Every single day there are major news stories about greater restrictions on abortion.

[cali]

Here are just some recent stories- all of them maddening and frightening:

No Abortions for 800 Miles
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/abortions-800-miles-north-dakotas-clinic-close/story?id=18823150#.UVW9oTesp7k


The landscape of abortion bans, in one must-see map
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/03/28/the-landscape-of-abortion-bans-in-one-must-see-map/

Ind. House panel OKs restrictions on abortion pill

Rather than a sweeping anti-abortion bill, the Indiana House and Senate are advancing a bill whose result would be to regulate abortion-inducing drugs — and potentially stop one Lafayette, Ind., clinic from prescribing them at all.

<snip>

In a bill approved 8-5 Wednesday by the House Public Policy Committee, a clinic that provides a drug that causes abortion, such as RU-486, would have to meet the same building standards as a surgical unit — complete with wider halls and doorways to accommodate gurneys, a recovery room and sterilization equipment for surgical tools.

<snip>

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/03/28/abortion-bill-indiana/2027381/

House and Senate bills would ban abortion coverage in state health insurance exchange

So what is it with Republicans and women’s wombs?

When it comes to what female voters do with their lady-parts, the party of individual freedom and responsibility – at least here in Pennsylvania -- just can’t help but stick its nose into other people’s business.

How else to justify the existence of state House and Senate bills banning abortion coverage in the health insurance exchanges that the GOP-led state government decided were so odious that it was better to let Washington run them than Harrisburg bureaucrats?

Yep. You read that right. The exchanges mandated by Obamacare were utterly unacceptable in every way – except when it came to controlling access to abortion. Then GOP lawmakers in the state House and Senate just had to get involved.
http://www.pennlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2013/03/post_6.html

Thousands Speak Out Against Virginia’s New Abortion Clinic Restrictions

Virginia is set to implement controversial new abortion clinic restrictions that could force many of the facilities in the state to shut down — a popular anti-choice tactic that indirectly undermines women’s access to reproductive care by targeting abortion providers. After Gov. Bob McDonnell (R-VA) quietly approved the new regulations on the Friday between the Christmas and New Year’s holidays, the state’s Board of Health will have the power to decide whether or not to adopt them on April 12.
http://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/03/28/1789701/virginia-trap-protest/

VA governor moves to limit abortion access for women

Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell has submitted an amendment to a bill that would not allow health insurance providers to pay for abortion coverage under the new health insurance exchanges being required under the Affordable Care Act, FOX5 reports.
http://myfox8.com/2013/03/28/va-governor-moves-to-limit-abortion-access-for-women/

Leading anti-abortion activist nominated to Mississippi Board of Health

Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant has nominated a prominent anti-abortion-rights activist to the state Board of Health, specifically citing her efforts to ban abortion as a public health qualification under state law.

The nomination of Herring, president of the Mississippi Choose Life Advisory Committee and a longtime activist with the Pro Life America Network, must be confirmed by the state Senate before she can join the board, which oversees the state Health Department and appoints its director. The appointment would be for six years.

Mississippi law requires that the Health Board comprise five physicians with at least seven years' experience and six non-physicians "who have a background in public health or an interest in public health."

<snip>
http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/28/17506060-leading-anti-abortion-activist-nominated-to-mississippi-board-of-health?lite

[LittleBlue]

1. We have to be more vocal than ever

The country is balkanizing on this issue. We've made small gains recently, but compare that to what we had back in the 90s. We've lost a lot of ground and need to make it back.

[cali]

3. Gains in what? Public opinion polls? We're suffering huge losses nearly every day

when it comes to the right to make decisions about our own bodies.

All of those stories I linked to infuriate me but this one makes me crazy:

In a bill approved 8-5 Wednesday by the House Public Policy Committee, a clinic that provides a drug that causes abortion, such as RU-486, would have to meet the same building standards as a surgical unit — complete with wider halls and doorways to accommodate gurneys, a recovery room and sterilization equipment for surgical tools.

[kestrel91316]

6. I am pretty much convinced there is no point to being vocal about it.

The RW is going to steamroll over women and we are powerless to stop them.

People dropped the ball for too long. Now they will lose their rights and their very freedom. Lazy, uninvolved Americans suck. They care about who won on DWTS but they don't care about civil rights.

[cali]

8. What's happened is a two Americas scenario for women as far as access goes

and that looks to be the future as well.

[sinkingfeeling]

2. We lose rights every day. Can't video animal cruelty, must have ID to vote,

can't sue gun manufacturers, etc.

[cali]

4. Yes, but the scale on which women are losing the right to exercise control

over their bodies is on a whole other level.

[ceile]

5. it's truly frightening...

the "heartbeat" restriction in ND is infuriating. Most women don't know they're even pregnant at the time a heartbeat can be heard.

[cali]

7. kick

[CTyankee]

9. Cali, do you think the RW is trying "everything" to see what will "stick" as a review

of Roe in this Supreme Court?

[cali]

11. yes indeed. but beyond that there are obviously a lot of zealots in the party

and of course, there's a lot of undercurrent as in this isn't just about abortion; it's an inflamed reaction to the changed and changing roles and status of women and to the shift in culture that's taken place. I'm not sure a lot of people who are focused so fiercely on stopping choice could articulate that, but I think it's a big part of it. Reflections of their angry God.

[CTyankee]

13. Yeah, I think losing this last prez. election put them over the edge...big time...

the culture change in so many ways just killed them...

But the huge amount of various different challenges must reflect the desperate idea that something, anything, will eventually be entertained by this Court, so they have nothing to lose by trying...of course, the real kicker could be that a review would produce a STRONGER Roe...be careful you wish for, righties...

[Mojorabbit]

16. Well said. nt

[SoCalDem]

10. It's long-been an issue that's easy to demagogue

Even when the law was passed, it was always a "maybe" issue.. Most women were not in favor of it because the wanted one...it was because most women knew someone who had the need of one, and extrapolated the issue to something they might need at some future date...or something for their daughters/grand-daughters.

It's like an insurance policy. No one wants insurance because they plan to collect the money when they die...(they won't need it then) or to collect when their house burns down (who wants that?).. It's a "what-if" thing. They wanted it in place, but hoped they would never need it.

They just did not want a bunch of old men saying "No you cannot have that insurance policy".

NO LEGISLATION WILL EVER STOP ABORTIONS.

They will be done, no matter how many laws are passed. The only thing that Roe v Wade did was to allow women to not die as often.

[Starry Messenger]

12. There is going to be a humanitarian crisis in this country before we can undo the damage.

The sick hate for women in this country is staggering. It makes me insane when women's rights are referred to as "social issues" that no one should care about anymore. At this point we're going to need that Dutch boat that helps women in countries where there is no access to abortion or BC.

[cali]

14. Although we won't need the Dutch boat, we now need the

a sort of underground railway for women in states where choice has become no-choice-at-all.

[Starry Messenger]

15. Agreed.

[bluestate10]

17. It's all good. Ralph Nader says there is no difference between republican politicians and

democratic politicians. So, let's sit on our hands cause nothing can be done, or...send money to Ralph.