Summer 2000 Editorials Hillary Rodham Clinton for Senate Al Gore Hen the US Senate Race Was for President Wclinton Vs

Newsletter of Westchester Coalition for Legal Abortion, Inc. Vol. 29, No. 2 Summer, 2000 Supreme Court Voids ‘Partial Birth Abortion’ Laws By Polly Rothstein the Constitution,” read the majority Policy, which represented Dr. Carhart, he Supreme Court tore a opinion. The public can now absorb depicted June 28 as a day for “cham- “partial birth abortion” law to the truth about so-called “partial birth pagne and shivers,” for the scope of Tshreds and exposed its inherent abortion” bans: they’re an extreme the decision and the surprising 5-4 fraud. The 5-4 decision in Stenberg v. and unconstitutional ploy to destroy margin. CRLP attorney Simon Heller Carhart, striking down the Nebraska reproductive rights and take away the argued Dr. Carhart’s position. law, was everything that the plaintiff, right of American women to abortion. Justice Stephen Breyer wrote the Dr. Leroy Carhart, had hoped for. Janet Benshoof, president of the “We hold that this statute violates Center for Reproductive Law and Please see High Court on page 4 Hillary and Nita Rick Lazio is Anti-Choice By Polly Rothstein birth” abortions which, had it been Host ick Lazio is the stand-in for Rudy upheld by the Supreme Court, would RGiuliani in the election for US have overturned Roe v. Wade and WCLA Benefit Senator against Hillary Rodham permitted states to outlaw abortions Hillary Clinton. Lazio’s claim to be “solidly throughout pregnancy. Lazio refused Rodham pro-choice” crumbles with scrutiny of to comment on the June 28 Supreme Clinton and his congressional voting record and his Court decision in Carhart, which current statements. He acknowledges declared exactly that. (Clinton hailed Rep. Nita only opposition to “partial birth” the decision.) Instead, he persists in Lowey will abortion and Medicaid funding (either condemning “partial birth abortion” host a of which define him as anti-choice). as “gruesome,” as if the court had not fundraiser He deceives by half-truth, aping other spoken, all the while describing anti-choice Republicans who redefine himself as “solidly pro-choice.” Lazio’s for WCLA on “pro-choice” to include themselves. strategy is to ignore the unambiguous Monday, Aug. For example, Lazio illustrates how decision and pummel Clinton on 21, 7pm, at a pro-choice he is by saying he wouldn’t “partial birth abortion,” painting her private home vote to overturn Roe v. Wade. Of as a pro-choice extremist. course not; he’ll never vote on Roe Lazio, if elected senator, will have in Purchase. because Congress lacks the power to opportunities to overturn Roe by Tickets are overturn Supreme Court decisions. But voting to confirm Bush’s anti-Roe Lazio has actually voted to kill Roe by $100 per Please see Lazio on page 5 person. Use the coupon voting repeatedly for a ban on “partial on page 15, or call 946- 5363 for information and Birth Control for County Employees reservations. new initiative by Westchester County AExecutive Andy Spano has made prescription contraceptives available to county employees Women’s Equality Day participating in the county’s health benefit plan Celebrating Women’s Suffrage starting July 1. “WCLA played a leading role in Friday, Aug. 25, 2000 making this happen,” Spano said. White Plains Library, 2nd floor “This coverage is long overdue. It’s become Martine Ave. at Grove St., increasingly important that we recognize the specific White Plains needs of our female workers and provide them with Gather 11:30 am; festivities at the services they seek,” Spano said. “The county is noon; reception to follow. well aware of the costs of such prescriptions and Woman of the Year: wants to reduce the burden so often placed on County Executive Hon. Joan Cooney women.” Andy Spano Project of the Year: Camp Viva Please see Birth Control on page 14 On the President’s Mind By Polly Rothstein Hillary really is a scary [Please read about Lazio and Clinton on pages one and woman with “an three.] agenda.” Most discon- nowing how high the stakes were, I slipped into certing, some women are Kanxiety mode as I awaited the Supreme Court angry that she stayed decision in Stenberg v. Carhart, the Nebraska so-called with her husband. (Who “partial birth abortion” case. can pass judgment on On Wednesday, June 28, shortly after 10:00 a.m., I another woman’s mar- clicked up the web site (crlp.org) of the Center for riage?). Reproductive Law and Policy, attorneys for plaintiff Dr. Hillary is well aware of these hurdles, but she needs Leroy Carhart. I soon read about the perfect win (page those pro-choice voters. Not long ago, I was privileged to one), with the court agreeing fully with CRLP and reject- meet with Hillary along with other Westchester women ing all of Nebraska’s claims, and ruling that all legislation leaders and elected officials. She laughs easily and did so must have an exception to protect the woman’s health. as she said yes, of course she has an agenda. “It’s The perfect win was, however, a minimalist 5-4. Justice women, children, education, health care, Social Security, Kennedy moved to the other side and is likely to stay. guns, and reproductive rights!” She’s warm and very Only the qualified vote of Justice O’Connor saved the intelligent, speaks passionately without notes, and already weakened Roe v. Wade, leaving abortion rights attracts more voters with each public contact. to face future legislative action and Supreme Court Hillary understands women’s complex feelings about review. her perceived ambition and relationship with the presi- I’m as concerned about church-state and other dent, and is sorting out for them who she is among her personal liberty issues as I am about reproductive rights, multiple identities and her unique role of first lady and and I admit to obsessing about the Supreme Court that candidate. She must tell voters about her professional life decides these issues. Currently, there are only minor shifts before the White House, including her work as a staff in the blocs of justices taking one side or the other. It’s attorney for the Children’s Defense Fund, her pioneering impossible to overstate the power of the court in deter- legal career, and her decades of work for children and mining our rights as it rules on the constitutionality of families. laws, such as the “partial birth abortion” ban. As per the Slick Ricky is eager to help you view Hillary as some Constitution, the president appoints justices of the kind of feminist menace. He uses Hillary’s move to NY as Supreme Court, subject to the approval of the Senate. a red herring to divert attention from the pressing issues Voting for president and senator in 2000 is tantamount on which they differ. In a fundraising letter Lazio mailed to voting on legal abortion. The Senate race between to Republicans in July, he howled that both Clintons have Rick Lazio and Hillary Rodham Clinton could determine “embarrassed our country and disgraced their powerful the majority, and therefore the direction, of the Supreme posts,” and that the “First Lady covets power and control Court. and thinks she should be dictating how other people run I fear that Hillary could lose to Lazio for reasons their lives.” Lazio refused to elaborate, saying he wanted unrelated to their positions on issues. Lazio knows that to read the letter before commenting. Get that! He women side with Clinton on a wide range of issues, so admitted he hadn’t even read the horrific letter that he he’s trying to keep the spotlight on Hillary, making her signed; after it became public and raised hackles, he still the issue. maintained he hadn’t read it. (Sexism is an element of Last year, when Hillary emerged as a possible Senate this election — imagine the furor if Hillary had refused to candidate, it was trendy to protest. Some who did so take responsibility for a scurrilous letter over her name.) were her natural constituency, strongly pro-choice Lazio’s complaint about dictating how other people run women who said they intended to vote against her, and their lives — isn’t that what he does when he votes for Giuliani. I hope that they know about Lazio’s conser- against abortion rights? And “power and control” — vative positions and will support Hillary on November 7. I that’s what the Senate is about and why Lazio wants to believe the public has been virtually brainwashed by the go there. It’s also what we want our friends to have relentless demonization of Hillary and promotion of anti- when they’re in there fighting for us. any-Clinton sentiment. Many voters are convinced that Please see Mind on page 16

2 ProChoice, Westchester Coalition for Legal Abortion, Inc. Summer 2000 Editorials Hillary Rodham Clinton for Senate Al Gore hen the US Senate race was for President WClinton vs. Giuliani, voters ice President Al Gore is far better felt that New York would have a Vsuited to be President of the pro-choice senator either way. United States than Texas Gov. George Exit Giuliani, enter anti-choice W. Bush. Lazio, whose record makes choice a Bush is not a “compassionate conservative.” He is a campaign issue, raising the specter conservative with a short supply of compassion, a right- of losing legal abortion with just one winger who would clear the way to eliminating privacy new anti-Roe vote on the Supreme Court. Remember the rights via Supreme Court appointments. The choice is Senate’s nonbinding resolution on Roe last October? The stark. statement that Roe is “an important constitutional right These are the candidates’ own words. Gore: “I will that should not be overturned” passed 51 to 47. That’s always, always defend a woman’s right to choose.” 47 senators against legal abortion. Bush: “I will do everything in my power to restrict On page one, we expose Lazio’s pro-choice sham by abortions.” With President Gore’s Supreme Court revealing his voting record and statements. He will add a appointments, abortion rights will be secure into the vote to the anti-choice majority in the Senate on most future. With Bush in the Oval Office, signing anti- issues. Clinton has said repeatedly that she will not vote to abortion bills and appointing justices like his favorites, confirm a Supreme Court nominee who opposes Roe v. justices Thomas and Scalia, abortion rights will disappear Wade. If Bush becomes president, women will need for years to come. Hillary as our advocate when he names Supreme Court The makeup of the Supreme Court is the predomi- justices to create and expand an anti-Roe majority on the nate issue of Election 2000. Gore has warned, “Not only court. Lazio’s record speaks for him: he would never a woman’s right to choose, but a lot of our individual oppose a Bush anti-Roe Supreme Court nominee. rights and civil rights are going to be at risk if the Repub- We need Hillary to ask the tough questions. As she lican Party controls the majority on the Supreme Court stood up in Beijing and talked about the right to choose for the next 30 or 40 years.” Pro-choice voters must and women’s rights as human rights, she’ll stand up in heed the warning, and help others understand this fact. the Senate and speak for us. Bush is proud of the dubious honor of being the nation’s most anti-abortion governor, having promoted Yes Graham, No Kelly and signed 18 bills into law. Yet Bush is confused by the ro-choice voters in the 19th Congressional District, complexities. He says he opposes Roe v. Wade because Pyour mission is clear: elect Larry Graham and the decision usurped states’ rights to ban abortions, but dislodge Sue Kelly, who has joined the anti-choice he also supports a constitutional amendment to ban majority in the House in key votes. abortions that would take the right away from the Kelly’s “unequivocal” support of abortion rights, on which states. As president, he will introduce, lobby for, and sign WCLA based its significant support for her first run for office any anti-choice bill that the anti-abortion forces draft for Please see Graham on page 5 Congress. Bush has vowed to preserve the 1996 Republican Westchester Coalition for Legal Abortion, Inc. © 2000 Party platform, which would ban all abortions without 237 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, NY 10605 914/946-5363 • [email protected] exception by declaring that “the unborn child has a President: Polly Rothstein fundamental individual right to life which cannot be Executive Director: Nancy K. Montagnino Office Manager: Vacant infringed,” and specifying the appointment of judges Assistants: Leonore Young, Virginia Hemley who oppose abortion. Board of Directors: Bush is not a man of sufficient distinction or intellect Deena Weintraub, Chair; Robert Fertik, Judith LaPook, Acting Chair; Catherine Lederer-Plaskett, Joseph Melhado, Polly Rothstein, Oren J. to be President of the United States. If he weren’t a Teicher, Eve Widdows powerful Bush, he’d be ridiculed for the audacity to Editor: Polly Rothstein Contributors: Judith LaPook, Karen Ricci, Nancy Montagnino, Deena seek the office. If he were as intelligent as he is politi- Weintraub Please see Gore on page 14 Circulation: 80,000 Founded in 1972 Spring 2000 ProChoice, Westchester Coalition for Legal Abortion, Inc. Editorial 3 High Court, from page 1 appointments a presidential candidate would make will be important in deciding how they vote. Also, the positions on majority opinion. The Court said that the law is “deceptively abortion likely to be held by the next president’s Supreme crafted,” affected abortions throughout pregnancy, and was Court nominees will be very important in deciding the votes not limited to the post-viability procedure graphically de- of 43 percent of voters and half of registered women. Of scribed by supporters. The ban imposed an undue burden on voters surveyed, 62 percent said they favored the appoint- a woman’s ability to ment of judges who choose an abortion and would support the failed to protect the abortion rights guaran- woman’s health. The teed under the court’s court said that abortion landmark Roe v. Wade laws must contain an ruling in 1973. exception for women’s If elected president, health that allows a Bush could bring about pregnant woman to the overturn of Roe undergo the abortion with his first addition to method her doctor the conservative bloc in deems most appropriate the Supreme Court. for her. The opinion said Gore wants this fact that the cases “make known; Bush doesn’t. clear that a risk to a Gore says he will not woman’s health is the appoint justices who same whether it happens would overturn Roe. to arise from regulating a The unequivocal particular method of ruling ought to thwart abortion, or from barring further “partial birth abortion entirely.” abortion” battles in Congress and the Spotlight on 2000 elections states, but within a day of the decision, anti-choice members The decision has vast implications for the 2000 presiden- of Congress and activists had begun drafting legislation that tial elections, and the impact of the elections on the future of would circumvent it. They are reluctant to give up the legal abortion is impossible to overstate. Dr. Carhart said the propaganda gains and money raised by using the inflamma- court inadvertently did a favor for abortion rights proponents tory phrase “partial birth abortion.” by deciding the case by such a narrow margin. He said, “This shows us Roe is hanging by a very fragile thread. It’s a true Supreme Court Protects wake-up call to the American people. If they want to keep abortion for their children and themselves, they need to go Buffer Zone at Clinics out and vote for choice.” he Supreme Court, by a 6 to 3 vote, upheld a Colorado As the one-vote victory invigorated pro-choice advocates, law that creates an eight-foot buffer zone around a Justice Kennedy gave another vote to, and elevated the T patient as she enters or exits a health care facility. The law hopes of, the anti-choice movement. Kennedy, who upheld was intended to protect women who were being forced to Roe v. Wade in 1992 in Casey, no longer does. run a gauntlet of abortion protesters as they entered an As expected, the presidential candidates took opposite abortion clinic. positions. Vice President Al Gore applauded the decision, Justice Stevens, writing the majority decision, found that adding that the “razor-thin” majority in Wednesday’s the law did not infringe on the First Amendment’s free Supreme Court decision affirming abortion rights shows what speech protections. The 1993 law makes it a misdemeanor is at stake for women in the presidential election. Gov. for anyone within 100 feet of a health clinic to distribute George W. Bush played dumb. Ignoring the court’s conclu- leaflets, display signs or engage in what has come to be sion that the Nebraska law affects abortions throughout known as “sidewalk counseling” within eight feet of the pregnancy, he criticized the court for not upholding the right patient unless given permission to do so. to ban “the brutal practice” of late-term abortion. He said, This law protects those entering a clinic from intimidation “Unlike Al Gore, I pledge to fight for a ban on partial-birth and harassment. It does not infringe upon free speech abortion.” The crafty Republican Party chair Richard Bond because the law does not prevent protestors from leafleting asked, with a straight face, “What can a presidential candi- and expressing their views; it simply prevents protestors from date do about a Supreme Court decision?” approaching patients without their consent. Both sides of the abortion rights controversy have been Among those applauding the decision was President Bill stressing the fact that the next president could appoint a Clinton who said: “The Colorado law was enacted in re- majority of the court and decide abortion rights. A sponse to a real need to ensure safe access to medical Newsweek poll released on June 24 showed that more than treatment in light of increasing obstruction, harassment, and two-thirds of registered voters say the kind of Supreme Court violence in front of health care facilities.” 4 4 ProChoice, Westchester Coalition for Legal Abortion, Inc. Summer 2000 ✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩ ELECTION 2000 ✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩ Politics, Big Spending, Threaten Judicial Independence arely do judicial elections warrant headlines, which on the judiciary at the University of Texas as saying, “It is a Rmeans that voters pay little attention to the races and new system where lots of money is involved, where judges may not even know who’s running for judge. are highly dependent on their political parties and political Judicial races are different from legislative races in that the operatives and where judges are tempted to make promises code of judicial ethics prohibits candidates from speaking out that might affect their judicial decisions. It is something that on disputed or controversial issues. Instead, would-be judges is new in America, and it has the potential of being a really must run on their qualifications. Voters are kept in the dark corrupting force.” about candidates’ views, though they may have strong ones. This year, Westchester voters will select a Surrogate, who Interest groups, however, are not in the dark. They know deals primarily with estate matters; a County Court judge, that judges have more power than lawmakers and will be the whose jurisdiction is primarily criminal, two Family Court ones with the final say on legislation. Knowing that judges judges and a Supreme Court justice, who jurisdiction is can strike down laws on constitutional grounds has prompted primarily civil. various groups to track decisions, and invest their money Lawyers routinely receive invitations to attend fundraisers accordingly. for judicial candidates. If these candidates are elected, these lawyers will be appearing in front of them, advocating their Money has become a corrupting influence client’s position. Trial lawyers have developed a political In the June 5, 2000 New York Times, William Glaberson astuteness. reported that millions of dollars in campaign contributions are In Westchester, the Surrogate’s race has been a focal flowing into races for top state judgeships around the nation, point for many bar members. The Surrogate appoints while candidates, per political consultants and lawyers, are numerous guardians and receivers. Both major political testing the ethics rules forbidding them to signal how they parties, and local attorneys, are acutely aware of the plum might vote on cases. patronage possibilities. The integrity of the judicial system is in danger when Special interests are making a judicial race in Ohio one of judges must behave like politicians. Glaberson quotes the costliest in the nation. The race may cost $12 million Anthony Champagne, a political science professor and expert Please see Judges on page 12 Lazio, from page 3 hitchhike all alone to find a clinic in another state. He votes to nominees to the Supreme Court. Bush will appoint conserva- prohibit Washington, DC from providing abortions for low- tives like the current justices who vote as a bloc against income residents. He opposes funding valuable medical abortion rights. With only one more such justice, Bush could research using embryonic stem cells. Lazio also voted for the ensure that abortion rights, embodied in Roe v. Wade, are sneaky Unborn Victims of Violence Act, which regards the history. Vice President Al Gore says he will not appoint anti- fetus as a crime victim equal in legal rights to the woman, and Roe judges and Hillary Rodham Clinton says clearly that she could lead to a ban on abortions. would not confirm such judges. Lazio would never vote against Lazio’s scanty pro-choice record includes voting against confirmation of a Bush nominee on the abortion rights issue! preventing the FDA from approving the abortion pill and In Lazio’s own words: “Abortions should be legal during the against prohibiting federal employees’ health plans from first trimester” and “I’m for a woman’s right to choose, but I covering abortion. He voted for the clinic safety bill. think it’s not unlimited.” So, he believes that government may By November, perhaps more voters will know this. arbitrarily obstruct a woman’s autonomy regarding her own pregnancies, and he votes to create “undue burdens” to Graham, from page 3 abortion. (see “On the President’s Mind,” Spring The whole picture of Lazio’s congressional votes excludes 2000 ProChoice), was short lived. For vast categories of women from freedom of choice. His votes example, she votes to make it a federal against Medicaid and other public funding rule out millions of crime for doctors to perform “partial low-income women. He shuts out military women and depen- birth abortions” (but doesn’t under- dents by prohibiting even privately funded abortions at stand the legislation); and to make it a overseas military hospitals, even if there is no other medical federal crime for anyone, including facility available. Women in federal prisons are kept unwillingly grandma, to avoid parental consent pregnant by denial of funds for abortion. Lazio hits on teenag- laws by taking a teenager to another ers from several directions: he voted for requiring parental state for an abortion. consent with no right to appeal to the courts and with no In contrast, we can count on Larry exception for rape, incest, or health emergencies. In voting to Graham to be an outspoken and make it a federal crime to take a minor across state lines for an effective advocate for our issues; on which he says he will abortion if her home state requires parental consent, Lazio “never equivocate or compromise.” Graham, articulate and would imprison grandma for driving her granddaughter to a smart, speaks for himself, again in contrast with Kelly, who doctor’s office, but permit the underage pregnant girl to issues statements through a spokesperson. Spring 2000 ProChoice, Westchester Coalition for Legal Abortion, Inc. Election 2000 5 ✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩ ELECTION 2000 ✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩ Graham Puts Kelly’s Voting Record on the Line awrence Otis Graham is Rep. Sue Kelly’s worst USA Today, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Fortune, Lnightmare. Jewish Week, Catholic New York, Black Enterprise, and the Graham is Sue Kelly’s opponent in the 2000 election. He local newspapers. The New York Daily News named Larry to is extremely smart, articulate, tireless, attractive, and speaks their “50 People to Watch in 1999.” his mind. If that’s not enough, he is pro-choice without Larry is a graduate of White Plains High School, Princeton exclusions or apology. He is endorsed by WCLA. University, and Harvard Law School. He interned in the Graham’s growing cadre of loyal supporters include pro- Carter White House and worked for Sarah Weddington, the choice former Kellyites. Kelly squandered the loyalty of her attorney who successfully argued Roe v. Wade. Larry worked early supporters by joining Speaker Newt Gingrich in his his way through school by journalism, and was a contribut- march to the right. ing editor at U.S. News and World Report. He teaches As a first-time candidate in 1994, Kelly promised a government at Dutchess Community College. dependable abortion rights position. It was a red flag when Larry chairs the Westchester County Police Board, and is a she signed the Contract With America, but the worst was yet member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the New York to come. By late in her first year, Kelly and the Christian State Bar Association, and the Marist College Pre-Law Coalition were in love; she received 91 percent on their Advisory Board in Poughkeepsie. He has served on local congressional scorecard. Her votes on the environment slid boards of the Red Cross, Boy Scouts, White Plains Library, downhill; she voted against a ban on assault weapons, for Westchester Holocaust Commission, and the Princeton school vouchers and posting the Ten Commandments in Center for Leadership Training. schools. Her rejection of abortion rights began with taking Unlike Sue Kelly, who speaks to the press through the anti-abortion side of so-called “partial birth abortion.” spokespersons, Larry Graham will, as a member of Congress, At 39, Larry is a nationally known attorney and author of maintain wholesome and open communications with con- 13 books, including Our Kind of People, a Los Angeles Times stituents and the press. and New York Times bestseller. First known for a New York Larry’s wife, Pamela Thomas, is a graduate of Harvard Magazine cover story for posing as a busboy to expose College and Harvard Business School. She is a corporate discrimination in a Connecticut country club, he has been executive and novelist. They live with their son in profiled by national publications, including Washington Post, Chappaqua. Election 2000 Covers U.S. House, NYS Legislature here is no such thing as an unim- Races expected to be tight: Tportant election for federal and CD 18: An incumbent with years of state legislators. They all get to vote on pro-choice votes in Albany and Wash- the leadership and reproductive rights ington, WCLA sponsor Eliot Engel, issues, and they can get the media to faces a primary against pro-choice state report their statements. Senator Larry Seabrook. In this Demo- As ProChoice goes to press, candi- cratic district, winning the primary is dates’ nominating petitions have just winning the election. been filed and WCLA’s candidate CD 19: Democrat Larry Graham takes questionnaires have yet to be mailed. on Sue Kelly, who abandoned the pro- Endorsements will be made in the next choice position that led to her election. issue, with the yellow voting guide as CD 20: Pro-choice Greenburgh supervi- the cover. sor Paul Feiner challenges Ben Gilman, With Assemblywoman Audrey whose record has been shaky in the Hochberg retiring, filling her seat with a Amy Paulin, left, and Audrey Hochberg Republican-controlled House. pro-choice advocate becomes top friends, supporters and elected officials SD 34: The winner of the Democratic priority for WCLA. District 88 covers in attendance, at her campaign head- primary between Lorraine Coyle Scarsdale, Eastchester, Pelham, most of quarters at 108 Mamaroneck Avenue in Koppell (very pro-choice) and Michael White Plains, northern New Rochelle, White Plains on May 30. Benedetto (position unknown) will run and part of Mt. Vernon. Paulin’s probable opponent, Max against anti-choice Senator Guy Velella. Amy Paulin, one of the top leaders DiFabio, is a registered Conservative SD 35: In a head-on pro-choice in women’s issues in Westchester, and a running as a Republican. He is an rematch, County Legislator Tom board member of WCLA (until an- Eastchester businessman, and has Abinanti tries again to unseat incum- nouncing her candidacy), has been mentioned his support for Sisters for bent Senator Nick Spano. WCLA has nominated by the Democrats to seek Life, a New York City-based anti-choice endorsed Spano every year since 1990, the Assembly seat. She announced her organization, as among his accomplish- acknowledging his leadership role on candidacy with approximately 100 ments. This is DiFabio’s first run for the choice issue in the state Senate. public office. 6 Election 2000 ProChoice, Westchester Coalition for Legal Abortion, Inc. Summer 2000 AIDS, and condemning trafficking in and sexual orientation were dropped. women. Other gains were language The following night a resolution Beijing + 5 recommending safe sex education requiring health service providers to be By Judith LaPook programs and a focus on maternal offered abortion training and equip- n June, delegates from 180 countries mortality, and a goal of providing ment and other measures to ensure Iconvened for a United Nation special women with lifetime access to health that abortion is safe and accessible summit on the progress of women’s care within the next two decades. failed. rights since the global UN women’s The opposition to these measures conference in Beijing five years ago. Vatican and Islamic nations has been described as the Vatican, When the Beijing+5 Conference squelch sexual rights religious groups and countries support- ended a weeklong meeting in New The sharp divisions that rocked the ing the Vatican, and Islamic nations, York, there was some good and some Beijing conference resurfaced. The which lined up against the West and bad results. Vatican, whose special status at the women’s rights activists. Their goal: to measure progress and United Nations gives it special standing Among the women’s rights oppo- create a plan to implement the Beijing to participate in international confer- nents were 23 members of the U.S. Platform for Action. On the up side, ences, led successful opposition to Congress who signed a letter to the UN initial fears that the Beijing plan would proposals on safe abortions and Mission protesting any pro-choice be watered down were not realized; expanded sexual rights. language. Beijing+5 did preserve the new document not only preserved After all-night debate, efforts to language from the original plan for Beijing gains, but added measures expand definitions to include more wide birth control and family planning calling for laws on domestic violence explicit gay rights were defeated and initiatives. and more attention to battling HIV/ proposed references to sexual rights Good Examples of Political Courage on Women’s Behalf New Zealand Bishop OKs percent to make the drug more acces- venture between the Ministry of Health sible to women who need it and raise and other international and local family Contraception by Young People awareness of the drug. As in the US, The Catholic bishop of Auckland said planning, health, and AIDS organiza- few women are aware of the existence tions. that young people should “contracept of emergency contraception. The themselves to the eyebrows’’ if they company and leading Preven researcher First Lady of Ghana promotes ignore the church’s advice to avoid sex Dr. Albert Yuzpe made it clear that outside marriage. “Don’t do it’’ re- Preven does not cause an abortion, as female condom mained the Catholic Church’s official does the pill RU-486. At the same time, First Lady of Ghana Nana Konadu stance on pre-marital sex, Bishop the Canadian health ministry was Agyeman Rawlings, a long-time Patrick Dunn said. But if they did not completing plans to permit pharmacists advocate of women’s rights, praised the heed the advice they should take full to prescribe the drug to women who female condom, saying that it offers precautions. have not visited a doctor. women control over their reproductive “I am not advocating anything, but health and noting that “Since the if that is the way people want to Doctors in Uganda push for female condom is worn by women behave, certainly be very careful. We themselves, it is found to be empower- are not just talking about physical risks, legalization of abortion. ing and is particularly more popular we are also talking about broken Citing the deaths of adolescents where men are reluctant to use hearts,’’ he told a local newspaper. who die in abortion, the Uganda condoms themselves.” She added, Dunn has previously made news by Medical Association organized a “Now, the female condom will give offering cash and assistance to women workshop for 30 doctors. President Dr. Ghanaian women a greater voice in considering abortion, to try to change Margaret Mungherera encouraged sexual and contraceptive decision their minds. He said, “What I am seeing medical professionals to speak out making. ... The female condom is a now is that the primary victims of about unsafe, illegal abortions. She long-awaited global dream come true abortion are not the babies but the said, “We are going to strongly urge for Ghanaians this day.” mothers. It is a realisation that women the authorities to consider legalizing are wounded by abortion and are abortion. It is something that keeps Thanks to the Kaiser Daily Reproductive hurting in our society,’’ he told the coming up from our young people.” Dr. Health Report for some of the above newspaper. Shema Tamusange, said, “It is better stories. we legalize abortion, rather than letting Drug company cuts prices to the majority of our young girls [resort] to wrong methods, which in the Please contribute educate women about EC process have resulted [in] deaths” The Canadian drug company Shire In Ghana, people celebrated with to WCLA; see Canada Inc. slashed the price of Preven, singing and dancing the introduction of (EC, emergency contraceptive) by 77 the female condom. It was a joint page 15. Spring 2000 ProChoice, Westchester Coalition for Legal Abortion, Inc. International 7 ‘Women on Waves’ to Provide Offshore Abortions Abroad by Judith LaPook shipboard abortions might face legal she came up with the idea after work- utch physician Rebecca Gomperts sanctions from their own countries. In ing aboard Greenpeace’s Rainbow Dfounded the Women on Waves fact, the island of Malta and its Catholic Warrior. It would be justice to see the Foundation in 1999. She hopes to use bishops were infuriated, claiming, “We Sea Change end up with the same fate the Dutch cruise ship, Sea Change, to are ready to prosecute any person that [at the bottom of the ocean].” And provide abortions in international colludes or collaborates with the anti-abortion activist Michael Bray was waters off the coasts of countries that doctor.” reported to have suggested recently prohibit or restrict abortions. that Dr. Gompert and her colleagues The floating clinic could perform as Uh huh, as they say, “pro-life” might want to stock up on life vests many as 20 first-trimester abortions per Anti-choice activists have responded and shark repellent. day; the procedure would be free to with attacks and ‘jokes’ that are Gomperts acknowledges that anti- those unable to afford the services. anything but funny, and have raised abortion extremists could pose threats, Gomperts would like her clinic to be concerns about how far these self- but is undeterred, arguing that a ship afloat next year, but as of May, she had proclaimed life-revering anti-abortion clinic is less vulnerable to attack than raised only $50,000 of the $1 million forces would go to “torpedo” a land-based clinics and plans extensive necessary to buy and outfit the ship. seagoing abortion clinic. Operation security measures. More important, she Operating costs are projected to be Rescue’s leaders have tried to spin the said, is that “A hundred thousand $500,000 annually. initiative as a lost cause while report- women a year die of complications Anti-abortion response was immedi- edly joking that they may seek to from abortions. The only way to help ate. Father Richard Welch, President of purchase a submarine. them is by offering legal and safe Human Life International, labeled the Jeff White, Operation Rescue’s services.” Gomperts is undeterred by clinic a “Ship of Death.” Gomperts national tactical director, was reported the threats. worries that women who have received to have commented, “Gomperts said AMA Bows to Catholic Pressure Carhart Puts Patients First here is an alarming trend of secular and Catholic hospitals By Nancy Montagnino Tmerging, resulting in women losing access to reproductive Dr. Leroy Carhart, the plaintiff in the Nebraska so- services as Catholic views opposing reproductive health called “partial birth” abortion case, never intended to be prevail in the new entity. a controversial person; however, he has found himself in The California delegation to the meeting of the House of the center of a firestorm. Delegates of the American Medical Association asked for At the time of his retirement from the military in 1985, support for a resolution that would require all hospitals that Dr. Carhart was a lieutenant colonel and an Air Force provide prenatal services to provide a full range of reproduc- surgeon. He now has a general medical practice, and is tive services which is to include temporary or permanent birth one of only three doctors in Nebraska who do abortions. control as a condition for receiving Medicare and Medicaid He is the only one to perform them after 16 weeks payments. The AMA, instead of taking a strong stance in gestation. favor of continued patient access to these services, caved into Dr. Carhart and his family were the victims of arson lobbying from the Catholic hierarchy. nine years ago, which was believed to have been retribu- In an unprecedented move, Cardinal Francis George of the tion for his work. The fire killed the family pets and 17 of Chicago Archdiocese directly lobbied the AMA against the his horses. No arrests were made. proposal. The AMA is a powerful lobby in Washington, and Anti-choice fanatics have not intimidated Dr. Carhart. some resolutions have become Federal law. The AMA pro- He faces demonstrators daily, and awaited the Supreme ceeded to pass a compromise resolution, reading: “RE- Court decision that bears his name in Washington D.C. SOLVED, That in the case of mergers and/or acquisitions of with a bodyguard. health care systems, our AMA supports action to ensure Following the decision, Dr. Carhart said: “I am proud continued patient access to pregnancy prevention services that the Supreme Court has recognized these criminal within the community, including tubal sterilization and abortion bans for what they are — a threat to women’s vasectomy.” health and a violation of the right of all Americans to When a Catholic hospital takes over a community hospital, obtain medical care without government intervention in patients find that it is not just abortion that becomes unavail- the doctor-patient relationship.” able as a result of the merger. Women lose birth control, STD The Supreme Court victory will not end Dr. Carhart’s prevention counseling, emergency contraception, even for troubles stemming from his sticking to his principles. His rape victims, and in vitro fertilization. local newspaper reports that he has six months to relocate Ten percent of the nation’s 4,800 hospitals, not including his medical practice, since his building was purchased by a long term and specialty care centers, are Catholic. In Califor- real estate company with ties to a Right to Life state nia, Catholic Healthcare West and its 46 hospitals have senator. The mayor of the city in which his practice is become the largest hospital operator in California. located applauded the eviction. WCLA favored the original resolution. 8 National ProChoice, Westchester Coalition for Legal Abortion, Inc. Summer 2000 Forty Years of the Pill Have Been Good for Women By Nancy Montagnino The search will be on for what he calls “contraceptive n May of 1960, 40 years ago, the US Food and Drug utopia” — reversible methods free of side effects, that are IAdministration approved oral contraceptives, known as 100 percent effective, protect against sexually transmitted “the Pill.” The word “revolution” is frequently applied to the diseases and are completely user-friendly. affects of the pill on women’s lives as they gained greater Limiting the number of children has saved couples from control over their reproduction. economic and personal stresses, in effect preserving many The freedom from unwanted pregnancy that the Pill marriages. The economics of child rearing were reported by provided resulted in greatly expanded opportunities for the New York Times: the latest government figures report women. They enjoy more education, better jobs and careers, that a two parent household, earning $36,800 to $61,900 a and fuller lives around the world. Childbearing by choice had year, will spend $160,140 to feed, clothe and shelter a child, become a reality with the advent of the Pill. exclusive of college tuition. Other methods of birth control available in the 1960s, such as the diaphragm and condoms, had to be applied just Pill blamed for society’s woes before sex, and had a low effectiveness rate. The Pill sepa- The Pill is not without its critics. Those opposed to birth rated contraception from the sex act, and sex from reproduc- control, mostly conservative religions that have a biblical tion, permitting women to express their sexuality without risk view of women’s roles, blame the pill for the disintegration of of pregnancy. It was, and still is, the ultimate in women’s the nuclear family, for promiscuity, for teen sex, and a host of liberation. It is the most widely used form of birth control in other societal ills, and wish to ban it. Battles are fought in most of the world. legislatures throughout the country on providing it and Jane E. Brody, health writer for the New York Times, funding it. The Pill is a central concern in the issue of mergers noted that after just five years of availability, the pill was the of religious and secular hospitals. International family plan- leading reversible contraceptive method in the United States. ning is a major issue in Congress. The enemies of birth Sixteen million American women are currently on the pill, control, especially the Pill, are many. with an estimated 468 million American women having taken Higher doses of the Pill were approved as emergency it since its introduction. Brody observed, “The pill arrived at a contraception (EC or “morning-after pill”) in 1997. Preven, time when abortion was illegal everywhere in the United for one, is specially packaged for this purpose. EC is used for States and when growing numbers of young women were rape victims, and for those who experienced a problem with striving to liberate themselves from the social trappings of their regular method of birth control (a condom breaking, for premarital chastity and vocational suppression.” example.) Some experts think that the Pill will lose popularity in this The pill has also given women a number of non-contra- century. John Guillebaud, professor of family planning and ceptive health benefits. The pill has been found to regulate reproductive health at University College in London, in the menstrual bleeding, prevent ovarian and endometrial cancer, March/April 2000 edition of Family Planning Perspectives, pelvic inflammatory disease, and reduce a woman’s risk of says the Pill’s effectiveness is still too dependent on some- rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis. It is also believed to times faulty human memory to continue its predominance. mitigate acne and facial hair. RU-486 vs Viagra: Controlling Fertility vs Restoring Virility estoring virility versus controlling 486 since they knew it was invented. But who can forget that in 1988, as Rfertility is a tale of two pills, the The FDA declared mifepristone anti-abortion boycott threats made the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), “approvable” — safe and effective — patent owner consider pulling off the and men and women. in 1996. Mifepristone has a proven market, the French Minister of Health Approval of Viagra, the erection pill, safety record after 12 years of use in insisted that RU-486 was “the moral was a short story. The FDA and France and other countries, and over 5 property of women,” which it soon mifepristone (RU-486), the abortion years of clinical trials in the US. Despite became. pill, is a continuing saga. the support of a pro-choice president, it The Danco Group, which holds the Once men knew Viagra was languishes in the FDA. US license to manufacture RU-486, said invented, there was no holding it back. Despite early problems with patent that the FDA is proposing a national Despite concerns about side effects rights and manufacturing, US approval registry of all doctors prescribing the and medical risks, Viagra was licensed seemed imminent. Ominously, in drug, and they must have admitting swiftly by the FDA with no restrictions. February, the FDA said it would ap- privileges at a hospital within one hour Any doctor could prescribe it, and most prove the sale of RU-486 once some of their office. Further, the proposed have, if asked by their patients. Nearly new, undisclosed requirements were regulations would require follow up every insurance company covered it, met. In June, the nonprofit Population study of the women who had medical including even the Pentagon, which Council, which holds the patent in the abortion. Only doctors trained in spent $50 million for Viagra the first US, revealed that the FDA is proposing surgical abortion would be allowed to year. It quickly became available to unnecessary but crippling restrictions. prescribe the drug. Such restrictions are men worldwide through the Internet. No one says why. Whatever is going on American women have coveted RU- within the FDA is its secret. See RU-486 on page 15 Spring 2000 ProChoice, Westchester Coalition for Legal Abortion, Inc. National 9 Please pay close attention to the fact that the makeup of the Supreme Court is ACTION arguably the most important issue of the November elections. The next president ALERT! will make court appointments and the Senate will confirm or reject them, thereby deciding whether Roe v. Wade will stand or fall, and whether abortion remains a ACTION right or not. ALERT! There is nothing more important for you to do before Nov. 7 than educate others about the path from Election Day to Supreme Court appointments. Your Elected Officials: Keep For Future Reference U.S. President NYS Senate AD 89 Naomi Matusow [+] D, I 914/241-2649; 518/455-5397 President Bill Clinton [+] D Hon. [email protected] 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. New York State Senate AD 90 Sandra Galef [+] D, I Washington, D.C. 20500 Albany, New York 12247 914/941-1111; 518/455-5348 Opinion phone 202/456-1111 Switchboard: 518/455-2800 [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] SD 33 Larry Seabrook [+] D 718/547-8854; 518/455-2061 U.S. Senate Speaker: Sheldon Silver [+] D, L [email protected] Hon. Daniel P. Moynihan [+/-] D,L 212/312-1420; 518/455-3791 SD 34 Guy Velella [-] R,C, I ◊ Hon. Charles E. Schumer [+] D,L,I [email protected] 718/792-7180; 518/455-3264 Health Committee Chair [email protected] Hon. ______Richard Gottfried [+] D, L SD 35 Nicholas Spano [+] R,C, I ◊ U.S. Senate 518/455-4941 914/969-5194; 518/455-2231 Washington, D.C. 20510 [email protected] Switchboard: 202/224-3121 [email protected] SD 36 Suzi Oppenheimer [+] D County Executive Daniel P. Moynihan 914/934-5250; 518/455-2031 212/661-5150;202/224-4451 [email protected] Andrew Spano [+] D [email protected] SD 37 Vincent Leibell [-] R,C, Michaelian Office Building Charles E. Schumer 914/279-3773; 518/455-3111 White Plains, New York 10601 212/486-4430; 202/224-6542 [email protected] Phone: 285-2900 [email protected] [email protected] Majority Leader Joseph Bruno [-] R,C 518/455-3191 Westchester Board of Legislators U.S. House of [email protected] Hon. ______Representatives Health Committee Chair Michaelian Office Building White Plains, New York 10601 Hon. ______Kemp Hannon [-] R,C Switchboard 285-2800 U.S. House of Representatives 518/455-2200 CBL 1 George Oros [-] R,C,F ◊ Washington, D.C. 20515 [email protected] CBL 2 Ursula LaMotte [+] R,C, F, I Switchboard: 202/224-3121 CBL 3 Suzanne Swanson [+] R,C,I CD 17 Eliot Engel [+] D,L NYS Assembly CBL 4 Michael Kaplowitz [+] D 718/796-9700; 202/225-2464 Hon. ______CBL 5 William Ryan [+] D, I www.house.gov\writerep New York State Assembly CBL 6 Paul Noto [+] R,I,F CD 18 Nita Lowey [+] D Albany, New York 12248 CBL 7 George Latimer [+] D,I 914/428-1707; 202/225-6506 Switchboard 518/455-4100 CBL 8 Lois Bronz [+] D [email protected] AD 84 Gary Pretlow [+] D, I CBL 9 Richard Wishnie [+] D, I CD 19 Sue Kelly [+/-] R, F 914/667-0127; 518/455-5291 CBL 10 Vito Pinto [+] D 914/241-6340; 202/225-5441 [email protected] CBL 11 Jim Maisano [+] R, I, F [email protected] AD 85 Ronald Tocci D, C [+/-] CBL 12 Thomas Abinanti [+] D CD 20 Benjamin Gilman [+] R 914/235-7900; 518/455-4897 CBL 13 Clinton Young, Jr. [+] D 914/343-6666; 202/225-3776 [email protected] CBL 14 Bernice Spreckman [+] R,C,I, F www.house.gov\writerep AD 86 Richard Brodsky [+] D CBL 15 Louis Mosiello [+] R,C,I,F 914/345-0432; 518/455-5753 CBL 16 Andrea Stewart-Cousins [+] D,L,I Governor [email protected] CBL 17 Katherine Carsky [-] R,C,I,F◊ AD 87 Michael Spano [+] R,C, I Hon. George Pataki [-] R,C Key Executive Chamber 914/779-8805; 518/455-3662 [email protected] + Pro-choice I Independence Albany, New York 12224 - Anti-choice L Liberal Phone: 518/474-8390/3767 AD 88 Audrey Hochberg [+] D +/- Mixed, qualified RTL Right to Life [email protected] 914/723-1115; 518/455-5585 D Democrat F Freedom [email protected] R Republican G Green C Conservative ◊ Has run on RTL This list keeps improving because YOU elect pro-choice candidates. To write The New York Times The Journal News Weekly papers: 229 West 43 Street 1 Gannett Drive Check the mastheads letters to New York, NY 10036 White Plains, NY 10604 for addresses and fax the editor Fax: 212/556-3622 Fax: 696-8396 numbers. e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] 10 Westchester ProChoice, Westchester Coalition for Legal Abortion, Inc. Summer 2000 Abortion Becomes Key Issue in Bankruptcy Reform he Bankruptcy Reform Act is being debated in Congress. President Clinton has said that he may veto a bankruptcy TClinic protection has emerged as a key issue. reform bill that does not include Schumer’s amendment. Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) has proposed an Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT), following amendment to the bankruptcy passage of that amendment in the reform bill prohibiting individuals Senate, vowed to “correct” the from using bankruptcy to avoid the The creators of the Nuremberg amendment in the conference, payment of fines levied after convic- Files website have already meaning remove this language. tions of violators of FACE (Freedom In June of 1999, Operation Rescue of Access to Clinic Entrances Act), a sought bankruptcy protection. founder Randall Terry and other anti- law written by Schumer. FACE They were facing the potential abortion activists lost an appeal to the targets violence or harassment aimed of $109 million in damages. Supreme Court. The appeal chal- at abortion clinics, their staff and The Nuremberg Files provided lenged nearly $600,000 in fines and patients. lawyer fees stemming from their New Senate Republicans in the anti- personal information on the York City area abortion clinic block- abortion camp oppose the amend- Internet on doctors who ades a decade before. However, Terry ment. But in a cynical partisan performed abortions. had already included the debt in his maneuver in February, the Senate personal bankruptcy, filed the No- voted by 80 to 17 to pass the vember before. Schumer, in his call for Schumer amendment in order to bankruptcy reform, has cited the Terry deny Vice President Al Gore the chance to break a tie. The bankruptcy as an example of why reform is necessary. Terry Act is currently in a House-Senate conference committee, for blames heavy debts owed women’s groups and the lawsuits reconciliation with the House of Representatives’ version. from abortion clinics as the reason he sought bankruptcy House Judiciary Committee chair, Henry Hyde (R-IL), a protections. leader in the congressional anti-abortion group, is seeking to Operation Rescue, meanwhile, is facing an $11.4 million strip the amendment of the “reproductive health services” jury verdict which was rendered four years ago against the language. Schumer’s amendment specifies debts from a group. The verdict stemmed from an harassment campaign conviction at reproductive health services facilities under against an abortion provider and was upheld this past FACE. It is Hyde’s plan to substitute language preventing February by the US Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. If persons convicted of “willful and malicious acts” from Schumer’s amendment becomes law, these kinds of judg- discharging those debts under bankruptcy, providing a ments would not be dischargeable in bankruptcy. loophole for FACE violators. ‘Hi Fidelity’ Out-Pro-Choices ‘Cider House Rules’ udrey Fisch, writing in the online upon finding out. Fisch says, “But upon the basic script that says women who Amagazine Salon, explains that the reflection, he tells the movie audience exercise the right to choose are inexora- movie Hi Fidelity has received critical — flatly and without melodrama — bly stained and deserving of punish- acclaim, but because the abortion that his response was both spineless ment.” segment takes about three minutes, no and insincere. It was not a valid com- She concludes that “Hi Fidelity,” one thinks of it as a pro-choice movie. plaint, he admits sheepishly, but just with its brief depiction of Laura’s Instead, Cider House Rules has that more evidence of his selfish unwilling- abortion as distressing but surmount- honor. ness to take responsibility for cheating able, actually delivers the more radical Fisch says that Cider House Rules on Laura. And then he starts talking message that abortion doesn’t have to isn’t the courageous or radical film that about something else. be the stuff of tragic melodrama. It can critics and pro-choice advocates claim it This is in stark contrast to Cider be, and often is, simply one compelling to be. That particular distinction House Rules. Those connected to anecdote in the overall narrative of belongs to Hi Fidelity, a movie which abortion seem to suffer the conse- life.” conveys an almost revolutionary take quences. Candy has an abortion. Later, Cider House Rules is a pro-choice on abortion, but is recognized as little her boyfriend is paralyzed from the movie since the filmgoer understands more than a smart romantic comedy waist down, preventing him from siring that women will have abortions regard- with an exceptionally great soundtrack. children. Rose is an incest victim, who less of legality; and illegal abortions are Hi Fidelity does not dwell on the has an abortion, and subsequently stabs often unsafe. issue of abortion. Rob, acknowledges her father. The doctor dies from a drug John Irving, the author of the novel cheating on his girlfriend, Laura, while overdose. The young doctor decides Cider House Rules and the screenplay, she was pregnant. Knowing of the abortion is moral only after he sees was awarded honorary membership in infidelity, Laura chooses to terminate women die from it. Fisch points out the National Abortion Federation. the pregnancy without telling him that that “Whatever else The Cider House Hi Fidelity has yet to be honored. she was pregnant. He criticizes her Rules may do, it doesn’t deviate from

Spring 2000 ProChoice, Westchester Coalition for Legal Abortion, Inc. National 11 A Week In the Life of a Pro-Choice Congresswoman By Rep. Nita M. placement. It was clear that the author and would be legal if provided in the US. Lowey of the amendment — no friend to pro- I call this the “golden rule” approach, As Congress choice causes — meant to harm Title X. and I intend to fight to the House floor struggles We were able to get this amendment and beyond to get the global gag rule through another withdrawn after making clear the removed from law this year. I have partisan session, strong, bipartisan support for family worked with the White House to ensure with the planning. We also managed to avoid a that the President is committed to elections in fight over allowing federal funding for vetoing any bill that contains the global sight, I am fetal tissue research by working with gag rule language. reflecting on the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Mifepristone (RU-486) is the next what life is like Parkinson’s Research and pro-choice advance for American women. We have for pro-choice organizations, to again demonstrate the come so far, and we have waited too members in an strong support for medical research in long. As I say that, we are also preparing anti-choice Congress, and how impor- Congress. for the third attempt in as many years to tant it is that we restore a pro-choice We were also handed some tough stop the FDA from approving majority in the House and Senate and defeats. They’re always hard-fought and mifepristone — a fight we lost last year elect a pro-choice President in Novem- it’s always tough to lose on these issues by only three votes. This amendment is ber. that are so important to women’s lives. especially troubling because we are so In a single week recently, my My initial efforts to repeal the global gag close to finally having mifepristone as a colleagues and I juggled several family rule on family planning abroad from the safe, effective, early medical abortion planning and abortion issues. During Foreign Aid bill were defeated in the option once a woman learns she is consideration of the FY 2001 Labor, Appropriations Committee. My argu- pregnant. The Coburn amendment is Health and Human Services, and ment is simple: the global gag rule is one more roadblock in a long and very Education Appropriations bill, an anti- would be unconstitutional if imposed on creative series of roadblocks thrown up choice amendment was drafted that Title X at home. Simply put, no restric- by those who oppose all abortion. I will would take $10 million out of Title X, tions should be placed on foreign non- fight any effort to take it away from America’s excellent but under-funded governmental organizations’ (NGO) use American women, because I know that family planning program, and transfer of their own, non-US funds for lobbying it is only one part of a long effort to the money into an incentive program and advocacy activities that would be completely criminalize abortion. for states that reduce their child welfare permitted in the US. Furthermore, The Reagan and Bush Administra- rolls through adoption or foster care foreign NGOs should not be denied US tions had imposed an import ban on funding simply because they provide mifepristone. It’s only been since the Judges, from page 5 health services with their own funds that are legal in their country of operation See Lowey on page 13 dollars by November. In a New York Times column appearing July 7, writer Glaberson again focuses on the cost of Infertility Advocacy Day judicial races and how interest groups are investing large sums in an attempt Resolve – the national to control the outcome. infertility association – The individual candidates in Ohio are limited to only spending $550,000. will sponsor its However, the race has garnered Advocacy Day 2000 on national attention since the incumbent judge authored a decision striking down Thursday, Sept. 21, laws limiting injury liability claims. As 2000, in Washington such, she now has to contend with insurance, medical and other business D.C. Participants will groups which have lined up to defeat lobby for mandated her. Her supporters include plaintiffs’ lawyers, unions, consumer groups and insurance coverage and the Democratic party. There is no cap The photo of Nancy K. more infertility research. on how much these individuals can Montagnino, WCLA’s new For more information, spend. Pro-choice voters must focus on the executive director, on page call Resolve at (617) judiciary, too. Abortion rights are one of the Spring issue, was 623-0744, or email: repeatedly before the courts. The darkened by a printer’s error. This is voting guide will be in the next issue of a better photo anyway. [email protected] ProChoice. 12 ProChoice, Westchester Coalition for Legal Abortion, Inc. Summer 2000 NYS Legislature Gets Mixed Reviews on Choice Issues he State Senate and Assembly have Budget battle requiring hospital emergency rooms to Trecessed for an undetermined time. Family planning advocates won the provide emergency contraception to The legislative session deserves mixed budget battle. The new budget pro- rape survivors. reviews. vides family planning coverage for the The pro-choice forces won major The Senate failed to pass the working poor. Women earning up to victories in the Assembly Health Women’s Health and Wellness Act. The 200 percent of the federal poverty Committee. Anti-choice legislators Assembly overwhelmingly passed it in level will now qualify for Medicaid proposed the Women’s Right to Know January with broad bipartisan support. coverage for family planning. The $1.5 Act, which would require doctors to The legislation requires health plans to million cut in family planning proposed provide biased information to their cover prescription contraception, by Governor Pataki was defeated. patients prior to an abortion, and mammograms, and screenings for Instead, not only did the legislature require a 24-hour waiting period cervical cancer and osteoporosis. restore the money, they added to it between the time of the first visit and Instead of passing the legislation, another $1.5 million! the abortion. This legislation did not Senate Republicans set up a Task Force New York continues to have Medic- make it out of committee. to study the issue. This is a direct aid funding for abortion thanks to the Parental notification, full legal affront to women, as early detection New York Assembly. The state Senate personhood for the fetus, and denial of saves lives. Passage should have been a voted to ban Medicaid funding by one Medicaid funds for so-called partial simple matter. In contrast, the Senate vote. The Senate also voted for a ban birth abortions also were defeated in did not feel the need to study a man- on so-called partial birth abortions, the Health Committee. date for additional insurance coverage prior to the decision by the Supreme Pro-choice champion Sheldon Silver for prostate cancer screening, which Court on the issue. survived an attempt by some Demo- passed easily, setting the Senate up for The legislature adjourned without crats to oust him as Assembly speaker. criticism for favoring men’s health care. passing Senator Nick Spano’s bill Some Day We’ll Answer This Letter Lowey, from page 12 To Pro-Choice: Clinton Administration came into office My name is Annie Areyoukidding, and I am thinking that the import ban was removed, that clinical trials were conducted, and an of volunteering and or donating to your organization. I application was finally made to the FDA would like to know your potential power, in particular, to approve this drug — which women in France have had for 12 years, and which how much money do you have, how many members, your is available now in Austria, Belgium, goals, what methods do you employ to achieve your goals, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Israel, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzer- would you settle for less than your standard goals, why land, and the United Kingdom. I hope New Yorkers will think about that before or why not, and what legislation you have lobbied for. I they elect a president in November. would also be interested in knowing your views regarding Finally, as I write this, the House just passed a bill that allows physicians to abortion, especially partial birth. Any information you collectively bargain with managed care could send me would be greatly appreciated. plans and HMOs. I am a strong sup- porter of this legislation, which I believe Sincerely, will help doctors really represent the Annie Areyoukidding needs of their patients. But yet again, an anti-choice amendment was attached to (Not her real name) the bill, stating doctors can negotiate on any subject except abortion. I had to vote against the bill because it contained the unacceptable gag rule. I will keep EELECTIONLECTION DDAYAY ISIS NNOVOV.. 7.7. fighting against any attempt to roll back a woman’s right to choose and limit access to family planning, but I truly DDONON’’TT EVENEVEN THINKTHINK hope it is the action of pro-choice voters, acting together, that will deliver us a new, pro-choice majority in 2001. OFOF NOTNOT VOTINGVOTING..

Spring 2000 ProChoice, Westchester Coalition for Legal Abortion, Inc. 13 Were their fingers crossed? Birth Control, from page 1 Clippings A 13-year-old British girl was bribed Essay Lands Molester in Jail by promises of financial help for baby “Women of reproductive age spend clothes and supplies. The Catholic an inordinate amount of money on In an school essay she called “Why I health care — up to 68 percent more in Am Who I Am,” a 14-year-old girl Church’s “Pro-Life Initiative” convinced her to turn down an abortion and have out-of-pocket health care costs than graphically described sexual abuse she men — much of it due to reproductive suffered as a young child by a man her baby. After the child was born, Exeter High Court ordered the girl — health-related supplies and services,” named Roger between 1989 and 1993. Spano said. The pill is the most widely She revealed numerous specific inci- who was 12 when she became pregnant — to give up the child for adop- used prescription drug used by women dents of molestation, which continued aged 15 to 44, as well as the most for four years, beginning when she was tion. The girl is believed to have a reading age of six. popular contraceptive method in the four years old. There was one on her U.S. seventh birthday and a final one on the TV Abortions: Bad Characters The coverage includes birth control day her family moved to another part of pills and other forms of prescription Using the show Felicity as an the country. contraceptives that require the services example, Salon’s Audrey Fisch com- After the teacher read the girl’s cry of physicians or other medical profes- plains that television portrays women for help, she immediately gave it to sionals. Over-the-counter methods will who have abortions as of bad character. school officials, who called police. When be excluded from the plan. Why not, she asks, show how sex can authorities contacted the girl’s mother, Coverage began July 1 and be result in unplanned pregnancy for any she said she was unaware of the abuse available through the county’s self- woman? but suspected, however, that the administered, self-funded health plan Yes, why not? “Roger” described in the essay was provided by PCS and POMCO. Pre- Roger Matthews. Police found scriptions for oral contraceptive drugs Matthews, 44, because he is a known Home Pregnancy are covered the same as any other convicted sex offender. He confessed to prescription drug when presented at a abusing the girl and her brother, and Tests Reduce network pharmacy. even revealed other alleged sex crimes Employees are being encouraged to that also had remained secret for years. order the drugs through the county’s Roger Matthews is in jail. Follow-up Care mail service program, which allows Fired for inviting Steinem to speak exually active teens are missing out them to order up to a 180-day supply on necessary health care, including The Boston Globe reported that S of oral contraceptives with no out-of- pregnancy prevention counseling, Trinity College’s communications pocket cost. If ordered at a pharmacy, because they are opting to use home director submitted her resignation after prescriptions would be subject to a $4 pregnancy test kits and are not making the college decided that she had erred co-pay ($1 for generic brands). necessary visits to health clinics. in inviting feminist Gloria Steinem to The benefit is the result of an Researchers in one recent study speak at its Peace and Justice lecture agreement between Spano and the concluded that 34 percent of sexually series. The president of the Catholic County Board of Legislators, who active teens had used a home preg- college for women, located in Vermont, agreed that funds in the 2000 county nancy test, with 77 percent having at felt that Steinem was an inappropriate budget should be allocated for cover- least one negative result. However, of choice as she wouldn’t be able to age for individuals who use or need that 77 percent, nearly half took no discuss women’s issues without talking contraceptives. further action to confirm the results. about abortion. The study resulted from a survey of Oops, they forgot parents’ rights almost 600 girls, aged 13 to 19 years Gore, from page 3 visiting clinics in Minneapolis and St. Four terminally ill newborns were cally street-smart, he would be steeped kept on life support in Missouri against Paul, Minnesota between October 1997 and June 1998. in history and possess a penetrating the wishes of their parents because of understanding of foreign and domestic fears that the doctors would be charged Home pregnancy tests are not always accurate. If the negative result policy. He’d have read more. Like a with murder under the state’s new failing student as exams near, Bush has abortion ban law if they removed them. was not correct and there was no follow-up, the young woman would be a tutor in foreign policy, and concedes “We’re in legal straitjackets with our that he “has much to learn about the hands tied behind our backs,” said Dr. delaying receiving either pre-natal care or an abortion. Teens who used the kits world.” The tutor tries valiantly to John Pardalos, a neonatal intensive care convince others that what Bush lacks in specialist at the University of Missouri’s were not as likely to use birth control. The teens using the home tests cited international knowledge and experience hospital. According to Pardalos all the he makes up for in “good instincts.” children eventually died tied to their confidentiality, convenience, fast results and cost as the reason for doing so. The conclusion that Bush is too ventilators, some within days, but one shallow to be president is unavoidable. lasted two and a half weeks after the Home pregnancy tests are readily available over the counter in The thought of this know-nothing in parents requested that it be removed the Oval Office is terrifying. from life support. Westchester pharmacies. 14 Westchester ProChoice, Westchester Coalition for Legal Abortion, Inc. Summer 2000 April 9, 2000 was the 30th anniversary of New York’s abortion law, which passed by one vote after Assemblyman George Michael switched his vote to YEA — morally obligated to do it, and knowing his political career was over. It was — but women in NY have had legal abortions ever since, as well as 30 years of fighting to keep them. The photos were taken at NARAL-NY’s luncheon to commemorate the law, honoring those who worked to pass the 1970 law and are still at it. Left to right, above: Assemblywoman Connie Cook, author of the law, with activist Barbara Shack; Rev. Howard Moody; Rabbi Balfour Brickner. Below: Ruth Proskauer Smith, the three sons and daughter-in-law of George Michael, and Lawrence Lader. WCLA’s Polly Rothstein, who snapped the photos, was among those honored. RU-486, from page 9

beyond that applied to other drugs. The “It kills the drug if it can’t be used by attacks in older patients. Critics are reported regulations have not been primary care providers,” said Dr. Eric questioning the withholding of research finalized. There is no medical reason to Schaff, a professor of family medicine at information and the speeded-up justify these restrictions. the University of Rochester who has process of approval of the erection pill. The restrictions would destroy the run clinical trials of RU-486. “The Before prescribing it, Dr. Ronald main advantage of “medical abortion” whole idea of mifepristone was to Lewis of Georgia Medical College, asks (as opposed to surgical abortions), increase access.” patients at risk: “Is sex worth dying letting doctors in their offices provide Viagra is shown to result in heart for?” the drug, immune to Operation Rescue. The WCLA benefit hosted by Hillary and Nita is Aug. 21 at 7 p.m. at a private home. Tickets are $100 per person. Persons with reservations will be notified of the location. I will attend the benefit for WCLA on Aug. 21. Enclosed is for persons. (List names below.) I can’t attend but I will contribute $ to WCLA. Charge $ to : Visa, MC, AmEx Expires Signed Name Address

City/Zip Names of attendees: Notify me of the address by US Mail Fax E-mail Make checks payable to WCLA. Mail with this coupon to 237 Mamaroneck Ave., White Plains, NY 10605. For charged reservations or donations call 946-5363 or e-mail to [email protected]. Contributions to WCLA are not tax deductible. Spring 2000 ProChoice, Westchester Coalition for Legal Abortion, Inc. 15 Lest We Forget . . . WCLA Seeks “The clandestine nature of illegal counted the money, and then waited, abortions, even if women survived waited and waited, I realized how Office Manager them, sharpened women’s awareness totally at the mercy of unknowns and The ideal candidate is of the danger and illegality of abor- unknowables my friend was, and I efficient and organized, tion. If the … woman had experi- had been.’ A Detroit student, who careful with details, good enced any problems, no friend of found she was pregnant in the spring relative would have been able to find of 1968, went with a friend to an with people, flexible, and or help her. One woman recalled her abortionist who ‘was upstairs over a computer literate. An fear when she took a friend to the store. We were both scared to death. extra plus is an interest in illegal abortionist whom she had The man did the abortion and said not politics. To apply, send a previously visited herself: ‘As I to call him if I had problems.’ Almost handed her over to strangers at the twenty years later the woman seemed letter and resume outside door of the apartment build- to breathe a sigh of relief as she to WCLA, 237 Mamaroneck ing where the abortion was to be wrote, ‘Luckily I was O.K.’” Ave., White Plains, NY performed, then met the mysterious From When Abortion was a Crime by 10605, or e-mail contact in the park who carefully Leslie J. Reagan [email protected]. Mind, from page 2 Please do not call. It’s time for women to realize that by toying with voting for Lazio they’re playing chicken with reproductive rights. It’s time for women to WCLA is hiring phoners for acknowledge that society still treats us unfairly and adheres to a double evening calls. Downtown standard. It’s time for women, and not only avowed feminists, to create White Plains. Free parking; a dynamic of solidarity with Hillary and demand that Lazio repudiate the letter, stop the innuendoes, and own up to his anti-abortion record. near buses. Requirements: The next senator from New York could be the swing vote to confirm pro-choice, clear speaking. or reject the fifth Supreme Court justice needed to overturn Roe and Volunteers especially abortion rights. That’s why I ranted a bit writing this column. welcome. Call 946-5363.

Inside On the President’s Mind...... 2 Beijing+5...... 7 RU-486 vs Viagra...... 9 Editorials...... 3 Good examples for Congress...... 7 Alert: Your elected officials...... 10 Supreme Court,Buffer Zones...... 4 Women on Waves...... 8 Bankruptcy and Abortion...... 11 Judicial Independence...... 5 AMA/Catholic Pressure...... 8 Lowey’s Week...... 12 Graham vs Kelly...... 6 Dr. Carhart, the Person...... 8 State Legislature...... 13 Election ’00...... 6 The Pill at 40...... 9 Photos of NY Law’s 30th...... 15

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