What We're Reading This Morning -- May 11
Spread the word
|
|
Good afternoon everyone! As a judge in Montana rules a ban on birth control unconstitutional, we’re up with a new web video highlighting Montana Rep. Dennis Rehberg’s poor record on women’s health. And in other news, the Catholic bishops are at it again, but this time attacking the Girl Scouts. Here’s what we’re reading this morning…
A judge in Montana rules to protect access to basic preventive care: birth control. “Montana judge rules teen birth control coverage ban unconstitutional”—“HELENA – A Helena district judge has declared unconstitutional the state’s ban on prescription birth control coverage for teenage girls covered under the state’s health insurance program for low-income people. District Judge James Reynolds concluded that the state contraceptive ban for teenage girls in the Healthy Montana Kids Program ‘violates the right of privacy and the rights of persons not adults set forth in the Montana Constitution.’ The Healthy Montana Kids program, formerly known as the Children’s Health Insurance Program, insures children with family incomes up 250 percent of the federal poverty level. ‘The state has failed to provide a compelling state reason for this exclusion and has failed to show how this exclusion enhances the rights of persons not adults,’ Reynolds said. ‘Rather, as the court determined and as the state itself declared: reducing teenage pregnancy (is) a compelling state interest.’ He issued his ruling in the longstanding lawsuit filed by Planned Parenthood against the state in June 2009. The group sued after failing for a decade to get the Legislature to remove the state ban.”
The Catholic Church is no longer simply trying to restrict women’s access to basic health care, now they are questioning the integrity of the Girl Scouts. “Girl Scouts under scrutiny from Catholic bishops”—“NEW YORK (AP) — Long a lightning rod for conservative criticism, the Girl Scouts of the USA are now facing their highest-level challenge yet: An official inquiry by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. At issue are concerns about program materials that some Catholics find offensive, as well as assertions that the Scouts associate with other groups espousing stances that conflict with church teaching. The Scouts, who have numerous parish-sponsored troops, deny many of the claims and defend their alliances. The inquiry coincides with the Scouts' 100th anniversary celebrations and follows a chain of other controversies…. The new inquiry will be conducted by the bishops' Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth. It will look into the Scouts' ’possible problematic relationships with other organizations’ and various ’problematic’ program materials, according to a letter sent by the committee chairman, Bishop Kevin Rhoades of Fort Wayne, Ind., to his fellow bishops.”
Victory in North Carolina as anti-women’s health candidate falls short. “Think Progress: Planned Parenthood Claims Victory After Helping to Oust NC Legislator Who Voted for Anti-Abortion Bill”—“Planned Parenthood [Action Funds in North Carolina] helped knock a 28-year incumbent out of the North Carolina General Assembly after the conservative Democrat sided with Republicans to vote in favor of a controversial anti-abortion bill last year. State Rep. Jim Crawford (D) joined four other Democrats who helped Republicans override Gov. Bev Perdue’s (D) veto to pass legislation that requires women get ultrasound exams, receive counseling, and wait 24 hours before having an abortion. Planned Parenthood responded by supporting Rep. W.A. “Winkie” Wilkins’ (D) campaign against Crawford in a redrawn district that favored Wilkins. The women’s health organization claimed victory in statements released after Tuesday’s election: ‘There is no question,’ says Melissa Reed, vice president of public policy for Planned Parenthood Health Systems Action Fund. ‘Women were watching as Jim Crawford cast the deciding vote in support of legislation to undermine a woman’s right to make personal health decisions without government intrusion.’ [...]”
