Republicans continue their war on women
Abortion Proposal Sets Condition on Aid
WASHINGTON - The Bush administration wants to require all recipients of aid under federal health programs to certify that they will not refuse to hire nurses and other providers who object to abortion and even certain types of birth control.
Under the draft of a proposed rule, hospitals, clinics, researchers and medical schools would have to sign "written certifications" as a prerequisite to getting money under any program run by the Department of Health and Human Services.
Such certification would also be required of state and local governments, forbidden to discriminate, in areas like grant-making, against hospitals and other institutions that have policies against providing abortion.
The proposal, which circulated in the department on Monday, says the new requirement is needed to ensure that federal money does not "support morally coercive or discriminatory practices or policies in violation of federal law." The administration said Congress had passed a number of laws to ensure that doctors, hospitals and health plans would not be forced to perform abortions.
In the proposal, obtained by The New York Times, the administration says it could cut off federal aid to individuals or entities that discriminate against people who object to abortion on the basis of "religious beliefs or moral convictions."
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: If your religion compromises your ability to do your job, then you should find a new fucking job, especially if your refusal to do your job has a direct impact on the health and life of another.
If you are so inclined, you can use the NARAL site to write to your Congressthings in protest.
This reminds me of something I read last month and forgot to blog. There are now "pro-life pharmacies" that will not stock any contraceptive materials whatsoever. Note that they are not required to clearly label themselves as such. I think if these places are allowed to operate, they should be required to hang giant signs in their windows that read: "FYI: WE DON'T BELIEVE WOMEN ARE REAL, INTELLIGENT HUMAN BEINGS." Then those of us who believe we ARE real, intelligent human beings could avoid them like the plague.
I tell you, it's enough to make me wish for access to retroactive abortion.
WASHINGTON - The Bush administration wants to require all recipients of aid under federal health programs to certify that they will not refuse to hire nurses and other providers who object to abortion and even certain types of birth control.
Under the draft of a proposed rule, hospitals, clinics, researchers and medical schools would have to sign "written certifications" as a prerequisite to getting money under any program run by the Department of Health and Human Services.
Such certification would also be required of state and local governments, forbidden to discriminate, in areas like grant-making, against hospitals and other institutions that have policies against providing abortion.
The proposal, which circulated in the department on Monday, says the new requirement is needed to ensure that federal money does not "support morally coercive or discriminatory practices or policies in violation of federal law." The administration said Congress had passed a number of laws to ensure that doctors, hospitals and health plans would not be forced to perform abortions.
In the proposal, obtained by The New York Times, the administration says it could cut off federal aid to individuals or entities that discriminate against people who object to abortion on the basis of "religious beliefs or moral convictions."
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: If your religion compromises your ability to do your job, then you should find a new fucking job, especially if your refusal to do your job has a direct impact on the health and life of another.
If you are so inclined, you can use the NARAL site to write to your Congressthings in protest.
This reminds me of something I read last month and forgot to blog. There are now "pro-life pharmacies" that will not stock any contraceptive materials whatsoever. Note that they are not required to clearly label themselves as such. I think if these places are allowed to operate, they should be required to hang giant signs in their windows that read: "FYI: WE DON'T BELIEVE WOMEN ARE REAL, INTELLIGENT HUMAN BEINGS." Then those of us who believe we ARE real, intelligent human beings could avoid them like the plague.
I tell you, it's enough to make me wish for access to retroactive abortion.