The vote on the #RightToContraceptionAct was 51-39, falling short of the 60 votes needed to defeat a #filibuster & move forward. Republicans said the bill is unnecessary as the use of #BirthControl is protected under #SCOTUS precedent as if [#SupremeCourt precedent means anything anymore].
#Republicans Lisa #Murkowski of Alaska & #SusanCollins of Maine voted w/ #Democrats in support of the bill. #Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY, switched his vote to “no” for procedural reasons so he could bring up the bill again at a later date.
#ClarenceThomas’s concurring opinion begins on page 117. On page 119 Thomas specifically states “in future cases, we should reconsider all of this Court's substantive due process #precedents, including #Griswold, Lawrence, & Obergefell.”
“Folks are trying to redefine when life begins, but it’s just not scientifically supported,” said Courtney Joslin, who leads #PublicPolicy research on issues pertaining to #women & #families for the R Street Institute, a center-right think tank. “There’s just been a crowding-out effect where some #FarRight legislators have undermined #Republicans’ ability to talk about #BirthControl in a sensible & rational way.”
#Republicans in ≥17 states have blocked #laws assuring the right to #BirthControl since 2022. Most recently, #Virginia Gov Glenn #Youngkin (R) vetoed a bill meant to ensure #access to #contraceptives, saying while he personally supports access, he was loath to “trample on the #religious freedoms of Virginians,” incl’g #medical providers [what about everyone else’s freedoms?] #Trump suggested that he was open to restricting access to #contraception.
Survey finds that people want more information from their primary care provider about fertility; they report having fertility concerns dismissed by healthcare providers; and feel that healthcare providers lack sensitivity in discussing fertility related issues.
👀 New data out from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show a worrying trend: prenatal care rates dropped substantially in 2022—a smaller share of births got 1st trimester prenatal care and a larger share didn't got late or no care compared with 2021 and 2020.
"Although women have been talking about IUD pain for years, the complaint has become more prominent as younger IUD users make the case on social media that women are not given adequate options to manage their pain."
Texan young adults reported financial barriers to using their preferred contraceptive method more often than Californians (36.7% vs. 19.2%) as did the uninsured compared to the insured (50.9% vs. 18.7%).
Minors in TX faced a range of barriers to finding accurate info & obtaining confidential contraceptive services, which were exacerbated by the #COVID19 pandemic. Expanding options for accessible confidential contraception, along w repealing parental consent laws, would better support minors' reproductive autonomy. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36604208/
Most of you will have seen recent news media reports of an Hamas attack on Israel, resulting in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issuing a formal declaration of war:
Contrary to what “Time” says, education is the first and foremost method of preventing not only anti-vaccine movement but also other pseudo-scientific and sectarian movements, such as anti-GMO, anti-nuclear, anti-5G etc. But this required country-wide improvement of access to education on all levels, which is incompatible with the US model of education being paid, premium service for people who can afford it.
I would suggest it also helps reduce climate change sustainably:
If we define climate change as human-induced changes, then educating women, and promoting first-world standards of family planning, contributes to reducing the rate of increase of the human population.
It's for everyone to do their own root-cause analysis of course, but I'm always gobsmacked that no one lobbies for this.