Women News Jan 19, 2010

Jane: Last Friday, education officials determined that Noble High School in North Berwick, Maine, can receive federal funds to pay for contraceptives and the screening of sexually transmitted infections even though the facility does not offer emergency contraception.

Last October, the district school board overseeing Noble High School approved a package of reproductive services for the school’s health center but did not approve any funding for the program. The health center has secured $18,000 in state funding and also is seeking federal money. The center now must submit an application for the Title X funds. Noble High School is the 10th high school in Maine and one of about 500 nationwide to offer reproductive services.

Joan: Wait 'til you hear this one:  Last Tuesday, the First District Court of Appeals in Tallahassee, FL heard arguments in the case of Samantha Burton, who was confined to her bed by a judge last March because she was at risk for a miscarriage.

At the 25th week of pregnancy, Burton started showing signs of miscarrying. Her doctor advised her to go on bed rest, possibly for as long as 15 weeks. She told him that she had two toddlers to care for and a job to keep. She planned on getting a second opinion, but the doctor alerted the state, which then asked the Circuit Court of Leon County to step in.
The court ordered Burton to stay in bed at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital and to undergo “any and all medical treatments” her doctor, acting in the interests of the fetus, decided were necessary. Burton asked to switch hospitals and the request was denied by the court, with the statement that “such a change is not in the child’s best interest at this time.” After three days of hospitalization, Burton had to undergo an emergency C-section and the fetus was found dead.

Burton’s attorney, David H. Abrams, with help from the A.C.L.U. argued that the original decision unlawfully expanded the court’s right “to order medical treatment for a child over a parent’s” objections and applied it to an unborn fetus. The lower court based its decision on the fact that medical intervention is justified in “extraordinary” circumstances. The A.C.L.U. responded that the circumstances Burton found herself in were very ordinary. “It is hard to imagine anything more commonplace than the inability of a mother of two to remain on continuous bed rest which Burton was also ordered to do.

Dahlia Ward, state strategist for the A.C.L.U.’s Reproductive Freedom Project, wrote "Allowing the government to make medical decisions for pregnant women means that literally every decision and every activity a pregnant woman engages in could be regulated by the state." This raises a few questions in my mind, besides the one of calling the unborn fetus a child: didn't the court essentially jail the pregnant woman? And what ever happened to doctor-patient confidentiality? On what grounds did the doctor tell anyone about his patient's condition without her permission? I am so outraged I even struggle with the clear-headed thinking of the attorneys. But clear headed legal arguments are a good thing!

Jane: We have some report cards for the Obama administration: Common Cause, Democracy 21, the League of Women Voters, and the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) for the first time issued a report card that gave the administration "A" grades for its restrictions on hiring of lobbyists known as revolving door lobbyists and for  its efforts towards open government, and "B" grades for its lobbyist gift ban, rules restricting lobbyists from serving on advisory boards, and the restrictions on seeking stimulus funds. The groups said the Obama administration's rules "have begun the difficult process of changing the way business is done in Washington," and said the administration deserves both recognition and praise. The groups go on to say that the administration still has to pursue campaign finance reform in order to bring about meaningful change."

Joan: The National Journal examined President Obama's track record on abortion rights in his first year of office and gave him a 33% completion rating for progress on abortion-rights issues. The article notes, that Obama's presidency "has not been without victories for abortion-rights advocates." Obama lifted the "global gag rule" -- which banned federal funding to international family planning groups that offer abortion services or information with non-U.S. funds. He also took steps to repeal the regulation expanding "conscience clauses." In addition, Obama proposed to reduce funding for abstinence-only sex education programs and replace it with a proposal to create a new office to provide evidence-based teenage pregnancy prevention services -- policy changes reflected in the FY 2010 appropriations bill. Obama also raised funding levels for family planning programs and the United Nations Population Fund, and approved the use of city funds for abortion in Washington, D.C. (Poulson, National Journal, 1/11).

Jane: On Jan 8th, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton announced the US's renewed commitment to ensuring that women worldwide have access to safe and effective reproductive health care.

Joan: Meanwhile, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops on Monday said materials opposing the Senate's language on abortion coverage had been sent to parishes nationwide for insertion into church bulletins. The materials urge parishioners to contact their representatives. In addition, Knights of Columbus leader Carl Anderson on Jan. 5 sent a letter to state chapter directors asking them to urge their members to contact Congress. Anderson wrote, "We must prevent this health care legislation from becoming the largest expansion of abortion in our country since Roe v. Wade."

Jane: Last Friday, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R), said that he would fight for "pro-life" legislation if elected to the U.S. Senate, marking a conservative shift from a more moderate stance on the issue. According to the campaign release, Crist now describes himself as a "solid conservative". As a candidate for governor in 2006, Crist said he would "prefer not to change law” but ”would rather change hearts on abortion rights. For this reason, Alex Burgo, spokesperson for Rubio said, "Crist's conservative makeover attempt isn't fooling anyone, especially not pro-life Republicans who are well aware of his pro-choice record, support for maintaining Roe v. Wade and opposition to mandatory waiting periods for abortions" (Farrington, AP/Washington Times, 1/9).

Joan: Last week Nevada Judge James Russell threw out the proposed "Personhood" ballot initiative because the language was too broad and the measure violated a state law that limits ballot questions to one subject, according to an AP/ report in the San Jose Mercury News . The proposed ballot language was filed in October 2009 and challenged by three plaintiffs represented by lawyers for Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the American Civil Liberties Union. According to Lee Rowland, an attorney for ACLU of Nevada, the 14-word addition to the state constitution would have a huge impact on state laws related to issues such as abortion rights, contraception and infertility treatments.

Michael Brooks, a lawyer for the Nevada personhood movement, said that the organization plans to appeal to the Nevada Supreme Court.

Jane: According to Women's Enews, immigrant women far outnumber men in English as a Second Language classes across the states. One big reason is so they will be able to help their school-age children. Another reason is to have better job access.

Joan: According to an article by Kristin Tillotson in the Star Tribune, more older women are coming out as lesbians as they find being gay gains more acceptance in the culture at large. According to census-data analysis from UCLA's Williams Institute 36 percent of women in their 40s with same-sex partners previously had been married to men. That percentage grew to more than half for lesbians in their 50s, and 75 percent for those 60 and older.

Jane: According to the Boston Globe, the Northeastern University and University of New Hampshire hockey teams make hockey history, playing the first outdoor women’s college game at Fenway Park on a rink situated on the infield of the historic baseball park, in front of a full house of 38,000-plus fans and on television.

Joan: Last Tuesday, Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) announced that he would support the nomination of law professor Dawn Johnsen to head of the Department of Justice's Office of Legal Counsel, which could clear her long-stalled confirmation, the Washington Post reports. President Obama resubmit her nomination after the Senate failed to approve her before the expiration date last year. Specter initially did not support Johnsen when her confirmation came before the Senate Judiciary Committee, but he said in a statement Tuesday that he decided to back her after the two held a "second extensive meeting," Politico reports.

Jane: The American Radio Relay League, the largest organization of radio amateurs in the United States, elected its 15th and first female president, Kay Craigie, N3KN, of Blacksburg, Virginia.