wing political interests like Planned Parenthood and those who push the alarmist global-warming agenda,” said Huelskamp. “The vast majority of Kansans want their elected officials to stop taxpayer funding of abortions*, combat Obama’s cap-and-tax proposal, and resist an out-of-control EPA. Governor Parkinson is ignoring the voice of hard-working Kansans.”

2011: In response to notification of Planned Parenthood's lawsuit (Warning from Right to Life News - I know, I'm sorry):
"The lawsuit named Gov. Sam Brownback and Robert Moser, secretary of health and environment. The governor was undeterred.
“The law currently says the plaintiff does not qualify for public subsidy because of its business practices, and Kansas taxpayers have made it clear they do not wish to underwrite organizations that perform abortions*,” Brownback said. “We will uphold the law.”

*Emphasis added and mine.

When I started out on this little web-venture, it was with one purpose in mind.  To raise money.
Not for me, but for a couple of organizations that I know can use it and will help further the cause.

I chose Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri - because the asshats in our state legislature defunded them. (Lawsuit pending). When I was unemployed (for 17 months!) - Planned Parenthood was there for me. The thought that so many other women may not have that safety net - because of a bunch of rabid zealots' political agenda, makes me ill.

I chose the Wichita Chapter of the National Organization for Women, because it is my feminist activist home. I started attending meetings in the months leading up to Dr. Tiller's assassination. I was elected to the board that following summer and have served in various capacities since. We have a lot of good things we want to do - but we have to have the funding to do them.


Continued after the break.

As we discussed earlier in the week on this blog as part of the Birth Control Blog Carnival - the Institute of Medicine has issued recommendations to the Department of Health and Human Services that contraception be covered under the Affordable Care Act as Preventative Care. In my opinion, this would be awesome for the insured women of our county - Co-Pay free birth control? Sign me up!
However, Bill O'Reilly seems to have a different feeling on the matter....*sigh*

For those of you that couldn't stomach the video (I can't blame you!) I'll quote what Captain Brainiac had to say:  "In a discussion that connected a call for free birth control to binge drinking and the marijuana legalization movement, O’Reilly told an all-female panel, “Many women who get pregnant are blasted out of their minds when they have sex. They’re not going to use birth control anyway.” Quote via Raw Story.

See my open letter to Mr. O'Reilly after the break.

No Tax Money for Abortions!
"If they want to have a good time, why not let them pay for it?"
No Miss, you can't fill that prescription here.
I'm sorry Miss, but we can't perform that procedure at this hospital.

How many times do we hear the above statements in the debate surrounding abortion and reproductive freedom? In my opinion, too many.

From approximately age 18 (probably earlier than that - but for argument's sake) to around 45, American women are working to prevent pregnancy. The vast majority of us - use some sort of contraception. We have an ever expanding world of options to explore - this is something that women battle for the better part of 30 years of their lives after all...so it's good to have options. For those of us lucky enough to have health insurance coverage - those options are usually dictated by insurance company formularies and our ability to pay copays/coinsurance. Lets break this down a bit - the most common form of birth control would be the pill.

For an average woman with employer health insurance - most are probably looking at a $15 - $30 copay, plus annual exam with a copay of around $20 - $35 depending on the plan... FOR YEARS...

More Fun with Math after the Break!

July 19th and 20th marks the 163rd Anniversary of the Seneca Falls Convention. 

For over 163 years, the women of our country have been battling for true equality.  Equality under the law, equality in our workplaces, and equality in our homes.  I wish I could say the battle was won a long time ago - and we are just commemorating a historic event.  However, that is not the reality in which we live.
We are not equal.  We must continue to fight - not beg, not plead - but fight!