Search
A few examples of how in New York we legislate against EQUALITY, AUTONOMY AND FREEDOM
Thanks to NARAL-Pro Choice for keeping track of this information at prochoiceamerica.org : New York Legislation.
I have made myself a promise : EQUALITY, AUTONOMY AND FREEDOM are going to be my issues to jour in the coming elections. I believe many legislative and political decisions made in this country in the last 20 years have been towards curtailing these three precepts of our culture.
We've lost ground on equal rights under the law, not just on reproductive issues, but in the broader idea of social justice. So you have environmental, educational or even national & state security policies that disregard the precepts of equal protection under the law.
We have lost ground also on law regarding autonomy : Reproductive autonomy and hence the individual autonomy of women --especially teenagers. Personal autonomy is, of course, springs from the more general idea of freedom. Autonomy though, when it involves a child and their learning path --a path that may take them against schooling--; is not only negated but attacked in many education regulations and laws in this state; making it one of the least progressive states in the country when it comes to education legislation.
As to freedom; there is nothing more patently against freedom than the Patriot Act. Less 'in your face' but more of a nightmare are the digital restrictions management laws which have been successfully been used not only to curtail the free movement of ideas in this country but even of people (aka, workers carrying 'intellectual property' owned by their employers).
In the following list of bills you can see a pattern of mandated co-ersion. Women under the law have become nothing more than incubators in a political game of human harvesting.
ABORTION BANS AFTER 12 WEEKS
Bill Number: NY A 6433
Summary: Bans safe, medically appropriate abortions as early as 12 weeks of pregnancy without exception to protect women's health.
Sponsor: Manning (R)
Introduced: 03/11/2005
Last Action: IntroducedBill Number: NY S 1868
Summary: Bans safe, medically appropriate abortions as early as 12 weeks of pregnancy without exception to protect women's health.
Sponsor: Maltese (R)
Introduced: 02/04/2005
Last Action: IntroducedABSTINENCE-ONLY
Bill Number: NY A 554
Summary: Appropriates funds for abstinence education.
Sponsor: Office of the Governor
Introduced: 01/18/2005
Last Action: Enacted with Governor's Signature
Last Action Date: 04/12/2005ANTI-CHOICE CLINICS
Bill Number: NY A 555
Summary: Relates to providing funds for anti-choice clinics that are barred from providing women with access to the full range of reproductive health options.
Sponsor: Office of the Governor
Introduced: 01/18/2005
Last Action: Enacted with Governor's Signature
Last Action Date: 04/12/2005BIASED COUNSELING AND MANDATORY DELAY
Bill Number: NY A 4753
Summary: Mandates parental consent prior to a young woman obtaining an abortion without an exception to protect young women's health. Requires women receive state-mandated lecture prior to obtaining abortion services; prohibits abortion unless women wait an additional 24 hours after receiving lecture.
Sponsor: Barra (R)
Introduced: 02/14/2005
Last Action: IntroducedBill Number: NY A 5696
Summary: Requires women receive state-mandated lecture prior to obtaining abortion services; prohibits abortion unless women wait an additional 24 hours after receiving lecture.
Sponsor: Young (R)
Introduced: 02/25/2005
Last Action: IntroducedBill Number: NY S 1869
Summary: Requires women receive state-mandated lecture which may include medically inaccurate information prior to obtaining abortion services; prohibits abortion unless women wait an additional 24 hours after receiving lecture.
Sponsor: Maltese (R)
Introduced: 02/04/2005
Last Action: IntroducedREFUSAL TO PROVIDE MEDICAL SERVICES
Bill Number: NY S 1873
Summary: Allows certain individuals or entities to refuse to perform abortion services and to refuse to dispense or provide contraceptives in all or most circumstances.
Sponsor: Maltese (R)
Introduced: 02/04/2005
Last Action: IntroducedRESTRICTIONS ON LOW-INCOME WOMEN'S ACCESS TO ABORTION
Bill Number: NY A 4910
Summary: Restricts low-income women's access to abortion except in cases of life endangerment.
Sponsor: Barraga (R)
Introduced: 02/15/2005
Last Action: IntroducedBill Number: NY A 6119
Summary: Restricts low-income women's access to abortion.
Sponsor: Kirwan (R)
Introduced: 03/04/2005
Last Action: IntroducedBill Number: NY S 5623
Summary: Restricts low-income women's access to abortion except in cases of life endangerment, rape, or incest.
Sponsor: Rules Cmt
Introduced: 06/08/2005
Last Action: Passed Senate
Last Action Date: 06/15/2005RESTRICTIONS ON YOUNG WOMEN'S ACCESS TO ABORTION
Bill Number: NY A 4753
Summary: Mandates parental consent prior to a young woman obtaining an abortion without an exception to protect young women's health. Requires women receive state-mandated lecture prior to obtaining abortion services; prohibits abortion unless women wait an additional 24 hours after receiving lecture.
Sponsor: Barra (R)
Introduced: 02/14/2005
Last Action: IntroducedBill Number: NY A 6439
Summary: Mandates parental notice prior to a young woman obtaining an abortion without adequate health exception.
Sponsor: Reilich (R)
Introduced: 03/11/2005
Last Action: IntroducedBill Number: NY S 2139
Summary: Mandates parental consent prior to a young woman obtaining an abortion without an exception to protect young women's health. Requires women receive state-mandated lecture prior to obtaining abortion services; prohibits abortion unless women wait an additional 24 hours after receiving lecture.
Sponsor: Padavan (R)
Introduced: 02/09/2005
Last Action: IntroducedRESTRICTIONS ON YOUNG WOMEN'S ACCESS TO FAMILY PLANNING
Bill Number: NY A 8075
Summary: Pharmacy access to emergency contraception (EC). Allows pharmacists to dispense EC directly to women without a prescription. Restricts young people's access to contraception by requiring parental notice.
Sponsor: Manning (R)
Introduced: 05/03/2005
Last Action: IntroducedSEPARATE LEGAL STATUS FOR EMBRYOS AND FETUSES
Bill Number: NY A 4544
Summary: Amends definition of "person" in portions of criminal code to include "an unborn child at any stage of gestation."
Sponsor: Seddio (D)
Introduced: 02/10/2005
Last Action: IntroducedBill Number: NY S 1867
Summary: Amends definition of "decedent" in section of civil law to include fetus.
Sponsor: Maltese (R)
Introduced: 02/04/2005
Last Action: IntroducedBill Number: NY S 2515
Summary: Amends definition of person in portions of criminal code to include "unborn child at any stage of gestation." Amends homicide laws to allow an "unborn child" to be a victim of crime separate and apart from the pregnant woman at any stage of pregnancy.
Sponsor: Maltese (R)
Introduced: 02/18/2005
Last Action: Introduced
I will be coming back to these legislations because I am particularly interested in knowing more about the sponsors, whether they are running on 2006, and if so, what are their fundraising machines.
As you can see they are all republicans.
Scorn from the right
One of the Yellow Elephants is taking umbrage at your posting.
"Sometimes you take a walk cross-town, read what they have to say, and wonder aloud (like Jon Lovitz on SNL, as Mike Dukakis debating Bush I) "I can't believe I'm losing to this guy"."
Careful, he might show up unawares and scream "babykiller!" at you. Of course, you could then just ask him why he isn't over fighting for Dear Leader in Iraq. Or you could just remind him that he is, indeed, losing, and losing badly.
I don't even understand why I get such fulfillment from mocking the pachyderm brigade; it's not as if it's difficult or a major achievement. But I do.