Weekly Pulse: The Religious Right vs. Birth Control

by Lindsay Beyerstein, Media Consortium blogger

Does health care reform’s promise of preventive care extend to free birth control? Officials at the Department of Health and Human Services have 18 months to decide whether to require insurers to provide oral contraceptives, IUDs, and other prescription birth control with no co-pay. With pro-choice Secretary Kathleen Sebelius at the helm, HHS is expected to say yes.

[Update: The Wall Street Journal is reporting that birth control will not be on the White House's preliminary list of free preventive services, to be issued today. However, as Miriam Perez of feministing explains, HHS will ultimately have the final word. Observers, including Dana Goldstein who covers reproductive rights for the Daily Beast, are optimistic that the pro-choice side will carry the day at HHS.]

As a parent-to-be I am elated to about the Safe Chemicals Act. But while I understand parents’ fears about toxic chemicals, this is only the tip of of an iceberg, the rest of which is made up of those with the highest level of exposure: The workers.

Written by Dana Ginn Paredes for RHRealityCheck.org – News, commentary and community for reproductive health and justice.

by Lindsay Beyerstein, Media Consortium blogger

Fifty years ago, the Food and Drug Administration approved the first birth control pill. Needless to say, the repercussions of this medical and public policy breakthrough are still being felt today.

Think the US Government is protecting against those invisible toxins in the air, in our water, in the food we eat, in the containers that store the food and beverages we consume? Think again.

Written by Amie Newman for RHRealityCheck.org – News, commentary and community for reproductive health and justice.

Despite the introduction of thousands of new chemicals into the products we use every day, the Toxic Substances Control Act has undergone no revisions since 1976.

Written by Jennifer Rogers for RHRealityCheck.org – News, commentary and community for reproductive health and justice.

By Lindsay Beyerstein, Media Consortium blogger

Yesterday, President Obama signed health care reform into law. As Mike Lillis explains in the Washington Independent, the bill now proceeds to the Senate for reconciliation. The whole process could be complete by the end of the week. Republicans and their allies have already moved to challenge reform in court.

Talking about the lies being spread by anti-choice leaders regarding the Senate health care bill.

First preview for a documentary on pro-choice clinic escorts and the Washington Area Clinic Defense Task Force.

President Obama flinches every time support for abortion comes up in policy debates — from the stimulus bill to healthcare reform. How can we be motivated to come out to the polls when we doubt whether our needs are his priority?

Written by Loretta Ross for RHRealityCheck.org – News, commentary and community for reproductive health and justice.

Obama’s 2011 federal budget–to be released next week–will be a strong reflection of the moral vision of the President and his Administration.

Written by William Smith for RHRealityCheck.org – News, commentary and community for reproductive health and justice.