New abortion controversy hits Congress (allowing women to be fired for using birth control!)

[niyad]

New abortion controversy hits Congress
Pelosi: 'Allowing employers to fire employees for using birth control ... is unconscionable'
-

The same day that the Senate reached a deal on abortion language in a bill to combat human trafficking, the House of Representatives began considering legislation that is igniting a new controversy over the divisive social issue.


The House Oversight Committee approved a resolution on Tuesday night with a party line vote that would attempt to overturn a law passed by the District of Columbia Council in December that bans employers from taking punitive action against any employees for using abortion services or birth control. The bill could be scheduled for a full House vote as early as next week.

The new House resolution, sponsored by Tennessee Rep. Diane Black, says the D.C. law, the "Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Amendment Act," accomplishes the opposite of what its name implies.

"This coercive measure would ban pro-life organizations in D.C. from even considering a job seeker's views on abortion as a condition of employment," Black said in a statement. "This is an affront to the conscience rights of every American who believes, as I do, in the cause of protecting the unborn. Congress must not remain silent while this injustice unfolds."

The Heritage Foundation and other conservative groups have pressed the GOP-led Congress to block the D.C. law. In an analysis published by two Heritage policy analysts, the group asserts that anti-abortion rights groups based in Washington would be faced with decisions about hiring candidates that could conflict with their beliefs.

. . . . .



http://www.kionrightnow.com/news/politics/new-abortion-controversy-hits-congress/32494598

[AuntPatsy]

1. No, simply put No...

[niyad]

3. or, as an old friend used to say, "not no, but billy hellllll, no!)

[ananda]

5. and Hell no!

..

[niyad]

2. contact info for "congressMAN" diane black

(she seems to be confused about her gender)

Washington, D.C.
1131 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00AM-6:00PM Eastern time

Cookeville
321 East Spring Street, Suite 301
Cookeville, TN 38501
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00AM-5:00PM

Gallatin
355 North Belvedere Drive, Suite 308
Gallatin , TN 37066
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00AM-5:00PM

[sufrommich]

4. This is so sickening. Did anyone doubt that they would

go there after our Supreme Court allowed Hobby Lobby the right to pick and choose which prescriptions they would honor based on "Biblical principles"?

[niyad]

6. their hatred for women, and their glee in doing everything in their power to screw women

over, is getting stronger and more virulent by the day.

I used to think we were one scotus vote away from "the handmaid's tale". did not realize it was going to be an incremental, and increasingly violent, attack.

[sufrommich]

11. I swear, every time they open their mouths I think of

The Handmaids Tale. Scary,scary shit that isn't getting enough attention outside of feminist/pro choice circles.


I have an 18 year old niece,I fear what obstacles she'll face in the conservative christian brave new world.

[niyad]

12. I think of all my young friends, and shudder at the world we are leaving them.

[sufrommich]

13. It just makes me sick that a woman's basic right to control her own

body was stronger in 1980 than it is today. We didn't realize we would win the war only to lose the battle.It just makes me so sad.

[calimary]

18. SO WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT????

This is getting RIDICULOUS!!!! It's not going to stop until the CONS and religious extremists mandate chastity belts for all of us women. And burkas, too, probably. You think I'm kidding?????

We've gotta do something about this, my friends. Otherwise they're steadily and systematically going to take ALL our sovereignty away, as women. The most basic right - to own YOUR OWN BODY. And determine what happens to YOUR OWN BODY.

The GOP. The Body-Snatcher Party.

GUYS - we HAVE to fight this - loud, hard, nasty, relentless. What we're doing now is NOT working. We can sit here all day posting about how awful this is, but what are we going to DO about it????????????

HINT: One suggestion - DO NOT, under ANY circumstances, sit out the next election. Or the next. Or the one after that, OR the one after THAT! Do NOT pass up ANY opportunity to vote. They're counting on us sitting home and pouting or being lazy or figuring it won't do any good. They're COUNTING on it. And all we'll be doing is stepping away and giving them a free run - to run the table.

Think I'm kidding?

[sufrommich]

21. I agree with every word you posted. nt

[BlancheSplanchnik]

30. I always said, framing Safe Abortion Care as a privacy issue was a big mistake.

It's life or death. Ladies only, please. And the "ladies" who stab us all in the back, so pious and virtuous......


Taking away ownership of our bodies, you got that right.

[emulatorloo]

34. I am 100% with you, thanks for laying it all out there for everyone to see

Am developing a lot of antipathy for DU'ers who say women's rights are 'merely social issues and unimportant.' And DU'ers who are willing to help Republicans win elections.

[hifiguy]

37. The Greedy Old Plutocrats seem to have borrowed a philosophy from

1930s Germany regarding the female majority of the population - Kinder, Kuche, Kirche.

The mask slips a little further off each and every day.

[Maraya1969]

7. Have you heard the saying "they want the barefoot and pregnant"? This is it

A lot of men do not want women usurping them except in cooking and cleaning and taking care of the children. Most of them seem to be conservatives and I think it goes along with their Authoritarian personalities.

Other countries have changed but we haven't. Maybe it is because these conservatives have always had too much power.

[niyad]

9. sad to see this in the 21st century. we seem to be racing backwards at light speed.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

32. too much effing power, and a church on every corner.

You're exactly right.


It's beyond disgusting.

[Kber]

8. Back door institutionalizing religion

The constitution makes creating an official government religion harder to do.

So here's the work-around:
1. Elevate the private sector to quasi government status by tasking it with providing basic services from health care to issuing drivers licenses.
2. At the same time, cut or degrade government services in everything from food security to education, further strengthening the private sector.
3. Assign "rights" to the private sector, i.e. imposing religions observance that the constitution forbids to government. And make no mistake, being able to fire someone is a powerful coercive tool to compel behavior, including observance of religious requirements or prohibitions.

See - work around accomplished.

[niyad]

10. oh, and don't forget to whine about how "persecuted" you are as you are doing this.

[Kber]

14. Yes of course!

You would not believe how horrible it is not to be able to force other people into behaving the way I want them to, according to my deeply held beliefs.

Well, mostly women, but probably other people too.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

17. +1000

This deserves a full OP

[BlancheSplanchnik]

33. ^ n/t

[AuntPatsy]

15. Kicking for those who have not seen it

[niyad]

16. thank you.

[Johonny]

19. What is wrong with these people?

These are mentally ill people. How are they elected to office? How is this anything but,no shit your employer can't fire you.

[angrychair]

20. kick

Why the fuck do xians always think their "rights" include telling me how to live my life?

FYI...while I do care and we should speak out...they don't really give a shit about these social issues. They are meant as emotional lightening rods, wedge issues, to keep us fighting and arguing, while their 1% masters continue to get wealthier and wealthier and we get poorer and poorer. The more money you have the more power you have. The more power you have the more control you have over outcomes.

[They_Live]

22. You must be born into a world

that is impossible and unpleasant to live in.

These people can go to hell.

I don't see them outlawing condoms. Ever.

[tclambert]

23. Yes, but women have the right to openly carry guns.

Or is that considered a kind of birth control?

[Iliyah]

24. What GOPers are trying to do is to keep as many women out of the work force

[jwirr]

25. This is unconstitutional. The idea of not using birth control in not common to all churches.

When they allow an exception for some business they are allowing the business to require a religion as part of their employment. Originally it was a Catholic doctrine and still is even though many Catholic women ignore it.

So if Congress or the SCOTUS pushes this they are establishing a state religion? Preference of one religion over another? Enforced by a business. Forcing some Christians/churches to accept the doctrines of another. They are taking one church doctrine and applying it not only to all other churches but also to all other people.

Totally against the constitution.

[Ilsa]

26. Money-grubbing CEOs should be thrilled

That their employees use birth control. No medical expenses, time off, dependents using healthcare.

[Ilsa]

27. We need to accuse them of treating women like

Muslims treat women (which in this case, is better).

Any other counter-attacks?

[Maedhros]

28. Right-wing Christians need to realize that their 'freedom' does not allow them to coerce others

into following their religion's strictures. In their twisted minds, the act of employing a person who lives their life in a way contrary to dogma is somehow a 'sin,' and requiring them to be non-discriminatory is therefore requiring them to 'sin.'

[Arugula Latte]

29. ...

[SoapBox]

31. WTF?

Pukes and Baggers...they want to control every aspect of a woman's "lady parts."

[underpants]

35. And this is LESS GOVERNMENT how?

[3catwoman3]

36. WTGDF?

If I am reading this right, this pertains only to Wash, DC, yes? Time for DC to have statehood.

All these wingers need to mind their own damned business. A job applicant's health care beliefs are NONE of a prospective employer's concern.

[jeff47]

38. Hey Democrats? Where's the bill to make that DC law a Federal law?

Will it pass? Nope.

But it will require Republicans to publicly state their position. Could be kinda helpful if there was some sort of election in the future.

IOW, how 'bout we start playing offense instead of strongly worded statements as we give away little pieces?

[niyad]

39. . . . .