Despite all the right-wing smearing, Planned Parenthood is extremely popular among the American public. In 2015, an NBC News and Wall Street Journal poll revealed the health services provider was more popular than any presidential candidate, President Obama, both political parties, the Supreme Court and the NRA.
That same poll came out again this week and - surprise, surprise - Planned Parenthood is the second most popular out of the list of key politicians and institutions, with 50% responding positively. Only the FBI is more popular.
But spitting in the face of that popularity are the Republicans. Earlier this month, without any press or fanfare, Trump signed legislation that rolls back an Obama-era regulation requiring states to pass along family-planning grants to organizations who have the ability to provide Title X services, regardless of whether or not the organization offers abortion services.
Now, states can once again block Title X funding to Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers, even though about three percent of Planned Parenthood services are abortion-related. To get this through Congress, Republicans once again used the nearly forgotten Congressional Review Act, a law from 1996 that allows lawmakers "to overturn any regulation imposed during the final six months of the previous administration, with a simple majority vote in each chamber of Congress.” But they still needed Mike Pence to break the tie. Pence, of course, said it was his “honor” to be the deciding vote.
For this reason, and many more, the latest activism is focused on what is happening on the state level. Illinois, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Ohio and Montana are all in the news. So today, we’re asking that you get involved right now with three of the most prominent and most effective organizations fighting to defend access to safe abortion and other health services.
- Planned Parenthood Action Fund is the activism arm of Planned Parenthood and is currently focusing on the fight for birth control access and defending the attacks on Title X, as well as encouraging supporters to host local events that include activism trainings and rallies. Head over to PlannedParenthoodAction.org to get involved and follow them on Twitter at @PPact.
- The Center for Reproductive Rights is like the ACLU for reproductive rights. Operating with the value that reproductive freedom is a fundamental human right that must be protected, their lawyers work in the courts to challenge laws that violate or inhibit access to this right in the US and internationally. Visit ReproductiveRights.org to get involved and follow them on Twitter at @ReproRights
- And finally, there is All Above All, an organization committed to overturning the Hyde Amendment, which, as you may know, blocks any federal funding from going to abortion services, leaving low-income individuals with limited or no access. Check out the #BeBoldEndHyde hashtag on Twitter and follow them at @AllAboveAll. To find local actions and get involved, visit All Above All.
All of these organizations are working to pass the the EACH Woman Act and the Women's Health Protection Act. The EACH Woman Act ensures a person’s decision about abortion is not based on their income or insurance, and the Women’s Health Protection Act is designed to protect a woman’s choice no matter where she lives.
So if making sure people can make their own healthcare decisions is important to you, then be sure to hit the share buttons to spread the word about protecting reproductive rights at the state level via social media so that others in your network can take action too.
Trump & Congress have been attacking women's health & rights since day one. We must get louder: https://t.co/rYcj9bBOzD #ResistanceRecess pic.twitter.com/vlGJWmn95Y
— Planned Parenthood (@PPact) April 13, 2017
TAKE ACTION
Get involved with Planned Parenthood Action Fund and follow @PPact
Get involved with The Center for Reproductive Rights and follow @ReproRights
Get involved with All Above All and follow @AllAboveAll
EDUCATE YOURSELF
State lawmakers rush to protect funding for Planned Parenthood (PBS Newshour)
Minnesota House backs ban on state dollars for abortion (StarTribune)
Governor Bullock lets Montana abortion bill become law (Missoulian)
Women march outside as abortion bill debated inside (The State Journal-Register)
Trump Signs Law Giving States Option To Deny Funding For Planned Parenthood (NPR)
Why is Planned Parenthood popular? And if it's defunded, could any other organization fill the gap? (LA Times)
Who's Popular and Who Isn't? (NBC News)
The EACH Woman Act (Congress.gov)
Women's Health Protection Act (Congress.gov)
Posted April 24, 2017; Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman.
Hear the segment in the context of Best of the Left Edition #1098: Trump and Republicans take aim at women (Reproductive Justice)