Category Archives: ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Oklahoma Is At It Again: State Legislature Passes Bill Stripping Abortion Coverage From Health Insurance


by Amanda Terkel

As ThinkProgress has reported, many far-right members of the Oklahoma legislature have made denying women rights a full-time mission. What the legislature has done in recent weeks:

– Both the House and the Senate passed a law mandating the collection of personal details about every single abortion performed in the state, which will then be posted on a public website.

– The legislature overrode the governor’s veto of an ultrasound mandate, which requires that doctor’s show women seeking an abortion ultrasounds of their babies and “describe the size of the fetus and any viewable organs and limbs. There are no exceptions for rape or incest.” The law also “limits who can do the ultrasound and which technology can be used — issues lawmakers are ill-equipped to decide.”

– The legislature also overrode the governor’s veto of a measure to prevent women from filing “wrongful life” lawsuits against “doctors who withhold information about a fetus or pregnancy that could cause a woman to seek an abortion.”

Yesterday, the Oklahoma House was at it again, this time passing a bill (HB 3290) by a 70-21 vote to bar private insurance companies from covering abortion. From the legislation:

No health plan, including health insurance contracts, plans or policies, offered outside of the state Exchange, but within the state, shall provide coverage for elective abortions except by optional separate supplemental coverage for abortion for which there must be paid a separate premium in accordance with subsection D of this act.

The bill does provide “exceptions in cases of rape and incest or to prevent the death of the mother.” Rep. Skye McNiel (R), the author of the legislation, said that it was simply meant to “ban state insurance exchanges created under the recently signed federal health care legislation from covering abortion procedures.” However, several legislators — including a Republican Rep. Doug Cox, who is also a doctor — spoke out against what the House was doing:

“This bill is nothing but pure politics so people can go home and stand up and beat their chests and say, ‘I voted against abortion of any type,’” Cox said. “You’re going to be trampling on some people who are good Christian people who are against abortion, but when it comes to one of these sad, terribly sad, freaks of nature that happen, you’re going to be punishing those good Christian people who are against abortion except in these cases.”

As CAP’s Jessica Arons has pointed out, making women purchase a separate abortion “rider” — as this legislation does — is discriminatory and requires women “to plan for a completely unexpected event.” Similarly, Rep. Jeannie McDaniel (D), who also voted against the bill, read a letter from a doctor who said that it’s unfair to require women to purchase special abortion coverage in advance because “a medically necessary termination of pregnancy is something that no family plans for or anticipates.” According to Cox, paying for abortion without insurance could cost a woman $10,000.

Oklahoma joins other states such as Arizona, Mississippi, and Tennessee in prohibiting insurers from offering abortion coverage in state exchanges, even if it’s paid for with private dollars.

State Sen. Steve Russell (R) recently tried to justify the abortion-reporting bill by saying, “This is not about women. It is about children in the womb deserving a life that got created.” The fact that lawmakers like Russell are leaving women’s interests out of the equation underscores the problem of what’s going on in Oklahoma.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Call on Congress to Reject Rate Hikes


Today, Health Care for America Now released a report1 on insurance company profits and the results are stunning.  In the first quarter of 2010 the profits of the five biggest insurers increased at record levels while they covered less people and spent less on care.  That’s why we need to give the federal and state governments more power to reject and modify rate hikes.

Health Care champions Senator Dianne Feinstein of California and Representative Jan Schakowsky (IL-9) have introduced legislation2 that will build upon the landmark health care law that was passed in March and give the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) the authority to end unjust premium increases.

Click here to call your Member of Congress and tell them you support this legislation that would make health care more affordable for businesses and families.

The Insurance Company’s recent behavior3 has shown they will do and say anything to keep their bloated CEO pay and inflated profits by denying our care and jacking up our rates.   We need to give regulators the power and resources to check the insurance companies and stop business as usual.

Click here and call your Member of Congress and tell them you support giving regulators more authority to bring the insurance companies under control and stop outrageous rate increases.

In Solidarity,

Melinda Gibson
Health Care for America Now

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Dead dolphins wash up on the Gulf Coast. by Amanda Terkel


As ThinkProgress has documented, the BP oil spill off of Louisiana’s coast threatens more than 400 species, with the potential “devastation beyond human comprehension.” Already, brown pelicans, sea turtles, and various types of fish have turned up dead. Now, the National Marine Fisheries Service is reporting that six dolphin carcasses have also been found in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama since May 2. The AP reports that officials are reporting the deaths as “oil spill-related even though other factors may be to blame.” Watch a video taken by NRDC staff of dolphins swimming in water with oil dispersants:

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

ThinkProgress.org


UNDER THE RADAR

ECONOMY — DESPITE MILITARY OPPOSITION, BROWNBACK CONTINUES PUSH TO EXEMPT AUTO DEALERS FROM NEW CONSUMER PROTECTIONS: Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS) has offered up an amendment to the Senate financial reform legislation that would protect auto dealers’ ability to engage in unscrupulous lending practices. The move, which mirrors an amendment included in the House version of the legislation, prompted an interjection from President Obama, who blasted Brownback’s amendment, saying it would allow auto dealer-lenders to “inflate rates, insert hidden fees into the fine print of paperwork, and include expensive add-ons that catch purchasers by surprise.” “The fact is, auto dealer-lenders make nearly 80 percent of the automobile loans in our country, and these lenders should be subject to the same standards as any local or community bank that provides loans,” said Obama. The President also singled out the harm the amendment could cause military families, who are often targets of these deceptive practices. In February, the Defense Department in February weighed in on the auto dealer-lender exemption, hailing the “intervention of the CFPA in overseeing auto financing and sales” in protecting U.S. servicemembers and “reducing the concerns they have over their financial well-being.” Yesterday, Secretary of the Army John McHugh wrote a letter to Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) expressing his “strong concerns” about the Brownback amendment. Research by the Cambridge Winter Center for Financial Institutions Policy has found that “auto finance is demonstrably susceptible to unfair and deceptive practices” — including mark ups and a host of fees — “and those practices are demonstrably not held in check by private market forces alone.”  In fact, The New York Times this week detailed one instance of a dealer exploiting a member of the military by demanding more fees after a purchase was already completed, while physically blocking his car to that the soldier could not leave until he agreed to pay.

~ my 2cents ..., ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

wacky Wednesday and some News …


I will go on a limb and state that the WSJ picture being discussed with Kagan up to bat is suggestive …maybe a switch hitter?  putting the question out there …  just so everyone wonders feeding the rumor which feeds more questions …  the intent is clear, the question is will people get pulled in;  maybe i’m naïve but who really cares what people do in their private life as long as the candidate is qualified for the job,  truthful about who you are and not hurting anyone or themselves.

It’s wacky Wednesday and some News …and what is more wacky than the news that Arizona Gov has signed a bill that will impact ethnic studies classes everywhere … what is going on in Arizona ?  The measure signed Tuesday prohibits classes that advocate ethnic solidarity, designed primarily for students of a particular race or that promote resentment toward a certain ethnic group.        Other wacky news …The SEC and the news about how it functioned while we needed them to do their jobs is kinda wacky … isn’t this a no brainer … put in good financial regulations, a protocol for all, enforce the rules regulations and policies when evidence comes in … say maybe a whistle-blower … uh investigate it …and possible enforce the law…but hey now days that seems like a novel idea…even wacky; pretty sure there are more stories to come … like watching/listening to in my opinion were the three stooges point the finger at the other instead of taking a group responsibility for the oil dump which has yet to be completely stopped.

The issues on the Congressional table continue to bring conflict.  Today S3217 and Climate Change will get some attention as Senators Kerry/Lieberman face it head on. At this time Immigration  Reform seems to be on hold and apparently some issues bring back  Health-Care as insurers and the chamber of commerce have posed issues and challenges to parents having their grown children covered until 26; believe me, it will be obvious when you find out and or compare what it would be if your male child had to get insurance on his own vs a female and then add any or all health issues … the new deal is great for We the People. Apparently, health care is definitely back in the news as Senator Anthony Weiner wants to do a meet up Click here to let me know what you think on Facebook. join in and make sure we all move into the 21st Century.

Other news …

**Los Angeles votes to boycott Arizona until it repeals it’s new law promoting legal racial profiling

**The House of Reps Voted and passed coverage Vet Benefits bill 417-0 /14 not voting and support for Women’s health care week passed as well

** 1090am/ Thom hartmann give Bay Buchanan the what for about Kagan and her qualifications comments

** A flash mob “infiltrates” the Westin St. Francis hotel in San Francisco, CA, performing an adaptation of Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” to show support for “a boycott called by the workers of the hotel who are fighting to win a fair contract and affordable healthcare.” Watch it here.TP

**what could be more wacky then the AZ gov signing a bill targeting ethnic studies

**correction to the Kagan vs the Military; the rules,policies and regulations were in place before Kagan was hired

**The Republican National Committee (RNC) announced that it will hold its 2012 convention in Tampa, FL, citing the fact that it has been “a key targeted state in the past several elections, and it’ll continue to be in future elections.” One of the finalists the RNC notably passed over was Phoenix, AZ, which some conservatives were hoping the GOP would choose to show support for the state’s news anti-immigration law.TP



C-SPAN …

watch Meeting with Sen. Reid watch Meeting with Sen. McConnell  5/12

watch White House Press Briefing

watch Childhood Obesity Task Force Event

watch Senate Hearing on Immigration

watch Spkr. Pelosi Briefing on Middle East Delegation

watch Panel 1 watch Panel 2 Senate Energy Cmte/oil drilling

Sen. Kerry: “We want to make this the Senate where we finish the job.”

Sens. John Kerry (D-MA) and Joe Lieberman (I-CT) released their climate and clean-energy legislation today. Sen. Kerry said the bill is essential for the United States to remain globally competitive and in control of its energy situation. “If we want to claim our share, we need to lead,” he said. The bill is expected to include provisions that create clean-energy jobs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and shift away from imported oil following the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

visit Kerry Lieberman Bill

Afghan President in Washington to Discuss War Effort

Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai will meet with Pres. Obama to deliberate on matters of the war effort in Afghanistan. Both are expected to discuss ways to resolve disputes over corruption and a possible timeline for withdrawing American forces. Yesterday, Sec. of State Hillary Clinton met with Pres. Karzai for closed-door talks.

watch Joint News Conference: c-span.org, 11:15am ET
read REUTERS: U.S. Courts Karzai read AP: Clinton Reassures Afghans

Lawmakers Investigate Oil Spill Prevention Measures

Appearing for a second day on Capitol Hill, BP America Inc. Pres. Lamar McKay and Transocean Ltd. Pres. Steve Newman give their accounts on what caused the explosion on the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico. Chairman Bart Stupack (D-MI) holds this House Oversight Subcmte. hearing to discuss how to prevent future incidents and the direction of U.S. national energy policy.