The Brewster Report

Health Care Reform victory comes with a Tragic Setback for Women's Rights

I find it difficult to celebrate President Obama's health care victory! 

 

First, the bill passed last night is the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and NOT A NATIONAL HEALTH CARE PROGRAM.  In other words, there are a few changes in the nations' approach to health care; however this is not a real NATIONAL health care program that would cover the millions of people that are unemployed and can't afford to pay, but not poor enough for assistance.  The plan will cover Viagra, but not a woman's Pro-Choice rights. 

 

The National Organization of Women (NOW), Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice America have criticized President Obama's decision to sell out women's Pro-Choice rights for a vote.  Obama's decision to issue an executive order to reassure pro-life Democrats that there would be no federal funding for abortion was the wrong move. The executive order was published by the White House minutes before Congressman Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) announced that he and his bloc of pro-life Democrats would be providing the missing votes.

 

Pro-Choice New York [http://www.prochoiceny.org/news/press/201003211.shtml

 

March 21, 2010

Tonight Congress passed an historic health care reform bill. Unfortunately, this bill -- with its onerous restrictions on access to abortion care and the accompanying executive order enshrining the Hyde Amendment -- is far from an unadulterated victory. Pro-choice men and women will not soon forget today's disappointing outcome.

NARAL Pro-Choice New York is equally upset with President Obama's executive order, which enshrines the Hyde Amendment and reaffirms that women who receive their healthcare through a federal program (like Medicaid) or who serve their country in federal jobs or military service do not have the same rights as other American women.

This battle, which has been a painful reminder that we cannot ever take our reproductive rights for granted, has also served to reinvigorate the pro-choice movement. While we would have preferred that our renewed energy come on the heels of an unadulterated victory, rest assured that our nation's pro-choice men and women will not soon forget today's disappointing outcome.

 

From NOW http://www.now.org/

 

Health Care Reform Victory Comes with Tragic Setback for Women's Rights
NOW President Terry O'Neill said in a statement, "As a longtime proponent of health care reform, I truly wish that the National Organization for Women could join in celebrating the historic passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. It pains me to have to stand against what many see as a major achievement. But feminist, progressive principles are in direct conflict with many of the compromises built into and tacked onto this legislation."

President Obama Breaks Faith with Women
NOW is incensed that President Barack Obama agreed today to issue an executive order designed to appease a handful of anti-choice Democrats who have held up health care reform in an effort to restrict women's access to abortion. Through this order, the president has announced he will lend the weight of his office and the entire executive branch to the anti-abortion measures included in the Senate bill, which the House is now prepared to pass.

NOW/PAC Endorses Connie Saltonstall for Stupak Seat
Saltonstall is running for Congress from Michigan's 1st District, taking on reproductive rights foe and health care reform obstructer Bart Stupak in the state's Democratic primary this August.

White House Health Care Reform Bill Denies Women's Basic Rights
NOW President Terry O'Neill stated, "We will not accept a health care bill that trades off the rights and needs of some women for the benefit of others. And we will never stop fighting for the right of every woman to have equal access to the full range of reproductive health care, including abortion."

 

USADF: Signs Grant to Support Women in Ghana

The United States African Development Foundation (USADF) has recently signed a grant with a community group in Ghana that will help alleviate poverty.  The grant will benefit Naasakle Limited located in Accra, Ghana.

Upon reviewing the grant, USADF Chairman Dr. John Agwunobi stated “USADF strives to identify and work with the most impoverished, under-served, and under-privileged communities in Africa. This grant will fund projects designed by one such community to ensure a better quality of life.”

To meet the growing demand for Shea butter, Naasakle was founded by a woman who used to sell her product from a suitcase.  Today, the enterprise buys de-husked Shea nuts from the Christian Mothers Association, who works with 700 women in the Northern Region of Ghana.  Each woman pays dues to belong to the Association.  Beyond providing best practices training for the Association, Naasakle works closely with the Christian Mothers Association to ensure a market and income for the women who live in one of the poorest regions of Ghana.

The eighteen month, $95,000 grant will help Naasakle expand its purchasing power, providing higher incomes to women and meeting market demand for Shea butter products.  Specifically, USADF funds will be used to rent a warehouse, develop a business plan, purchase equipment, train staff in quality control and environmental management, and hire an accountant.

 

Through the USAID funded West African Trade Hub, Nassakle has participated in trade shows around the United States, securing orders from U.S. based companies.

 

USADF established programming in Ghana in 1984.  Ghana’s current portfolio stands at twenty-one investment projects totaling nearly $4.6 million dollars. 

 

For more information about the portfolio, please visit the country’s quick source page at http://www.adf.gov/USADF-QuickSourceCountryPortfolioPage-Ghana.htm.