In my inbox today:
Dear Lisa,
You have joined us in standing up for women’s health in the past, so I wanted to give you an update on the latest news. Yesterday afternoon, the Department of Health and Human Services issued the latest version of their health care regulations. The latest draft proves once again the Bush administration is jeopardizing women’s health by putting their ideology first.
Senator Clinton and her colleague Senator Patty Murray are working hard on this issue. Together they are fighting on behalf of women everywhere to make sure this attempt does not go unnoticed. Make no mistake — the Bush Administration is threatening access to family planning options for women who need them most.
That is why it is so important that we continue our fight. We still need your help as we continue to oppose these attempts to undermine women’s health care. If you have not yet signed the petition, I hope you will today, or please send this to your friends and ask them to join us.
Click here to sign the petition
We have already seen the difference your support can make. These new regulations do not include some of the most objectionable language from the earlier draft. I believe that is because so many of you have joined Senator Clinton in speaking out, and I want to thank you for helping with this effort.
But we are not done yet.
The newest version continues to be a problem. Instead of increasing women’s access to health care, these regulations would further complicate the process, adding additional barriers to women’s ability to get quality care.
Now that these regulations have been published in the Federal Register, the public has 30 days to comment (email address is consciencecomment@hhs.gov). It is so important that we continue to speak up and make clear that we oppose any last-minute Bush administration attempts to undermine women’s health!
Please ask your friends to join us by signing here, so that we can send all your signatures and comments to HHS.
Thank you,
Ann F. Lewis
Ann Lewis, Director of Communications for HILLPAC and Friends of Hillary, served in the White House from 1997 2000 as Director of Communications and then Counselor to President Bill Clinton. She was Director of Communications and Deputy Campaign Manager for the Clinton-Gore Re-Election Campaign in 1995- 1996, and Senior Advisor to the campaign of Hillary Rodham Clinton for U.S. Senate in 2000. As the National Chair of the DNC Women’s Vote Center, she led the Democratic Party’s major initiative to reach, engage, and mobilize women voters from 2002- 2004.
I remember hearing about this and thinking: Does HHS not have more pressing concerns? Is their number one goal seriously to push through the most inane anti-choice legislation to endear McCain to the pro-lifers, and fuck anyone who might get hurt along the way? Then my question answered itself.
The e-mail isn’t very specific, so it’s worth pointing out that the regulations in question require that no hospital or clinic receiving federal funds requires any of their doctors to perform abortions; they must sign statements to this effect. This is, ostensibly, to protect doctors from ever having to do anything they feel is immoral. Suspiciously not protected: a doctor’s right to make the moral decision to treat her patient by performing an abortion, should the hospital be able yet unwilling to host such procedures.
Earlier drafts defined abortion in a way that would include a substantial amount of hormonal birth control, but someone screamed loudly enough to kill that version (I think; I don’t know what the exact changes were).
And this is apparently the best use of HHS’ time. Further restricting women’s access to health care.