Category: Women's Rights

CA Council of Churches IMPACT CEO Recognized As One of NARAL Pro-Choice CA's 2017 Champions of Choice

12/6/2017

When reproductive freedom is at risk, we can’t settle for quiet allies. We need champions who will put their power to work to protect our rights.

We need people who won’t be intimidated by virulent opposition, because they understand what’s at stake. Reproductive freedom is about our economic security, our career paths, our ability to determine our futures.

The 2017 champions of choice are a shining example of just this kind of leadership. In the face of relentless attacks on reproductive freedom from Trump and the GOP Congress, we need more people to follow their example and fight for us in every city and county, in every courtroom and cultural outlet.

Please support NARAL Pro-Choice California's important work in every way you can!
@ProChoiceCA
https://prochoicecalifornia.org/2017-champions-choice/

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Tax and Health Justice for the Common Good and General Welfare…

11/17/2017

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Dear Friends,

Well, before we could pin down a decent analysis of the House of Representatives Tax Cut plan, they passed it. They passed the bill this morning 227 to 205.

It seeks a tax cut of $1.4 trillion – yes trillion – over 10 years, cuts the corporate tax rate from 35% to 20% though without eliminating corporate deductions at all.

However, it does eliminate deductions for ordinary people including the SALT deduction on State and Local Taxes. High-tax states on both coasts would be harmed in paying into the federal system than the states receive back, and adding to that burden by removing the SALT deduction.

This additional tax burden was sufficiently onerous that 8 New York and New Jersey Republican House members voted against it, but still the bill passed.

The Senate Tax plan

When House and Senate bills are at odds, they go to Conference Committee for reconciliation. That will become important, because if the Senate plan passes – it has not yet been up for a vote – it has some very dangerous provisions that, if passed and incorporated into the final bill, will do Americans enormous harm.

“To Promote the General Welfare…”

Our nation has too often lost sight of our obligations to one another. In a world of hyper-individualism and personal accumulation, we are not committed sufficiently to the care of those whom the society has abandoned, kicked to the curb, or cannot help. Now that indifference has moved upward on the economic scale, and the plan erodes many of the social programs we depend upon.

Under budget reconciliation, cuts in one place have to be paid for elsewhere. Tax cuts to the 1% will come out of social spending. While technically Social Security, Medicare, etc. are protected, that protection is not absolute. Still other programs are totally vulnerable to cuts. It’s a disaster waiting to happen.

Permanent repeal of the Affordable Care Act individual mandate. This is accompanied by loss of subsidies (if you’re not required to have it, the Senate decided you don’t need subsidies, right?)This will leave 13 million people uninsured, an increase of about $2000 for those who remain insured and are older. Raising middle and lower income health insurance rates will help billionaires get major tax cuts.

Since tax cuts for the rich will create an annual $1.5 trillion deficit, the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go law that requires deficits be paid for will seek other sources of “payment”. These will include deductions for student loans, medical expenses not covered by insurance, larger families. It will also include the part of Medicare that is not protected from PAYGO – about $25 billion per year.

$300 billion will be cut from Medicaid – Medi-Cal in California. The poorest of the poor, whose health is already not good, will subsidize tax cuts for corporations and the very wealthy. This impacts seniors in nursing homes, homeless people already living on the margins, and low-wage workers whose incomes are too fragile to pay market rate coverage rates.

There are new work requirements for some plans – ridiculous in the face of the infirm, those on disability, and especially seniors in nursing homes. Many recipients already work – but they’d be scrutinized and stripped of dignity by assumptions of fraud.

But what about tax cuts for the middle class?

In 2021 this Senate bill will raise taxes for households earning $10-30,000, and by 2027 that will include households of $30-75,000. The rationale offered by Senator Orrin Hatch and Senator Mike Crapo is that if you are not required to pay for health insurance, you can afford this tax hike. The sheer absurdity of stating that these two things are benefits boggles the mind. But with health subsidies and those credits gone, the actual tax hike is significant.

We must act against these policies that do so much harm – and do so NOW. This is a “Faithful Five Minutes” to do daily until we defeat these bills.

Please call your Senators at 202-224-3121. If you prefer to write or email, go to: http://www.churchimpact.org/take-action.html

Even if your senators are opposing these cuts, tell your brief story of how this would do you or someone you know real harm. Legislators on our side still need your voice to share with those who are on the fence.

Keep calling or emailing your Representative – they need to hear your opposition to any kind of joint resolution on the House and Senate bills.

Tell friends and family in other states to do the same.

Our rallying point is:

Tax and health justice for the Common Good and for the General Welfare!

NONE of these cuts is acceptable, and we as people of faith call on our elected federal officials to vote against the Senate bill and any such provisions that may arise in a joint bill.

We defeated the elimination of the Affordable Care Act that is hidden within this tax bill. We can and must defeat this Senate plan now!.. All we have worked for and accomplished is at risk – raise your voice now for justice!

Thank you!

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New and more awful assault on health care - raise your voices NOW!

9/18/2017

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Just when you thought it was safe to focus on other things…

The Graham-Cassidy repeal of the Affordable Care Act rises from the murk and turns out to be the worst version of “repeal” without any “replace” yet.

It ends Medicaid - Medi-Cal in California – for poor people. Ends it.

It removes subsidies for lower income families and individuals. Replaces it with a small block grant that won’t remotely help people. It removes the help for those at or under 250% of the federal poverty level (FPL) that pays for deductibles.

Cuts coverage for low-income seniors and people with disabilities by 7% and institutes a cap on coverage.

Ends assurances that those with pre-existing conditions won’t be charged more. Now they can be. No limit to what that is.

Average state cuts are 17% to 2026 then 100% cut thereafter.

“Red states” will get some help. “Blue” states will lose massive amounts to be directed into “Red” states. But those states are not mandated to spend that money on health care. “Blue” states such as CA, NY etc. look to lose 25-60% of their federal supports for their people.

While we don’t have a Congressional Budget Office score, the basic PREMIUM increases for 2018 will AVERAGE 20% - while subsidies are removed.

Cuts all funding for women in family planning. (Abortion coverage is already NOT included per the Hyde Amendment.)

Will pass with 51 votes, period. There does not seem to be much planning on discussion – it’s a ‘take it or leave it’ vote that will be passed onto the House in the same way.

Do we need to say more?
We have until Sept. 30 to stop this. The HOUSE is “at home” in districts – visit, picket, call, FAX your local representatives NOW.

Go to our site: http://www.churchimpact.org/take-action.html to get local contact information.

CALL Senators at 202-224-3121 and let them know this is horrific, and it MUST NOT PASS.

If you like to text, go to 50409 and text “Resist”. If you haven’t done this, the prompts will set up messages for your Senators and Representative. Then you write the message, and it will be sent as a FAX to them. It’s a GREAT way to do the “Five Faithful Minutes” every day!

This new assault on affordable health care is the most pernicious yet. Please raise your voice daily between now and September 30. Every single senator needs to hear from us, even the ones we know are on the side of justice. Every voice counts, every voice of faith counts, so let your voice be heard – faithful witness for health care must continue until we end this assault on the Affordable Care Act.

Thank you!!

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Happy New Year - please raise your voice today to keep health care alive!

1/3/2017

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Dear Friends:

First – Happy New Year 2017. We hope the coming year will be a good one for all of you, your congregations, families, and friends. Nationally we know there will be major challenges, but the strength of our personal lives can give us the endurance to weather all the storms that seem to loom ahead.

We take seriously Matthew 10 with Jesus’ directions to his apostles that they should go into communities and first heal the sick before they did any other thing. That has informed our long-time work on health care. It is on us as people of faith to uphold that responsibility to our fellow human beings.

Our first major challenge to our beliefs and to our work begins immediately. Congress reconvenes this week with defunding or killing the Affordable Care Act as a major priority for the House and Senate leadership.

Our allies in health care, the United Methodist Board of Church and Society and Families USA have told us that some of these votes may come this week.

Yes – this week.

We just learned that the House has stopped their effort to gut the Office of Congressional Ethics due to the overwhelming number of calls from constituents opposing this move.

Your voice clearly does matter!

The House has also declared that their first order of business is to repeal the Affordable Care Act with no plans to replace it. The Senate is poised to do much the same. As an alternative, the House can defund it with a filibuster-proof budget reconciliation vote meaning they can leave the mandate in place with zero subsidies for the working families.

Please call your representatives and senators no matter which party and express your strong opposition to either repeal or defunding. And make a commitment that this will be the first of many such calls.

Please go to our link here to get access to your elected officials with phone numbers and other contact information. If you prefer to write, please FAX a letter so it will not get caught in the Capitol mailroom waiting to be screened for anthrax. Yes – we live in a strange time.

If you prefer, you may contact the Congressional Switchboard and be transferred to your Representative or Senator. It is not a toll-free call. That number is (202) 224-3121. As toll-free numbers arise, we will send them on for you to use, but there is none at the moment.

We will be in touch as issues arise. California stands to lose $20 billion in federal health funding leaving working families, homeless adults, and people on disability without adequate health care coverage. It is critical that we keep the pressure on to stand for justice in health care.

Please act starting today to raise your voice against any alteration of the Affordable Care Act. Your witness and advocacy for those in need of health care is urgent and cannot wait. Please make this happen today!

Thank you!

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Urgent: Request for Planned Parenthood support at Tuesday JLAC Hearing in Sacramento

8/24/2015

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Dear Organizations Standing with Planned Parenthood,

As you may know, the Joint Legislative Audit Committee (JLAC) will be holding a hearing on Tuesday, August 25 to consider a request by Republican legislators to conduct an audit of Planned Parenthood funding.

While we believe that the JLAC will not approve the audit request, we expect that our opponents will be out in force and packing the hearing room to support the audit. So, we need to counter this by filling the seats with organization representatives, volunteers and friends who will stand with Planned Parenthood and oppose this audit request. We’ll have plenty of ”I Stand with Planned Parenthood buttons,” too.

We would be grateful if you or your organization is able to attend the hearing tomorrow and speak against the audit request. Although Planned Parenthood is the target, our opponents are intent on shutting off funding for women’s health care and reproductive services, including abortion. This is a witch hunt and smear campaign and we need to stand up strong to them.

We really appreciate all of your organizations and the continued support to stand by us during this difficult time. Thank you to those organizations who have already said they can make it the Capitol tomorrow to help us oppose this audit request.

Please let us know ASAP if you or others from your organizations can make it to the hearing tomorrow. The details are below:

JLAC Hearing
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
9:30 a.m. (please arrive by 9am to get a seat)
State Capitol, Room 444

It’s possible the hearing room may change to accommodate a large crowd. If not, it is likely that there will not be enough seats in the hearing room, and that many people will watch the hearing on video screens in the overflow areas/hall outside the hearing room. Please let supporters know that it is still helpful to have supporters in the hall for the legislators see all the support they enter and leave the hearing. Please DO NOT engage in any conversations of any kind with the anti’s. They want to bait you so they can get media. Thank you for not engaging with them at all.

If you’ve received duplicates of this email, we apologize, and thank you for your support!

Sincerely,

Mandy

Mandy J. Benson, Legislative Intern | Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California
555 Capitol Mall, Suite 510 | Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone 916-446-5247 x114 | Cell: 916-599-9231
mandy.benson@ppacca.org | www.ppactionca.org

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Support AB 775, The Reproductive FACT Act

5/20/2015

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Remarks by Amy Everitt, State Director of NARAL Pro-Choice California and NARAL Pro-Choice California Foundation, at AB 775 press conference on May 20, 2015:

•    This bill is about empowering women to make their own reproductive health decisions and access affordable care. That means respecting the dignity of women and recognizing that only she really knows what is best for her and her family.

•    It doesn’t mean lying to women to stop them from considering all of their options. It does NOT mean making decisions for them.

•    I find it extremely difficult to understand how people, who claim to care about women, find it so threatening to inform them about accessing affordable health care. Making sure women have the care they need to lead happy and healthy lives shouldn’t be controversial. We can all agree that women deserve to have all the information in front of them when they make some of the most important decisions they will ever face.

•    Our investigation of California’s crisis pregnancy centers revealed disturbing patterns of lying to and manipulating women. Instead of honest conversation about all their options, our investigators faced a barrage of lies and medical misinformation designed to discourage them from accessing abortion and contraception. Which is ironic, because these same centers claim that women need to know all of their options.

•    Your press packet includes four pamphlets we collected from CA CPCs in the course of our investigation. They speak for themselves.

AB 775 ensures that when women are given this kind of false and manipulative information at unlicensed facilities, they know they are not hearing it from a licensed medical professional.

•    Opponents of this bill have twisted it beyond recognition. It doesn’t tell anyone what to say in their counseling. It doesn’t require anyone to refer patients to another abortion provider. It doesn’t encourage anyone to choose one option over another.

It simply ensures that any woman walking into a licensed clinic in California walks out knowing that money shouldn’t be a barrier to accessing the the reproductive health care that she feels is right for her.

•    AB 775 has support from a strong coalition of more than 30 organizations with proven records of respecting women’s decisions and supporting them in accessing health care. The California State Assembly should pass this bill Friday to bolster California’s role as a leader in protecting and expanding reproductive freedom.

Remarks by the Rev Dr Rick Schlosser, Executive Director of California Church IMPACT, at AB 775 press conference on May 20, 2015:

The California Council of Churches IMPACT is a Sacramento-based public policy office representing 21 different denominations with more than 5,000 congregations with over 1.5 million members from the mainstream Protestant and Orthodox Christian communities throughout California.

IMPACT is a leading voice in representing the theological diversity in the mainstream and progressive communities of faith. In spite of what one may read in the media or hear from the strident voices of the religious right, there are far MORE people of faith in California who support women’s reproductive rights than oppose them.

California Church IMPACT and a very large percentage of our constituency support AB 775 wholeheartedly.

We support religious liberty and the right of individuals to practice their faith however they believe to be best. However, the arguments put forth by the religious right against this legislation are false and need to be put in perspective.

It is in the best interests of our state for clients of all facilities to know clearly whether or not said facility is licensed and whether or not licensed medical personnel are present.

In spite of claims by the opposition, nothing in this Reproductive FACT Act prevents so-called “crisis pregnancy centers” from doing what they choose to do in accordance with their own narrow religious beliefs. It simply prevents them from misrepresenting themselves as having any sanction and moral authority they do not have. I find the fact that they do not respect women enough to provide women with all their options offensive and morally reprehensible. No facility with any integrity would try to manipulate women into a decision by withholding valuable medical, psychological, and spiritual options and perspectives as these CPCs so often do.

We in the faith community who support women’s reproductive rights do not see how inaccurate, even dangerous, medical information advances religious liberty.

Let me be clear: this bill does not prohibit anyone’s religious freedom. It protects religious freedom. No faith tradition with any integrity would disrespect women by withholding any of their options.

Therefore, we urge your support of The Reproductive FACT Act, AB 775.

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CA Council of Churches IMPACT CEO Recognized As One of NARAL Pro-Choice CA's 2017 Champions of Choice

Tax and Health Justice for the Common Good and General Welfare…

New and more awful assault on health care - raise your voices NOW!

Happy New Year - please raise your voice today to keep health care alive!

Urgent: Request for Planned Parenthood support at Tuesday JLAC Hearing in Sacramento

Support AB 775, The Reproductive FACT Act

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