What We're Reading This Morning -- January 25

Good morning everyone! We had a late evening watching President Obama’s State of the Union address, where he called for a fair and level playing field for all Americans. Access to affordable health care is an integral part of this playing field; however, after reading this morning’s news we’re more than a little disheartened to see so many have yet to embrace this philosophy…

We’re in for a busy year, with the introduction of three major anti-women’s health policies on the horizon. Sarah Kliff writes in The Washington Post: “Three abortion policies to watch in 2012” – “The last two days I’ve spent a good deal of time looking at the past year in abortion politics and how a new wave of restrictions have reshaped Roe v. Wade, which hit its 39th anniversary on Sunday. In the coming year, there’s little expectation that the rate of restrictions will slow down.”

Florida Legislature introduces a new bill designed to fix a problem that doesn’t exist. “Bill outlawing race- and sex-based abortions moves forward” -- “Amid dozens of reproductive rights advocates, the committee passed a bill that would not allow a woman to seek an abortion if a provider finds out that she is seeking an abortion because of the baby’s race or sex.… However, state Rep. Lori Berman, D-Delray Beach, argued that the bill ultimately ‘doesn’t address discrimination.’ In Plakon’s bill, ‘abortion’ is mentioned 51 times; ‘discrimination’ 16.”

In Virginia, State Representative Bob Marshall continues to push for a “personhood” measure although many Virginians oppose it. NBC News’ local affiliate has the story: “Controversy Over Personhood Legislation in General Assembly” – “Legislation that would give unborn children what are called ‘personhood’ rights is making its way through the General Assembly. If passed, opponents say it would effectively ban abortion in the commonwealth.”

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