A few days ago, I was invited by Dyana and Dru to attend an Annie's List luncheon where Annie's List was presenting their Woman Warrior Award in memory of Bettie Naylor.
At the event, Sissy Farenthold and Wendy Davis gave short speeches, and Donna Howard closed the event. Sissy Farenthold urged the crowd to become aware of and fight against ALEC. Wendy Davis encouraged us to continue fighting for women's rights and supporting Annie's List endorsed candidates, like she herself once was.
HUGE thanks to Dyana, Dru, and Planned Parenthood for the invitation!
Before You Go:
According to KUT, ONLY 4.87% OF AUSTIN'S REGISTERED VOTERS VOTED EARLY IN THE MAYORAL ELECTION. GET TO THE POLLS... WITH NUMBERS LIKE THIS YOUR VOTE COUNTS SIGNIFICANTLY! LAST CHANCE IS MAY 12 FROM 7AM-7PM.
On Tuesday, six Molotov cocktails were thrown at Texas State Senator Wendy Davis' office. Thankfully, no one was hurt. While no motive has yet been established, Senator Davis has been in the public eye supporting Planned Parenthood and the Women's Health Program.
Senator Hutchison Supports the Medicaid Women's Health Program
I often get automated response e-mail from Senator Hutchison's office in response to petitions that say something along the lines of... "I do everything I can to support life and this doesn't do that," etc. So, hearing Senator Hutchison support Planned Parenthood as a provider for the Medicaid Women's Health Program was exhilarating. Someone with political will in Texas understands that the WHP in no way funds abortions! (Everyone is aware that to qualify for WHP you have to be between the ages of 18-44 and NOT PREGNANT, right?) See below!
CALL TO ACTION PLEASE take 2 minutes out of your life to call Rick Perry's Opinion Hotline at 1-800-252-9600. Don't know what to say? I made a little script for my call that I'm happy to share.
Governor Perry,
My name is ___________ and I'm from ___________, Texas. I am calling in regards to the defunding of the Medicaid Women's Health Program. Texas is about to reject 35 million dollars in federal funds for preventative care because YOU don't want Planned Parenthood to receive any money. Medicaid law requires that patients have the right to choose their provider. We both know that Texas does not have the 35 million to cover the lost federal funds like you have promised. It is also evident that Medicaid providers can not handle the influx of 44% of the program's patients that will lose access when Planned Parenthood is excluded. Please reconsider your decision to defund the Women's Health Program.
Nancy Keenan (President of NARAL) Talks With Jennifer Granholm on "The War Room"
Lilith Fund Bowl-a-Thon
Like what I'm doing and want to support? Please consider making a donation to my Lilith FundBowl-a-Thon Fundraiser. By raising money, I am filling a vital health care gap by helping women pay for abortion care, emergency contraception, options counseling, child care during abortion procedures, and transportation costs to clinics. I'm supporting our community members when they need me the most.
Here's a little more about Lilith - the fund has been around for 10 years. Its first challenge was to raise $10,000 to begin assisting low-income folks with abortion funding. Last year, Lilith gave away $80,000 to over 1,000 patients - so the average grant is around $75. Once clients have an appointment with a clinic and know how much money they need, they call the hotline. A volunteer responds to their call, provides financial counseling, and ultimately determines the amount of money they can grant to the client. They work with clinics across Texas from El Paso to Beaumont, as far north as Killeen and south into the RGV. TheTEA Fund is Lilith's "sister" fund for North Texas.
My goal as of now is $100, but I'd love to blow that out of the water. PLEASE MAKE A DONATION! PLEASE PLEASEPLEASE!
Other Links
Tell HHS: Support Birth Control With No Co-Pays For Every Woman. Sign the petition!
Tell Governor Perry: Don't Mess with Texas Women. Sign the petition!
