July 22, 2023
Ohio holds special election to fool their electorate. Iowa’s abortion fight continues.. Lawmakers use abortion as an excuse to block and hinder the Defense Department. But some good news in a new OTC Birth Control Pill option and Maine protects reproductive rights. Grab the reigns for another chapter in post-Roe ‘Merica..
Ohio Hold Special Election to Block Abortion Rights
We mentioned this back in June, but it’s worth mentioning again now that it is getting closer. Ohio will hold a special election on Aug. 8th just to make it harder to advance abortion protections in November.
Early in-person voting has begun in Ohio for an Aug. 8 election on whether to make it tougher to amend the state constitution.
Issue 1 would raise the threshold for passing constitutional changes from a simple majority to a 60% supermajority.
Republicans’ immediate goal is to make it harder to pass an abortion rights amendment in November.
The GOP strategically timed this election for a low turnout so that the amendment is more likely to pass.
Democrats collected an overwhelming number of signatures in favor of putting abortion protections on the ballot in November. So the GOP panicked and added the Aug. 8 special election just months after a new law had taken effect to eliminate most August elections.
Election workers in the state are suddenly faced with a mountain of logistical challenges.
Polling in the state shows that 59% of the people support abortion protections.
Thus, raising the threshold needed to amend the constitution in August to 60% could thwart the November amendment.
But Ohioans won’t let this strategy work. They know better, and will go to the polls on August 8th to kill Issue 1.
Then they will go AGAIN in November to vote to protect abortion rights in the state constitution!
Iowa’s 6 week abortion ban temporarily blocked by court
Giving Iowan clinics and their patients whiplash, abortions are now legal again in the state.. For now..
Iowa’s GOP’s 6 week abortion ban was only in effect for a few days before a Judge blocked it.
The Republican-controlled Legislature approved the abortion ban in the dead of night during a special session.
Protestors for reproductive rights filled the Iowa State Capitol rotunda, expressing their displeasure.
The ACLU of Iowa, Planned Parenthood North Central States and the Emma Goldman Clinic quickly launched a legal challenge.
The following Monday, Judge Joseph Seidlin granted their request to pause the law as the courts assess its constitutionality.
Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds said she plans to appeal the temporary block, previewing a likely emotional court battle.
This ain’t over, folks. This is likely to go up to the state Supreme Court like so many other red states.
Abortion remains legal in Iowa up to 20 weeks of pregnancy since the new law is on hold.
Abortion Fight Hits the Defense Department
The GOP from both houses attempt to combat the new post-Roe healthcare policies of the Department of Defense.
Currently, service members and dependents are reimbursed for travel expenses incurred while receiving an abortion. Military members can also request time off without loss of pay to receive reproductive health care.
They attempt to control us at every turn – even those who have given their lives in service for our country.
Alabama Senator Blocks Military Appointments Because of Abortion Rights
Sen. Tommy Tuberville blocks consideration of more than 250 stalled military promotions in protest of the Defense Department abortion policy. He demands that the Pentagon overturn the policy of providing paid leave to service members seeking an abortion.
Tuberville has blocked the advancement of promotions and appointments for weeks, leaving critical military leadership positions vacant.
“What Senator Tuberville is doing is not only wrong—it is dangerous,” Biden said in a statement.
Democratic Leader Schumer has called Tuberville’s bluff and offered a vote on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) amendment.
Democrats are also open to allowing Tuberville a standalone vote apart from the NDAA, a Democratic aide said. Anything to get him to stop this blockade so our military can get back to business!
House Defense Bill Removes Abortion Protections
Meanwhile, House Republicans pushed through an amendment to block travel reimbursement for military members seeking reproductive healthcare.
The amendment passed 221-213, with one Democratic member of the House—Texas Congressman Henry Cuellar voting with the GOP.
A GOP-backed measure to block the Pentagon from covering gender-affirming care for military families also passed on Thursday.
Both amendments could impact the future of the defense bill, which will require Democratic support.
Free Birth Control Pill!
The Food and Drug Administration approved a daily oral contraceptive pill for use without a prescription.
This is a landmark event as some U.S. states have sought to restrict access to birth control and abortion.
Especially as we await the critical court journey of the lawsuit to pull the abortion pill, mifepristone, from the market.
The move clears the way for Opill (norgestrel) to be sold over the counter in a wide range of venues.
Progesterone-only Opill tablets will be available from online markets to drug stores, convenience stores and grocery stores in early 2024.
The company, Perrigo Company plc has not released pricing.
Oh goodie, another fight that the GOP will wage to try to control us..
Maine Governor Expands Abortion Access
Democratic Gov. Janet Mills signed a bill into law expanding abortion access in Maine.
Previously, abortions were banned after a fetus became viable outside the womb. This was typically about 24 weeks, and included an exception if the ‘patient’s life is at risk’.
The new law clarifies that abortions are allowed at any time if a doctor deems it medically necessary. Thus, making the law one of the nation’s least restrictive.
Mills had previously said that the old law didn’t need to be changed.
But she reversed course after learning of a constituent who needed to travel to Colorado for an abortion.
This woman learned at week 32 that her unborn son had a fatal condition.
Good thing they have a heart in Maine.
Wyoming Abortion Clinic Arsonist Reaches Plea Deal
The arsonist who set fire to Wyoming’s only full-service abortion clinic in 2022 has reached a plea agreement with prosecutors. Lorna Roxanne Green pleaded not guilty, and faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250k fine.
Investigators say Green broke a window at the clinic, filled aluminum baking pans with gasoline and set it ablaze.
The clinic was scheduled to open a few weeks later but the fire damage delayed it by almost a year.
Abortion remains legal in Wyoming due to a state judge putting the abortion ban on hold due to dueling lawsuits.
Wyoming also became the first state to pass a ban on abortion pills. Fortunately, the same judge also put the abortion pill ban on hold before it could take effect July 1.
Stay Vigilant Everyone!
