Planned Parenthood Advocate

Born After Roe: Finding Facts in the Haystack of Political Fiction

Planned Parenthood advocates gathered earlier this month in downtown St. Paul to discuss reproductive health myths and legislative queries with the professionals at our latest Born After Roe event. Hennepin County Commissioner Marion Greene and Planned Parenthood’s Associate Medical Director Dr. Christy Boraas debunked myths and laid out the facts in a candid manner while answering questions related to birth control, fertility, sex, and reproductive rights legislation from the audience.

These eye-roll inducing myths have been turning into laws across the country left and right. Some legislators will go to great lengths to push through anti-choice bills – including making use of misleading, false medical science. Reproductive health care myths inform many recently enacted laws set to restrict the rights of women. For example, even though there is no correlation between having an abortion and getting breast cancer, some states require abortion providers to lie to their patient by telling them there is a correlation.

Here are more examples of how reproductive health myths have been making their way into our laws:

• Medical abortions are delivered through two pills taken 48 hours apart from each other. Both Arizona and Arkansas recently passed laws requiring medical professionals to tell their patients that reversing a medical abortion is possible if they change their mind after taking the first pill, despite the fact this claim is not scientifically supported.

• Although most women don’t reconsider having an abortion after they have chosen to have one, laws requiring women to wait between deciding to have an abortion and having the procedure have become widespread. Oklahoma passed a law this year requiring a 72 hour waiting period - the latest of four states passing a law with a 72 hour delay for a decision already made by a patient. Arkansas and Tennessee fall next in line with their recently passed law requiring a 48 hour waiting period. Bills that add restrictions to when a woman can end a pregnancy are designed to limit the accessibility of a personal choice. Read more about the impact of these laws here.

Having to sort through fiction to find the facts on reproductive health care means a woman’s right to choose is far from safe and accessible in our current political climate. If you believe in everyone’s right to reproductive health and self-determination and want to get involved, join Born After Roe! 

-Kayleen, Planned Parenthood Minnesota Advocate Intern

These 32 Minnesota Senators Voted to Keep Women's Health Centers Open

 

These 32 Minnesota Senators voted against an amendment that would have placed unnecessary restrictions on abortion providers in order to shut down women's health centers across the state.

SF616, which was offered as an amendment to the Senate Health and Human Services Finance Bill, would have posed a risk to women’s health by reducing timely access to safe and legal abortion.

Because these 32 Senators voted no, women's health centers across the state will stay open and will continue to provide expert reproductive health care. 

These fearless leaders deserve our thanks. Send a thank you note to these 32 Senators for keeping women's health centers open in Minnesota. 

Minnesota's Answer to Hobby Lobby Is Here

Seven private, for-profit companies in Minnesota filed lawsuits to deny their female employees coverage for birth control, and as of November 2014, all of them have won. This means any Minnesota-based employer could claim personally held religious beliefs as a reason to deny their employees certain types of health coverage, including birth control.

All women, no matter where they live or who their boss is, deserve access to basic health care. The good news is, there is something we can do. Representative Erin Murphy (DFL - St. Paul) and Senate President Sandy Pappas (DFL) have proposed the CHEER (Contraception Health Equity and Employee Rights) Act, which would require employer health plans to cover women’s preventive health care, just like men’s. 

But, in order to turn these backward decisions around, we need to hear your voice. Let your elected officials know that Minnesota won't stand for discrimination. 

Sign this petition to tell the Minnesota Legislature to pass the CHEER Act.

Tell the Minnesota Legislature to Respect and Protect Women's Health

 

Instead of focusing on how to improve the lives of Minnesotans, lawmakers have quietly introduced numerous bills that would make safe and legal abortion inaccessible—especially for rural women and poor women. These bills would:

• Place unnecessary restrictions on abortion providers in order to shut down clinics across the state under the guise of health and safety. 
• Eliminate funding for abortions for poor women, making it impossible for many women to make a decision about her pregnancy based on her health and what's right for her family. 
• Ban the practice of telemedicine for women seeking medication abortions—all but eliminating abortion access for many women in Greater Minnesota. 

These bills are a waste of time and taxpayer dollars—not to mention an appalling attempt to take options away from the most vulnerable women in our state. 

Let our lawmakers know that health care decisions should be left to women, their doctors, and their families—no matter what their income is or where they live. Not politicians.

Thank Governor Dayton for Supporting Women's Health in the Budget

Governor Dayton and Lt. Governor Smith are continuing their strong support of Minnesotan women and families in the biennial budget. Whether it's ensuring access to affordable health care through MNsure and Medicaid or supporting crucial family planning programs, they are once again making certain that women have access to basic preventive health care and family planning, including life-saving cancer screenings, birth control, prevention and treatment of STDs, Pap tests, breast health services, and so much more.

Please join us in thanking Governor Dayton and Lt. Governor Smith for supporting women's health.

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These programs do even more than keep women and families healthy—they save taxpayer money. http://t.co/QLFXgpFpxU pic.twitter.com/kztxv7MG5k

— Planned Parenthood (@ppmn) January 27, 2015

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ALLIE CARLSON-STEHLIN, MINNESOTA PUBLIC AFFARIS MANAGER

Move Minnesota Forward: Pass the CHEER Act

For Minnesotans, Hobby Lobby is becoming a reality. Recently, two U.S. District Court decisions in Minnesota have ruled that for-profit corporations’ group health insurance plans do not have to cover birth control. This ruling will allow Minnesota companies to discriminate against women and deny their employees access to birth control coverage.

It is unbelievable that in 2014, we're still fighting over whether women should have access to birth control. When the Supreme Court decided that bosses can deny women birth control coverage based on their religious beliefs in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby, it set a dangerous precedent. But now, this precedent is becoming a reality.

At Planned Parenthood, we won't stand for moving the rights of women backward. Discrimination against women should be out of style, not on the books.

Will you join us in moving Minnesota forward?

Call on the Minnesota Legislature to pass the CHEER (Contraceptive Health Equity and Employee Rights) Act right away. The CHEER Act will prevent companies in Minnesota from discriminating against their female employees by denying them preventive health care.

Sign this petition to move Minnesota forward. Let your elected officials know that women deserve birth control coverage, no matter their employer’s religious beliefs. 

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ALLIE CARLSON-STEHLIN, MINNESOTA PUBLIC AFFARIS MANAGER

Planned Parenthood Action Fund Congratulates U.S. Senator Al Franken and Governor Mark Dayton on Election Victories

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 11/4/2014
CONTACT: Jen Aulwes, 651.755.9557

St. Paul, MN – 11/4/2014 - Today, the Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota (PPMNS) Action Fund applauds the re-election of US Senator Al Franken and Governor Mark Dayton. The following is a statement from Sarah Stoesz, President of the PPMNS Action Fund.

“Tonight two of Minnesota’s long-standing women’s health champions were re-elected and we are thrilled.”

“When it comes to equality, Al Franken is one of the U.S. Senate’s leading voices. Since he took office, he’s shown up every day to fight for women and families in Minnesota. He is a tireless advocate and a fearless voice for progress in the US Senate. He came down early and hard on the Hobby Lobby decision, making it clear that a woman’s boss shouldn’t have a say in her birth control. We’re so proud to have him representing us in Washington.”

“Governor Mark Dayton has been a defender of women’s health and economic security since his first day in office. He’s vetoed every horrific attempt to restrict access to safe and legal abortion in Minnesota since during his tenure. He ushered Obamacare – the greatest advance for women’s health in a generation – into Minnesota without hesitation. And, he has expanded Medicaid to tens of thousands of Minnesotans.

“We are also thrilled that Tina Smith will join the Governor as Lieutenant Governor.  Tina is a respected leader for women’s rights and economic security issues at the city, state and national level. She’s been a champion in the ongoing effort to break down barriers to economic stability for all women and their families. She’ll be an outstanding Lieutenant Governor.”

“Over the past several months, Planned Parenthood has worked tirelessly to mobilize young women voters and get them to the polls.  Young women were critical to the re-election of our women’s health champions in the state and we are so proud to have played a part in that.”

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Founded in 1992, the Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota Action Fund is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit organization. As the political arm of PPMNS, we mobilize supporters of all parties to defend and increase access to family planning services and fact based, medically accurate sexuality education. We work to inspire and engage citizens to take up the cause of reproductive health and rights through education, electoral activity, grassroots organizing and legislative advocacy.

Know Before You Vote

Since 2012 we have been lucky to have a pro-women's health leadership in Minnesota. In these past years, we have seen our elected officials protect access to contraception and family planning and vastly improve access to health care through MNsure. And although all states surrounding ours  have passed numerous abortion restrictions, Minnesota was able to keep this fundamental right intact.

There is a lot to be thankful for, but let me be perfectly clear — the next couple of years could look dramatically different depending on who is elected next week. We have had several very close races in Minnesota in the past few years. Make sure that women's health and reproductive justice win by a landslide by checking the Minnesota Voter Guide before you head to the polls.

We take the decision to place our name next to a candidate’s very seriously. In order to be endorsed by Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota Action Fund, candidates must show that they are dedicated to the following either through their actions (incumbents) or their promises (for first time candidates).

All candidates endorsed by Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota Action Fund support:

• Comprehensive sex education that includes age-appropriate, medically accurate information about both abstinence and contraception
• Access to contraception and family planning
• Keeping health care decisions, including decisions about birth control, in the hands of women and not their employers
• A woman's constitutionally protected right to obtain a safe, legal, and accessible abortion

This guide includes endorsements from our partner organizations, so you can also see where the candidates stand on many other issues that Minnesotans care about. 

Know before you vote. Visit www.mnvoterguide.org before you visit the polls on November 4.

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ALLIE CARLSON-STEHLIN, MINNESOTA PUBLIC AFFARIS MANAGER AND PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE

Minnesota Lawmakers Propose Legislation to Nullify Hobby Lobby Supreme Court Decision

Today the Minnesota House Majority, led by Representative Erin Murphy (DFL - St. Paul), proposed a bill that would nullify the devastating Hobby Lobby decision and ensure that the women of Minnesota are able to access all forms of birth control, without interference from their bosses. 

"Minnesota women have the right to make their own health care decisions without interference by their boss," said Rep. Murphy. "Women shouldn't be discriminated against for their personal health care decisions, including whether and when to use contraception."

Click here to send a thank you note to Rep. Erin Murphy for her bold, swift leadership!

MNWESA—A Win for Women

This Mother's Day Minnesota made history when Governor Dayton signed into law the Women's Economic Security Act, an unprecedented, concerted effort to breakdown the systemic barriers women face in the workplace.

The 149 legislators who passed this bipartisan legislation understand the urgency in righting the imbalance in the workplace. Mothers are the sole or primary income provider in 40% of all households with children under the age of 18, and women still earn 77 cents for every dollar earned by men.

As State Senator Sandy Pappas, DFL-St. Paul, explains, "The Women's Economic Security Act positions Minnesota as a leader in the nation on issues like the gender pay gap and workplace protections for pregnant women and nursing mothers. We are going to see real progress and that's tremendously exciting."

This legislation, a package of nine bills, will do the following:

• Allow mothers to stay in the workforce by expanding family leave and providing reasonable accommodations for pregnant and nursing employees
• Decrease the gender pay gap through the participation of women in high-wage, high-demand nontraditional work
• Reduce the gender pay gap through increased enforcement of equal pay laws for state contractors and by allowing employees to discuss pay inequities
• Decrease the gender pay gap by addressing the "motherhood penalty"
• Address economic consequences of domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault
• Enhance retirement security by considering a state retirement savings plan for those without an employer-provided option.

Planned Parenthood celebrates this new law, because we know that when women succeed, families succeed.

ALISON GRIFFIN, MINNESOTA PUBLIC AFFAIRS MANAGER