Nancy Pelosi slams GOP: Letting employers fire women for using birth control is unconscionable

[DonViejo]

Source: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS TIMES

22 APR 2015 AT 13:38 ET

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., slammed House Republicans on Tuesday over a committee’s decision to consider overturning a Washington, D.C., law that prevents employers from firing workers over their use of birth control or other reproductive health decisions that go against the company’s views. The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee is scheduled to consider a bill to overturn the law Tuesday, a committee spokeswoman said.

“Republicans need to recognize that your personal health care choices are not your boss’ business,” Pelosi said in a statement. “Republicans should reconsider their egregious efforts to overturn D.C.’s sensible anti-discrimination law.”

Republicans have criticized the controversial law as unfair to employers who are against abortion. “I hope both chambers of Congress will act swiftly to pass our resolution so that we can stop this ill-conceived law and restore needed protections for those in the pro-life community who call D.C. home,” Rep. Diane Black, R-Tenn., said in a statement last week, the Daily Signal reported. Black is sponsoring the House resolution to overturn the bill while 2016 presidential candidate and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, is sponsoring the Senate version.

The D.C. law, called the Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Act, prevents employers from firing workers who use birth control or undergo in vitro fertilization or other reproductive health services. “Allowing employers to fire employees for using birth control or in vitro fertilization or any other reproductive health care service is an unconscionable intrusion into workers’ personal lives,” Pelosi said. “By disapproving D.C.’s law, House Republicans would even allow employers to fire employees for the reproductive health decisions that their employees’ spouses and dependents make.”

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Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/2015/04/nancy-pelosi-slams-gop-letting-employers-fire-women-for-using-birth-control-is-unconscionable/

[AuntPatsy]

1. Absolutely it is!

[calimary]

2. Un-Freakin'-BELIEVABLE!

[frazzled]

3. Yeah, ya think?

But I doubt this issue rises to any level of discussion or calls to action here. It would seem that calls for nondiscrimination very rarely include actual real, and increasing, discrimination against women. It makes me so sad. You don't have to be a fire-breathing feminist to care about this encroachment on women's rights. It's an issue for everyone.

Tammy Duckworth has introduced an amendment, and sent this email today. (She could be fired in D.C. if the Republicans had their way):

The District of Columbia recently took a step forward for women's rights, making it illegal for employers to fire anyone for their reproductive choices, like having an abortion or using fertility drugs.

But congressional Republicans, who have been consistently hostile to women's rights, have stepped in and are trying to overturn the D.C. law.

As a new mom who had the privilege of giving birth to my daughter at age 46, I am especially heartbroken to know that women can be fired for using treatments like in vitro fertilization.

So last night, I proposed an amendment that would protect women in D.C. from being fired for trying to start or expand their family. Add your name: tell Congress to prevent D.C. employers from firing women who use infertility treatments.

[LittleGirl]

4. Have they never heard of HIPPA laws

the employer has no business knowing what kind of birth control a woman uses that works for them. That's privacy issue 100%. This has to stop. and NOW.
2015 my ass, they are trying to take us back to the dark fucking ages.

[cwydro]

33. It's HIPAA.

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.

Sorry, I see HIPPA all the time here. Pet peeve.

[LittleGirl]

34. Thanks for the correction eom

[JudyM]

5. Silver lining: we attract more millennials as dem voters in 2016. nt

[erronis]

19. Of course if their votes counted, that would be great.

But millennials usually don't donate millions to their favorite congresscum.

[Demobrat]

6. What about the men?

Do they get fired for buying condoms or getting a vasectomy?

[Paper Roses]

17. Sometimes I'm just so amazed at the 'dumb' out there. n/t

[freshwest]

45. No.

[myrna minx]

7. Thanks SCOUTS and Hobby Lobby for emboldening these women hating zealots.

[antiquie]

8. Can we assume paid new parent leave for all

pregnancies due to employer's preference for no contraception?
And free infant and child care on site...

( )

[JDPriestly]

14. Excellent and child care leave should be two years if the mother wishes.

[emulatorloo]

12. So vote for the fucking Republican already and be done with it

[Hekate]

29. Jury results on Alert: 4 to 3 Hide

I was the alerter. You are welcome.

On Wed Apr 22, 2015, 02:45 PM you sent an alert on the following post:

TAKING IMPEACHMENT OFF THE TABLE WAS UNCONSCIONABLE, but YOU did it
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=1074303

REASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

YOUR COMMENTS

This has absolutely nothing to do with the OP, but is yet another reiteration of this poster's intent to not vote for any Democrat.

JURY RESULTS

A randomly-selected Jury of DU members completed their review of this alert at Wed Apr 22, 2015, 02:51 PM, and voted 4-3 to HIDE IT.

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #2 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #3 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #4 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: Poster needs a timeout.
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: I don't agree with the message.
Juror #6 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: This one has been on trolldar for a while. Even so the post is hide worthy on its own
Juror #7 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given

[brer cat]

15. I am having a real hard time

figuring out what this post has to do with the OP.

[valerief]

10. Those who claim to use Muslim as an insult sure as hell want to be more and more

like the Saudis. Almost like they're agents for the Saudis.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

11. This is just getting....dumb/ridiculous

The people running businesses should have absolutely NO say whatsoever about what their employees do in terms of their reproductive lives. Unbelievable!

[Enthusiast]

23. Yes, it's dumb and ridiculous. And it sure ain't freedom.

[JDPriestly]

13. I shall share my story once again.

My second pregnancy was difficult. After my beautiful baby was born, the doctor (in a French hospital, thank God for the French healthcare system) came to me and said that I and my baby were alive only thanks to a miracle and that I should never have another pregnancy and should see a doctor immediately if I thought I was pregnant.

Thank God for birth control.

I have two beautiful children. I have been married 51 years. And I am a strong proponent of a woman's right to choose and the right of a woman to use birth control (or a man for that matter).

I also strongly support universal healthcare.

I suggest that these Republicans who vote against birth control do a little research on the histories of their own ancestors. Women used to die in childbirth and routinely. Dying because of a pregnancy or childbirth today is unusual. This is not entirely due to birth control. But birth control is certainly a factor.

A woman who has had 18 pregnancies and who raises only six living, surviving children is, in my view the strongest argument for birth control. And she was not an anomaly in earlier times. A woman who can control the number of children she has is likely to be healthier than a woman who just pops out one baby after the other. She is more likely to have healthy babies and above all, she is more likely to have healthy children. Healthier children because the children she haves will have more of her, more time, more health, more strength, more patience.

Birth control should be free and should not be denied for any reason other than the rare instances in which it might damage the woman's health.

[Enthusiast]

22. Thanks for sharing that.

[brer cat]

16. I hope that republican women

and all younger women are paying attention. These neanderthals need to feel the wrath of totally pissed off women on both sides of the aisles.

[awoke_in_2003]

18. They won't

They will vote for the person their minister tells them to

[brer cat]

21. I know many republican women

and I don't know a single one who is told how to vote by a minister.

I also know that many republican women supported Roe v. Wade and want affordable birth control. They may not be one-issue voters and need to be fired up to make reproductive choice a top priority.

[awoke_in_2003]

26. and they keep voting for republicans...

who want to reverse Roe v. Wade. They are clueless or complicit.

[Cosmic Dancer]

35. When do we stop defending these morons that vote these thugs into office?

[brer cat]

36. I don't know anyone on this forum

who defends the way republicans vote. I know republican women who support choice and access to birth control, however those are not always the deciding issues for them when they chose a candidate. That is not defending anyone, just stating a fact.

[Cosmic Dancer]

37. What are the deciding issues?

Tax cuts for the rich, Social Security/Medicare cuts, increases in military spending at the expense of social services and education. You tell me what are the deciding issues for these nuts...more guns, voter restrictions, another war... sounds like a defense to me I can't see any compelling right wing issues. This is what republican voters want, restricting rights for issues they don't agree with and no restrictions for issues they agree with.

[brer cat]

38. I guess I don't know what you are meaning by defense.

They have their reasons to vote republican however misguided they are, but I am certainly not suggesting that their reasons are good or even make sense in some cases. It is one thing to point out their reasons but something else entirely to defend those reasons.

My original post on this thread was to point out that some republican women support choice and access to affordable birth control. It is my hope they will get mad enough at the jerks in congress to vote based on THOSE issues and not on how they feel about big government, taxes or any other issue near and dear to their hearts.

[Enthusiast]

20. Seems to me this could be parlayed into a strong election issue.

Most families have used birth control, even in the reddest of states.

This is fucking extremism and way outside the mainstream.

[pansypoo53219]

24. the rite's fetus FETISH.

[jeff47]

25. Hey Rep. Pelosi? Where's the bill to make that DC law a federal law?

Will it pass? Nope. But such a bill would require Republicans to come out against it. Might be kinda helpful with that whole "election" thing coming up soon.

In other words, start going on offense instead of just releasing angry statements.

[SPCraft71]

27. You're right! It won't .....

... pass!!!

I sure would LOVE to see the Democratic party go on the offensive, though! Force the Republicans to commit to a position .....

[Hekate]

30. Aw, it's an echo. Welcome to DU.

[Vinca]

28. I'm curious. How would they know?

It's highly unlikely a female employee would be able to get health insurance that covers contraception from this sort of employer. Does the boss stop by the house every morning to see if she's taking the pill? Or do they do IUD string checks? Puzzling. I'm sure the GOP hobbyist gynecologists will let us know.

[hollowdweller]

31. Is this real? You mean your employer CAN fire you for using birth control??

I knew about religious businesses not wanting their insurance to cover birth control. But if somebody uses it with one of these employers they can fire you? How is that about freedom?

[blkmusclmachine]

32. http://rhrealitycheck.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/files/teaser-images/2012-02-20-hayne-375x250.png

[NYtoBush-Drop Dead]

39. How is that not illegal?

If ONLY there was retro active abortion for this GOP crop!

[geek tragedy]

44. Spam. nt