It is no secret that anti-choice groups have long used radical tactics to oppose abortion.  This year, we saw young children outfitted in "I survived the American Holocaust" tee shirts in legislative hearings in the Wisconsin capitol. Last July, we watched in horror as  a group of "pro-lifers" staged, in front of a Milwaukee abortion clinic, a celebratory reenactment of the murder of a Florida abortion provider and his escort by Paul Hill. In short, their campaigns and demonstrations have grown increasingly extreme and more inappropriate as of late.  

Continuing in this vein, Pro Life Wisconsin is holding prayer vigils across the state on June 7, the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision Griswold v. Connecticut. For non-history buffs, this 1965 Supreme Court decision struck down a Connecticut law outlawing contraception for married couples.  Since the legalization of contraception, birth control has become commonplace in our society. In fact, 98% of American women use contraception at some point during their lifetime. Despite birth control's popularity and safety, Pro Life Wisconsin is joining other anti-choice groups on June 7 to protest outside family planning clinics that prescribe and dispense contraception to low income women.  The name of their oh-so-subtle campaign? "Protest the Pill Day '08: The Pill Kills Babies".

Yes, you read that correctly. No longer satisfied with attacking a woman's right to choose abortion, Pro Life Wisconsin is now attacking the millions of women who use contraception to prevent unwanted pregnancies.

Contraception is basic health care for women. More than 40 million American women of reproductive age are sexually active and do not want to become pregnant, but could if they do not have access to reliable contraception. Contrary to PLW's lies that birth control pills cause abortion, birth control pills act to prevent pregnancy, reducing the need for abortion. According to the American Medical Association and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, birth control pills only work before a pregnancy occurs and have no effect on an established pregnancy. Birth control is a safe legal way to prevent pregnancy and a fundamental component of women's health care.

Pro Life Wisconsin's participation in "Protest the Pill Day" exposes their anti-birth control, anti-women's health care, anti-privacy agenda. 

The first meeting of NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin's monthly book club, Pro-Choice Pages is this Sunday!

We will discuss Christina Page's book, How the Pro-Choice Movement Saved America, the first book to address the positive transformation our society has undergone because of our ability to plan when and if to have children.  The book also exposes the pro-life movement's far-reaching—and dangerous—agenda. We have copies of the book on sale in our office- otherwise, you can purchase a copy directly from A Room of One's Own bookstore.

Details

April Book: How the Pro-Choice Movement Saved America
Sunday, April 20
4 p.m. - 5 p.m.
A Room of One's Own, 307 W. Johnson, Madison
Suggested contribution $10
RSVP kate@prochoicewisconsin.org

Are you looking for a way to volunteer this spring and summer? Consider tabling for NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin at various events, including the Dane County Farmer’s Market!  Tabling is one of the most effective grassroots organizing techniques because it allows active, enthusiastic volunteers to raise awareness about the issues in a public space. If you are interested in tabling, please come to our training this Thursday, April 10th.  In the training, our organizing director will explain all of the necessary components to becoming an interactive tabling volunteer, including how to deal with anti-choice voices.  We will also provide you with a list of different tabling opportunities available in the upcoming months.  

The training will be held in our office downtown, at 122 State Street, Suite 410 at 7 p.m. Please email volunteer@prochoicewisconsin.org if you are interested in the tabling training.  

Wanting to volunteer behind the scenes? Our Voice for Choice program is also holding a training next Thursday. Voice for Choice volunteers participate in phone banking in order to inform supporters of upcoming volunteer opportunities, elections, and events.  You don’t need to have any experience phone banking in order to be great on the phone.  We will give you all the information you need, and flexible volunteer dates throughout the year. 

This training will also be held at 122 State Street, Suite 410.  The training will begin at 6 p.m.  Please email volunteer@prochoicewisconsin.org to sign up for this phone bank training!

After passing through both branches of the state government, the Compassionate Care for Rape Victims Bill is expected to be signed into law by Governor Jim Doyle.  This law will require emergency room personnel to give information about emergency contraception to all victims of sexual assault, and dispense it if desired.  Emergency contraception greatly reduces the risk of unintended pregnancy, thereby reducing the need for abortion.  It is legal, safe, and available for over the counter purchase for women over 18. However, in a survey from 2002, it was found that less than 1/3 of Wisconsin hospitals had this contraception stocked. 

     In 2002, a survey found that 300,000 women were raped each year, resulting in 25,000 unwanted pregnancies.  16,000 of these unintended pregnancies ended in abortion. With the effectiveness of emergency contraception, 22,000 (88%) of the pregnancies and the resulting abortions could be prevented if all sexual assault survivors used emergency contraception.

     Though it took women's health groups and pro-choice politicians five years to find the necessary support for the bill, it seems that many communities have long supported this legislation. The American Medical Association advocates provision of information and access to emergency contraception to rape victims.  A bi-partisan survey of Wisconsin voters in 2004 showed that 82% of voters were in support of guaranteeing emergncy contraception access to rape and incest victims.  This session, a bi-partisan effort in both the state Assembly and Senate has ensured that this bill will become law.  As a result, the views of both the medical community and Wisconsin citizens will finally be represented by state law.

Tomorrow, the Senate Health Committee will hear testimony surrounding the Birth Control Protection Act, SB232. This bill will require pharmacists to dispense birth control without delay when they are presented with a prescription. It will also ensure that birth control is never included in the definition of abortion under Wisconsin law. As you can see, this bill is extremely important in protecting women's health in our state.

Please make the time to attend this hearing and vote IN FAVOR of SB232. The hearing starts at 10:00 a.m. and lasts until 4 p.m in room 411 South. To find out how to cast your vote in favor of the bill, visit:
http://www.prochoicewisconsin.org/issues/factsheets/200703142.shtml

Please take action tomorrow at the Capitol!

Tomorrow (February 27th), the State Senate Health Committee will hear testimony on the Women's Health and Safety Act. This bill would eliminate Wisconsin's Crimnal Abortion Ban, which allows for criminal prosecution of both doctors and women if Roe v. Wade were ever overturned. It is time to repeal this antiquated law!

Please make the time to attend this hearing and vote IN FAVOR of SB398. The hearing starts at 12:00 p.m. and lasts until 4 p.m in room 411 South. To find out how to cast your vote in favor of the bill, visit:
http://www.prochoicewisconsin.org/issues/factsheets/200703142.shtml

Thank you in advance for your support!

On January 31st, 2008, the Assembly Committee on Judiciary and Ethics heard testimony from both pro-choice and anti-choice sides regarding the proposed state version of the Federal Abortion Ban.  The ban duplicates the already-in-place Federal Abortion Ban that was passed in a 5-4 decision by the anti-choice Federal Supreme Court last April. 

Testimony was heard from many different perspectives, including from NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin Executive Director Kelda Helen Roys.  Her first point was that the ban's similarity to the federal ban renders it unnecessary.  The overall goal of the ban is simply to duplicate the federal law, scoring easy points for the anti-choice politicians at the expense of women's well-being. 

Most importantly, Roys stated, the ban outlaws a specific procedure without any exception for a woman's health and safety. This means that although the procedure has been deemed the safest option for many women with high risk pregnancies by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, it will be completely illegal in all circumstances.  Moreover, Roys states that the ban would "provide harsh criminal penalties for doctors who try to intervene to protect a woman's health".  As 90% of U.S. board certified ObGyns are represented by the ACOG, a great deal of these doctors would be forced to go against what they feel is the best decision for the safety and health of the mother.  A UW-Madison medical student Diane Riese speaking out against the ban stated that if the ban passed, doctors would be placed "into an impossible catch-22.  Doctors would have to choose between breaking the law and their oath [to protect their patient's well-being] and risking civic and criminal penalties".   

As all of the testimony scheduled was heard at the public hearing, the head of the Committee must now schedule a vote to either send it into the Assembly or to stop the bill at this point.  The Committee, like the current Assembly, is anti-choice.  If you would like to tell your elected leaders that you believe this ban is redundant and working against women's health and safety, please visit our website: https://secure2.convio.net/choice/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=331

On Wednesday, January 23rd, the Compassionate Care for Rape Victims Bill (AB 377) passed through the final legislative hoop in the state Assembly with a 61-35 vote.  The bill states that all hospitals, including those that are religiously affiliated, must provide information about and access to emergency contraception to rape victims.  Currently, only 1/3 of the hospitals in Wisconsin have a policy of dispensing EC.  

The bill is now going to undergo a short delay before it can be sent back to the Senate, which reconvenes in February.  The Senate approved a similar version of the bill in May 2007, and is expected to quickly pass this version.  The approved bill will then go to Governor Jim Doyle's desk for a signature or veto.  A long supporter of women's health, Governor Doyle is expected to sign the bill into law.

After five years, the Compassionate Care for Rape Victims bill will finally become law.  The first pro-choice law in over a decade!

To learn more about the bill, visit: www.prochoicewisconsin.org/instate/political.shtml

NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin has some wonderful internship opportunities coming up.

There are six Fall 2007 internship opportunities in Madison, Wisconsin- in Communications, Grassroots Organizing, Development, Events, Research, and Public Policy.

NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin is also looking for 2007-2008 Campus Organizers, who act as the leader of a pro-choice student organization on their campus, for Green Bay, Eau Claire, and LaCrosse.

These internships are all available for college credit and require 10-15 hours of work per week.

For more information on any of these internships please see http://www.naralwi.org/s03getinvolved/jobs.shtml6 or email Carmen at carmen@prochoicewisconsin.org. 

The first National Republican and Democratic Presidential debates will be televised on April 4th and 5th. Although they are important, these debates can tend to be a tad bit dull and they often seem to drag on for hours and hours.

So, why not host a debate watching party??

Invite your closest friends over for some wine and hors d'eurves(stick to non-alcoholic beverages for those under 21!) and watch the candidates try not to embarrass themselves on national television.

NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin will provide you with everything you need to host a lively party – stickers, cocktail napkins, coasters, petitions, and insider information about the past voting records of the candidates and their positions on pro-choice issues.

These debates will provide the first opportunity to hear where the major Democratic and Republican candidates stand on a woman's right to choose, so hosting a Presidential Debate House Party is a great way to get your friends educated and involved – early.

To host a Debate Watching Party, call Carmen at 608-287-0016 or email Carmen at Carmen@prochoicewisconsin.org



See who is wearing the best outfit.
See who fumbles their words.