Nelson-Hatch Defeated in the Senate!

So it looks like the presence of 1,000 pro-choice activists DID have an impact on Capitol Hill! Nelson-Hatch was tabled in the Senate in a 54-45 vote. This amendment would have prohibited individuals receiving federal subsidies from buying private insurance plans that cover abortion and, would in effect ban the public option from covering abortion services altogether. It would also have allowed insurance plan administrators and those running the insurance exchanges to actively discriminate against insurance plans that offer abortion coverage.

As the health care reform bill moves to conference, it is important to keep the pressure on your Representatives and Senators to ensure that this type of harmful language is not present in the final bill. Please continue to contact Representative Langevin, Representative Kennedy, Senator Reed, and Senator Whitehouse. Let them know that while you appreciate their commitment to health care, it is important that women are not worse off after reform and with less benefits than they have now. If possible, contact Representative Kennedy and thank him for his dedication to women's right, despite continued harassment by Bishop Tobin.


Contact information for Rhode Island Senators/Representatives:


Representative Patrick Kennedy, 1st Congressional District
DC Office: (202) 225-4911
RI Office: (401) 729-5600

Representative Jim Langevin, 2nd Congressional District
DC Office: (202) 225-2735
RI Office: (401) 732-9400

Senator Jack Reed
DC Office: (202) 224-4642
RI Office: (401) 943-3100


Senator Sheldon Whitehouse
DC Office: (202) 224-2921
RI Office: (401) 453-5294

Representative Barbara Lee Tells It Like It is

Great video clip of Representative Barbara Lee (D, California, 9th district - Oakland) speaking out against Stupak.

Federal Lobby Day Update/Bishop Tobin on Hardball with Chris Matthews.

On Wednesday of last week, 2to1: The Coalition to Preserve Choice joined dozens of other groups (almost 1,000 people total!) in Washington, D.C., for a day of action and lobbying. Thank you thank you to our friends at Planned Parenthood of Southern New England for organizing a bus and letting me tag along. After an overnight bus ride, we had the opportunity to meet with Senator Reed's health staffer, Kate Mevis, Representative Jim Langevin and his health staffer Todd Adams, and Representative Patrick Kennedy and his health staffer Rachel Bisi. We will meet with Senator Whitehouse in the future if necessary. It was great to be in DC in the midst of the health care reform debate and be able to make contact with Rhode Island's Senators and Representatives in regards to keeping Stupak-like language out of the Senate bill.




One more thing..check out this video of Bishop Tobin attempting to defend himself and his attack on Patrick Kennedy.

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