(no subject)
Ms. Patwardhan, Kripa
Dear Ms. Patwardhan:
Knowing of your interest in the ongoing debate in Congress over health care reform, I wanted to update you on a number of votes and positions that I have taken during the process.
...
On the issue of abortion, I studied the bill closely to ensure that no taxpayer dollars will be used to fund abortions. I am convinced that this legislation strictly adheres to the requirements of the Hyde Amendment. It also includes clear conscience provisions for providers and consumers who elect to reject a plan that offers such coverage.
...
As the Senate continues to debate health care reform, please be assured that your views will be very helpful to me and my staff. I hope that you will continue to share your thoughts with us in the years ahead.
Thank you again for your interest in this important matter.
Sincerely,
Jim Webb
United States Senator
JW: KW
Actually, Senator Webb, now I'm just even more concerned about health care reform. You see, I don't think the Hyde Amendment was actually a good thing. It was harmful for women, particularly low-income women. And let me ask you this - why are the morals of the religious right honored at the expense of poor women's sexual and reproductive autonomy while my morals are thrown under the bus in favor of, say, big agriculture and the military quagmire going on in Iraq? I would LOVE it if the Hyde Amendment were scrapped. What worries me is that health care reform will restrict abortion coverage even further than what the Hyde Amendment currently does. What makes me, as a young, pro-choice woman of color, any less of your constituent than old, pro-life, white men? I trust you'll have a satisfactory answer for that soon.
Dear Ms. Patwardhan:
Knowing of your interest in the ongoing debate in Congress over health care reform, I wanted to update you on a number of votes and positions that I have taken during the process.
...
On the issue of abortion, I studied the bill closely to ensure that no taxpayer dollars will be used to fund abortions. I am convinced that this legislation strictly adheres to the requirements of the Hyde Amendment. It also includes clear conscience provisions for providers and consumers who elect to reject a plan that offers such coverage.
...
As the Senate continues to debate health care reform, please be assured that your views will be very helpful to me and my staff. I hope that you will continue to share your thoughts with us in the years ahead.
Thank you again for your interest in this important matter.
Sincerely,
Jim Webb
United States Senator
JW: KW
Actually, Senator Webb, now I'm just even more concerned about health care reform. You see, I don't think the Hyde Amendment was actually a good thing. It was harmful for women, particularly low-income women. And let me ask you this - why are the morals of the religious right honored at the expense of poor women's sexual and reproductive autonomy while my morals are thrown under the bus in favor of, say, big agriculture and the military quagmire going on in Iraq? I would LOVE it if the Hyde Amendment were scrapped. What worries me is that health care reform will restrict abortion coverage even further than what the Hyde Amendment currently does. What makes me, as a young, pro-choice woman of color, any less of your constituent than old, pro-life, white men? I trust you'll have a satisfactory answer for that soon.