An "Office of Unborn Children's Health"
Last week, Congress began the formal process of overhauling the nation's health-care system as the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee began to mark up** its health-care reform legislation - the Affordable Health Choices Act. This committee is one of five congressional panels with jurisdiction over this broad policy area.
During this first stage of the mark-up process, Republicans filed 300-plus amendments that address women's health in some way, approximately a dozen of which are anti-choice. Which one do you think jumped out at us right away? An amendment from (whom else?) Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) to establish a federal "Office of Unborn Children's Health."
Yes, you read that correctly.
I did a little perusing of the amendment's language, and it goes from unreasonable to absurd in under 20 seconds. Still, it's hardly shocking, given the sponsor. Sen. Coburn of Oklahoma is one of the most unrelentingly anti-choice members of Congress. During his 2004 Senate campaign, Coburn told the Associated Press, "I favor the death penalty for abortionists and other people who take life." Coburn is also on record as opposing abortion even in cases of rape or incest. And this "Office of Unborn Children's Health" proposal is one of just nine amendments he's filed on the health-care reform bill thus far. With so many Americans lacking basic health care, it is unconscionable that Sen. Coburn continues to use legislation on this important issue as a means to continue his ideological attacks.
It's important to note that, at this time, this amendment has not yet been offered - but the mark-up continues so we'll update you as we learn more. It's going to be a long summer...
** "Mark up" is D.C. lingo for going through the bill line by line and allowing lawmakers to offer amendments. It's exactly as exciting as it sounds, I'm told.
Tags:
abortion, Affordable Health Choices Act, health care, HELP, mark up, Office of Unborn Children's Health, Sen. Coburn, Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions Committee,
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Wow. What are the other anti-choice amendments?
"Unconscionable" is too kind. This ham-handed grandstanding is insulting and wasteful of time and resources.
Hi Nan - Here are some of the few anti-choice amendments:
1. A large refusal clause;
2. Five reproductive-health-related attacks on school-based health centers;
3. Minors restrictions, including parental consent and mandatory reporting requirements for statutory rape; and
4. The creation of a program to promote anti-choice crisis pregnancy centers.
Why in the world would you classify mandatory reporting requirements for statutory rape as anti-choice?
Is this Oklahoma Idiot a Baptist by any chance? He sounds like the senseless idiots masquerading as Christians that drove me out of the organized church 60 years ago. And he has to be kin to the other Oklahoma fool, Inhofe.
Where do I sign up to help get a progressive democrat voted in as Kansas's senator in 2010? This right-wing, religious scumbag can not be voted back for another term!
My child died at 11 gestational weeks. An Office of Unborn Children's Health could help with answers to miscarriage. I heard her heart beat.
(Side note- I have suffered a lot- physicallly, emotionally, psychologically when my unborn child died. It affects more than just the baby.)
Again, I ask...Why in the world would you classify mandatory reporting requirements for statutory rape as anti-choice?
Statutory rape can be consensual sex between two high school students who are dating. For example if a senior who was held back a year is dating a sophomore, in some states she, at 14 or 15, is not old enough to legally consent and he, at 19, is considered an adult. That could be statutory rape. If the young woman wants an abortion, the clinic would have to report her pregnancy as a result of statutory rape, possibly resulting in a criminal conviction for the young man. That does not leave the young couple with any viable alternative if they wanted to abort the fetus. Thus, it would pragmatically be "anti-choice."
Janet, you have my sympathy. Losing any child is traumatic and I don't believe someone ever completely recovers from such a loss. If the Office of Unborn Children's Health addressed issues such as miscarriages, birth defects, and in vitro tumors, it would be great.
The problem I see is that the senator suggesting this office is extremely anti-choice. Based on his history, I can't imagine him creating this office as an R&D department where fetal development issues would be scientifically studied since it wouldn't fulfill any of his personal mandates. I tend to think it would be a political office addressing very narrow issues that would meet whatever agenda he is advancing.
Wow, his quotes make me sick. A woman raped has to go through the ordeal of carrying her attackers child? There are no words to describe just how vile this man is. I bet he is the kind of guy that thinks a raped woman brought the attack on herself. Why does he even have a career?
Perfect!
It's a crowded world. But, every one have the right to stay alive.Peace for every one..
I think this sounds great!!! If I were raped I would carry that baby, it's a baby! Pro-choice not so much, more like pro-selfishness! No choice for the baby, hey?
I agree with this post and the previous comment.Abortion is currently the only way a pregnant woman can depend herself against an unborn child. We should not make women feel bad or attempt to make them feel bad for choosing to defend themselves against their unborn children.
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