Planned Parenthood Advocate

What's at stake with Voter ID?

While groups all across Minnesota fight against the Photo ID Amendment, an amendment that would require government-issued photo ID before voting and would disenfranchise thousands of voters, a larger battle over voter registration and suppression rages on at a national level.

On September 12^th, Elisabeth MacNamara, the president of the League of Women Voters of the United States, testified before a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing and spoke about the importance of maintaining and protecting voters’ rights.

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan organization that was founded in 1920, six months before the ratification of the 19^th Amendment. Since literally the beginning of women’s right to vote in the United States, the League has been there to advocate for voters’ rights and make sure that everyone has the opportunity to have their voices heard in the elections. The League does not endorse any parties or candidates, but strives to provide equality and advocacy for all voters.

In MacNamara’s statement, she brought forward accounts of disenfranchised voters all over the country, victims of voter registration laws: elderly men and women unable to provide the needed paperwork to apply for government identification; college students sent vague, threatening letters from government officials, implying that they would have to un-register as voters because their cars were not registered in-state; disabled veterans unable to afford the time and money needed to procure the proper documentation of their identities. These harrowing personal accounts were just snapshots in the wave of numbers, as a study by the Brennan Center for Justice found that as many as five million eligible voters may be disenfranchised by new state voting laws. Compare this to the fact that not one case of voter fraud has been definitively found.

MacNamara ended her testimony with a plea to the judiciary to step in and held defend voters’ rights in the United States: “Our message, Mr. Chairman, was simply put by President Lincoln during the Civil War.  The United States must be a government “of the people, by the people, and for the people.” Restrictions on the right to vote limit the role of citizens in our democracy and are simply unacceptable.  So too are the decisions that have turned special interests loose to dominate our elections and distort our democracy.  We have a lot of work ahead” (MacNamara 11).

So while we fight to stop the voter restriction amendment in Minnesota, we are part of a larger movement to ensure suffrage for all Americans, as has been the law since women fought hard for those rights, 92 years ago.

To read the entirety of MacNamara’s testimony, visit http://www.judiciary.senate.gov/pdf/9-12-12MacNamaraTestimony.pdf.

To learn more about the voter restriction amendment in Minnesota and how to fight back against its attempt at voter suppression, visit http://www.ourvoteourfuture.org/.

To find out more about voter registration and pledge to vote, visit http://womenvote2012.blogspot.com/.

 

Citations

MacNamara, Elisabeth. United States. United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. STATEMENT BY ELISABETH MACNAMARA, PRESIDENT LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY ON THE CITIZENS UNITED COURT AND THE CONTINUING IMPORTANCE OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT. Washington DC: , 2012. Web. <http://www.judiciary.senate.gov/pdf/9-12-12MacNamaraTestimony.pdf>.

Planned Parenthood Stands with President Obama

Thanks to President Obama, being a woman is no longer a pre-existing condition—Cecile Richards

With both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions having reached their conclusion, each party has demonstrated to the electorate where they stand on the issues facing our nation.  In this election, more so than any other in recent history, women’s issues have risen to the forefront of the campaigns’ attentions, and it has never been more critical to stand behind the candidates who are standing with women. In this election, that’s President Obama.  

When Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards spoke at the DNC, she reminded us of how President Obama has been a faithful ally to women: signing the Lily Ledbetter Act, increasing access to birth control without co-pay, and ensuring no woman will be denied coverage for a pre-existing condition. 

These views stand in stark contrast to the Romney-Ryan ticket.  Having vowed to “get rid of” Planned Parenthood, to repeal the Affordable Care Act, to restrict women’s access to basic reproductive health care, and to support the overturn of Roe v. Wade, the extreme views of the Republican ticket would hurt women.  

While not everyone may agree wholly with the positions of either party, the extreme views of the Romney-Ryan ticket differ vastly from the moderate views of most Americans.  A recent poll found that 75% of adults think that even policy makers who oppose abortion should still support birth control.  Birth control is a basic, essential part of women’s health care, and the majority of Americans understand that.  We need to elect representatives who reflect these views, and value and trust women enough to let them make their own health care decisions.  The Republican ticket fails to recognize the vital role contraception plays in a woman’s life, and denying women access to affordable birth control, limits them in other facets of their life. 

Planned Parenthood Action Fund has proudly endorsed President Obama for a second term. His steadfast commitment to women ensures women will continue to have access to the essential care they deserve.  This November, let’s stand behind the candidate who’s stood with us.  

Moira, Web Correspondent, Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Datoka

Run with the Planned Parenthood Team at the Big Gay Race!

Join Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota in running the BIG GAY RACE on September 29th in Minneapolis!

The Big Gay Race is put on by Minnesotans United For All Families, and all proceeds will go towards opposing the constitutional amendment. “Planned Parenthood has always stood up for people’s right to make life’s most profound and intimate choices,” said PPMNS Board Chair Sarah Dodge. “All people, regardless of their sexual orientation, should be free to make their own choices about love, commitment and relationships.”

HERE’S HOW TO JOIN THE PLANNED PARENTHOOD TEAM:

1.  The Big Gay Race is put on by Minnesotans United for All Families. Please use their registration form to register for the race. All fitness levels welcome...walk, jog or race at your own pace! >REGISTER

2. To sign up for the Planned Parenthood team, email advocacy@ppmns.org and say you'd like to join the Planned Parenthood team. Team members will receive a free Planned Parenthood t-shirts to wear during the race to show that Planned Parenthood supports ALL Minnesota families, so let us know your t-shirt size! (To ensure that you receive a t-shirt, you must register by Sept 13th T-shirts still available, sizes not guaranteed)

3. Watch for a response email from Planned Parenthood to confirm that you are on the Planned Parenthood team and that you've signed up for the race separately using the Minnesotans United for All Families registration form.

Want to help, but running (or walking) isn't your thing? Sign up to volunteer! We'll have two shifts, one from 6:45am-9am, and one from 9am-12pm. We'll need all hands on deck for both. Email advocacy@ppmns.org to sign up!

You can also support the Planned Parenthood team by making a donation to Minnesotans United for All Families on Planned Parenthood’s team page!

We hope you will join Planned Parenthood in asking Minnesotans to stand up for all families and vote NO on the constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage. Sign up to participate today!

-Karina, Web Editor

Planned Parenthood Action Fund Fall Fundraiser with Celinda Lake

Please join the Planned Parenthood Action Fund and the host committee for a very special fundraiser at Planned Parenthood’s new flagship headquarters featuring Celinda Lake, a pollster, political strategist and expert on the influence women on elections. We will also honor Connie Perpich for her 27 years of advocating for women's health. The evening is sure to energize us for the upcoming election and inspire us to reaffirm our commitment to the issues we care so much about.

The Fight for Women’s Health
Sept 27, 5:30-7:30
671 Vandalia Street, St. Paul, MN 55114

>RSVP TODAY! Space is limited!

 

CELINDA LAKE
Celinda Lake, a leading political pundit and strategist, serves as tactician and senior advisor to many organzations, the national party committees, and scores of incumbent candidates and challengers at all levels of the electoral process. Celinda and her firm, Lake Research Partners, are known for cutting-edge research on issues including the economy, health care, the environment, and education. Additionally, Lake co-authored the book What Women Really Want which examines the way women are changing the political landscape in America. Celinda will offer her insights and expertise on the decisive role of women in the critical 2012 election.

CONNIE PERPICH

In her remarkable twenty-seven years of advocating for women, the impact of Connie Perpich’s contributions to the health and civic life of Minnesota cannot be overstated. Connie’s fearless, bold, and extraordinarily likable style greased the wheels of change at the legislature where she lobbied on behalf of Planned Parenthood and the women’s health issues we champion. Helping to establish the Minnesota state family program is just one of Connie’s many achievements. The program exists today, nearly thirty years later, in part because of Connie’s tireless efforts to safeguard it through the years. Tens of thousands of women across Minnesota have access to affordable birth control every year, in no small part because of Connie.

>CLICK TO RSVP

STIs on the Rise in South Dakota

Alanna McFall

A disturbing trend has recently come to light concerning the spread of sexually transmitted infections in South Dakota.

The South Dakota Department of Health has released the July 2012 Health and Disease Summary, a monthly report that records the numbers of reportable diseases in South Dakota from the beginning of the year through July, and compares the numbers to the average recordings found in the last five years.

 2124 cases of Chlamydia were recorded between January 1^st and July 31^st, a 24% rise from the five-year median. Numbers of HIV/AIDS have risen by 33%, and rates of gonorrhea came in 58% over the previous average.

Perhaps the most startling rise, however, comes in the recorded cases of syphilis. Nine cases of syphilis have been reported in South Dakota in 2012. However, as the disease has been so rare in the area, this is a rise of 350% from the five year median ("July 2012 Health and Disease summary").

These numbers, and the ages behind them, highlight the importance of sexual education for people of all ages, and especially among teenagers and young adults. The new cases of gonorrhea and Chlamydia are largely focused in the 15-24 year old demographic, with 185 gonorrhea cases and 1530 Chlamydia cases. The nine syphilis cases, however, are all comprised of older adults, with six cases reported in people between ages 40 and 64.

The lack of awareness and education abut safer sex is reflected in these troubling numbers. In an interview with The Daily Republic, a South Dakota publication, state epidemiologist Dr. Lon Kightlinger said “People aren’t having safe sex…[State reporting] can go a long ways to helping stop these diseases from spreading, but it is still alarming to see how this disease can start with one person and spread like a web” (Huber).

Hopefully, unfortunate numbers like this can bring about the push for greater openness and education about the spread and risks of sexually transmitted infections. Schools need to be able to give their students thorough, factual and practical information about the sexual choices they are making, and parents need to be willing to have the conversation with their children as well. Only then can the spread of these serious diseases be stemmed.