Newsletter of Westchester Coalition for Legal Abortion, Inc. Vol. 31, No. 2 Summer, 2002 McCall: ProChoice All the Way arl McCall has been an McCall has consistently spoken out younger advocate for choice for as against the health policies of the Pataki pro-choice long as WCLA can remem- administration that force women to go advocates ber. His tenure in public to extraordinary lengths to access today could Coffice and the diversity of positions that needed family planning services. He not imagine he has held have given him the oppor- has protested the State’s assignment of – and that tunity both to see the importance of a Medicaid patients to managed care all of us woman’s right to choose and to be a plans that don’t provide family plan- must work vocal proponent of choice. ning services, and he has criticized the hard to Most recently, as Comptroller, State’s failure to contract with third- prevent McCall has been responsible for all party family planning providers when from investments made or held by New York Fidelis, a Catholic health insurer that returning. State’s public pension fund. When the refuses to provide reproductive ser- In 1975, Christian Right orchestrated a campaign vices, was the only insurer available to the year to halt corporate contributions to family participants in public health programs. after McCall planning services, McCall changed McCall has challenged government was first intervention in a woman’s right to elected to pension fund policy and used New H. Carl McCall York’s shareholder power to vote choose since he arrived in Albany in the New against this obvious attack on reproduc- 1974. As a member of the New York York State Senate, both the Assembly tive freedom. The resolutions were State Senate, McCall participated in defeated. numerous debates over proposals that Please see McCall on page 4 WCLA Makes Alan Hevesi News with Was There Bramson Back When n June 18th WCLA lan Hevesi, a champion of Oannounced its unanimous A abortion rights and women’s endorsement of Noam rights, is running for state comp- Bramson in the Democratic troller. The position is being Party primary for Assembly vacated by Carl McCall, who is District 91. Bramson is chal- running for governor. As an active lenging incumbent Ron Tocci. proponent of choice Hevesi has an The winner of the September Noam Bramson Alan Hevesi impressive track record. 10th primary will be the party’s In 1970 the NYS legislature nominee for the general election on November 5th. legalized abortion. In 1972, legislators, intimidated by Right “In contrast to his opponent Noam Bramson knows the to Life threats of retribution, switched sides and voted to issues, is strongly pro-choice and intends to be a vocal repeal the law. Gov. Rockefeller vetoed the repeal. Hevesi, advocate for women’s reproductive health and freedom in then in his first term in the Assembly and barely into his 30s, the Assembly,” said Catherine Lederer-Plaskett, WCLA board took charge of the passionate conflict and has remained in chair. the forefront of the abortion battles for 30 years. Bramson, a member of the New Rochelle City Council, Early on, during a strategy session on defeating the was formerly a key aide to Congresswoman Nita Lowey, the parental consent bill, Hevesi demonstrated his skills and leader in the House for choice and a wide range of women’s commitment to the pro-choice community. He led a “head health issues. Her office is a superb training ground for a pro- count,” an assessment of each legislator’s likely vote, to choice leader. focus abortion rights advocates in the room on specific Please see Bramson on page 7 Please see Hevesi on page 4 Divided On the We Fall President by Catherine Lederer-Plaskett WCLA Board Chair Emerita’s oday we face what is Mind perhaps the greatest crisis T By Polly Rothstein of our time. Complacency. My generation has relied on our mothers and fathers to uring the 30+ years I was in abortion politics, a myth carry the load of social responsibility. Our parents have D grew around me that WCLA was my whole life and been there to fight for choice, for gun control, and consumed me day and night. I remember one time I said against the war in Vietnam. They marched with Martin that I had to leave a meeting because I was going to meet Luther King Jr.; they worked as escorts at abortion my husband. “You have a husband?” said one, astonished. clinics; they registered voters; they marched for gay I did what it took to get things done my way, including and lesbian rights, for food for the hungry, and so evenings and weekends, especially newsletter, fund-raising, much more. and lobbying. I didn’t, however, miss out on all the other And when they stopped protesting, they started things that make a full and satisfying life. My husband giving. And they have given big! They have given the Jesse and I have two superb adult children, Amy and dollars that have protected our civil rights and pro- Chester. I’m close to my sisters, mother, and cousins. We moted our welfare. have lots of dear friends, with whom we dined, skied, It is because of your parents and mine that the dined, traveled, dined, went to the ballet, dined, and United Negro College Fund, Meals On Wheels, and shared joys and sorrows. Westchester Coalition for Legal Abortion exist. In 1969, I was handed a dead bird, a life-altering I find myself saying the same words to my children, experience. It was a White-breasted Nuthatch (It’s beauti- and now to you, that my parents said to me, “How can ful! Mmmm, what else is out there?) It sparked my interest I make you see?” You must care. No one else is going and turned me into an avid birder. What pleasure it’s given to do it for us anymore. Our parents are tired. Organi- me. I’ve made countless birding trips to find and watch zations all around us are closing their doors, not be- birds in their habitats of savannas, jungles, mountains, cause the fight is won, or even over, but because there tundra, and swamps and marshes. About five times in is no more money. If you don’t step up to the plate recent years I went with a small group, traveling by Land financially, the game is over. The bad guys win. Rover, foot, and motorboat in the dense unexplored forests In a conversation I had prior to the 2002 elections, of southern Guyana. I was so happy bathing in the river, an acquaintance said, “Oh, Bush wouldn’t overturn eating freshly caught fish and animals, and falling asleep in Roe v. Wade. He just talks like that to appease the my hammock listening to night sounds. I enjoy birding ultra-conservatives.” That acquaintance was so sure locally almost as much as in exotic places. I never miss the that someone else would be there to protect choice; he Christmas and summer bird counts, no matter what the weather. And as true birders do, I often go out alone. Please see Divided on page 5 When a spinal cord injury cost me my ability to walk unassisted last year, I was relieved to think that if I had Westchester Coalition for Legal Abortion, Inc. © 2002 waited to take birding trips until I was retired and had 237 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, NY 10605 time, I’d have missed out on the grand adventures. But, 914/946-5363 • www.wcla.org Executive Director: Judith A. Kaufman I’ve done it and I have many albums to bring me back Office Manager: Fran Snedeker there. Assistant: Leonore Young Roughing it in South American forests is in my past Board of Directors: Catherine Lederer-Plaskett, Chair; Tamika Coverdale, Robert Fertik, Neil McCarthy, Joseph Melhado, Nancy S. Tunis, Deena but birding is still in the present and future, modified. I Weintraub, Eve Widdows drive with hand controls. I bought a minivan, which I Editor: Catherine Lederer-Plaskett had equipped with a lift so I could transport my three- Editorial Contributors: Phillip Chonigman, Eric Deutsch, Samantha Katzman, Judith A. Kaufman, Nancy K. Montagnino, Polly Rothstein, Fran wheeled scooter. A few weeks ago, I went birding for Snedeker, Deena Weintraub, Eve Widdows Circulation: 70,000 Founded in 1972 Please see Mind on page 12

2 ProChoice, Westchester Coalition for Legal Abortion, Inc. Summer 2002 All of them — the governor, the comptroller, the Editorials senators and assembly members — can and do affect a woman’s right to choose. For example: Will family 2002 New York State Primary planning services receive adequate funding? Will hospi- tals receiving public funding be allowed to merge and and General Elections — Who Cares? then no longer provide reproductive services? Will the tate elections are as important if not more so than same individuals who took the Right to Life line be Sfederal elections for protecting choice. appointed as judges where they must enforce clinic Abortion became legal in New York State in 1970, access laws? Will the bill to distribute emergency contra- three years before Roe v. Wade effectively changed the ception in the emergency room ever become law? landscape of choice across the rest of this country. The It’s critical to participate in both the primary and same reality can occur in the reverse. The state is also the general elections. last line of defense. Roe v. Wade can be overturned by a Primary elections are the battlefields of ideas and Bush Supreme Court but if our state pro-choice commu- ideology espoused by different forces within a particular nity-and that includes you- continues to stand strong, party structure. This is the place that party members — New York State will continue to serve as a beacon of light registered Democrats, Republicans, Liberals, Conserva- by keeping abortion legal and safe. tives, etc. — get to choose who will represent their party The offices of governor, comptroller, all state senators in the general election, and who will influence the party and assembly representatives are up for election this year. direction for years to come. For pro-choice advocates, Each office can serve as an effective vehicle for ensuring it’s essential to participate; it’s where we, as individuals, that a woman will be able to legally exercise her right to try to influence our party’s selection of candidates. choose, or it can become a tool in the hands of anti- In the greater picture of the general election, pro- choice extremists. choice advocates can carry the day only if our supporters The governor’s responsibilities include signing or understand the importance of New York State elections, vetoing legislation, making appointments, nominating no matter how seemingly uninvolved a particular elec- judicial candidates to fill vacancies, and proposing and toral office may be. All politics is local. In the face of the accepting/rejecting budgets. Among the state Bush Administration’s assault on reproductive rights, New comptroller’s duties are decisions about where to invest York State elections become proportionately more money and what companies to reward with those invest- important. ments. State Senators and Assembly representatives New York State is where we hold the line; New York propose or oppose bills that, in turn, do or don’t become State is where we live. law; they also accept/reject and negotiate budgets. A Little Bit Pro-Choice Is Like a Little Bit Pregnant ife is full of shades of gray. For example: you can dresses. Nor do they consider it equivalent to returning Lbe not fat but not thin; not tall but not short; not a pair of shoes because they don’t match the dress. old but not young. Choice, however, is not like that. A They do it because, for whatever personal reason, little bit pro-choice is like a little bit pregnant. Either having a child is not a viable option for them at that you are or you’re not. Either you believe that a woman point in their lives. has the right to choose, or you don’t. Any qualifiers — Our elected officials must be reminded that qualify- such as parental notification, a waiting period, late term ing a woman’s right to choice is not acceptable. WCLA abortion or the crossing of state lines — place limits on has endorsed Noam Bramson in the Democratic Primary a woman’s right to control her own body and invite against his opponent Ron Tocci who believes that the government intervention into the equation. There are government should place qualifiers on the right to many reasons that these qualifiers are irrational and choose (page 1); Sue Kelly deceived WCLA and NARAL destructive (e.g., should a pregnant female be required by claiming to be 100% pro-choice and then, once to ask a sexually abusive parent for permission or to elected, voting repeatedly for limits to be placed on escort her across state lines?). But, to refute the many abortion rights (page 4). Elected officials describe proposed qualifiers is senseless and plays into the hands themselves as pro-choice because they know the of anti-choice activists. Women do not get abortions to fit into prom Please see Pregnant on page 13

Summer 2002 ProChoice, Westchester Coalition for Legal Abortion, Inc. 3 , Poster Boy for the RTL Party ohn Faso (Assembly Rep.102 run for comptroller and, “miraculously,” got in step with her party’s anti-choice JDistrict) is the Republican candidate his voting record changed. Faso voted platform on a myriad of votes both for New York State Comptroller and will to support a bill requiring hospitals to procedural and substantive. face either Alan Hevesi or Bill Mulrow provide emergency contraception in the A sampling of those votes: after the Democratic primary on emergency room to rape survivors and, • In 1995 she voted to defund September 10th. Hevesi and Mulrow are in 2002, he voted in favor of the UNFPA and to reestablish the global pro-choice. Faso, however, is not! Until Women’s Health and Wellness bill. gag rule. The same year she voted June 2001, Faso had a perfect voting Faso’s need to change his stripes is a against an amendment which would record in the eyes of the NYS Right to testament to the strength of the NY have allowed funds appropriated pursu- Life Party. pro-choice movement and electorate. ant to a crime bill to be used to protect • He voted to support the so-called He will need the support of the pro- health clinics. “partial birth abortion” ban in 1999. choice community to win. Abortion • In 1995, 1996 and 2000, she • He voted against Medicaid fund- rights advocates must remember that voted in favor of the so-called “partial ing of abortions in 1999, 2000 and Faso is simply “a wolf in sheep’s birth abortion” ban. 2001. clothing.” • In 1998, 1999 and 2002 she • He voted against legal protec- voted in favor of the Child Custody tions for women entering family Sue Kelly: No Friend to Choice Protection Act. planning clinics in 1999. Republican Congresswoman Sue • In 2001 she voted in favor of a • He voted against requiring cover- Kelly has betrayed the pro-choice ban on cloning. age of contraceptives when insurance movement. She solicited the support of Kelly must be held accountable, policies cover prescription drugs in women’s reproductive rights advocates because as the saying goes, “Fool me 2001. in the 1994 and 1996 elections, and once, shame on you. Fool me twice, Then, in June 2001, Faso decided to then turned against the movement. She shame on me.”

Hevesi from page 1 McCall from page 1 legislators to approach. That strategy session with Hevesi was and Senate passed legislation requiring parental notification the first of many. before a minor could get an abortion. Despite the Governor’s Hevesi became even more involved as chair of the Health veto that stopped the legislation from becoming law, the Committee, through which all abortion bills must pass. He issue did not disappear. The debate over similar legislation conducted hearings on abortion rights in the late 70’s, and continued then just as it does today. McCall never hesitated led the charge to preserve Medicaid funding of abortion, a to speak out against this misguided proposal, and will battle so fierce that the state budget was stalled for months. continue to aggressively oppose it in the future. His speeches on the floor of the Assembly in favor of Medic- In 1977, as a member of the Senate’s Social Services aid funding (year after year) were compelling, factual, and Committee, McCall fought against two separate attempts to emotional. deny coverage for abortion and related services to women For 21 years in the Assembly, Hevesi was the leader of receiving public assistance or those defined as “needy.” The legislators who sided with the pro-choice movement. His harsh and divisive language spoken by those arguing to deny advocacy continued during the years he was NYC comptrol- coverage then can still be heard today, just as their intent is ler, as he was deeply involved in women’s issues on many reflected in the current governor’s limited family planning levels in that position. If elected state comptroller, he says budget allocations and his support for hospital mergers. that he will use the office as a bully pulpit to continue to McCall has repeatedly called for all women, not a select defend the issues he’s fought for since 1972. group, to have equal access to all reproductive services. In recognition of his past leadership and faith in his As a pro-choice advocate, McCall has participated in promises for the future, the board of NARAL/NY, by a countless rallies and meetings, made numerous speeches and unanimous vote, endorsed Hevesi in the Democratic primary. watched in horror as groups claiming to be “pro-life” [sic] Barbara Shack, board chair, said in an email, “Hevesi was committed frequent senseless acts of violence against spectacular.....his command of the substance, his commit- members of the choice community. ment, and past history and his understanding of how he McCall recognizes that the current governor’s efforts to could use the pulpit of the office to advance the rights of restrict women’s access to abortion and reproductive health women was stunning.” care services are supported by the extreme anti-choice agenda of the Bush administration. McCall has promised that, if elected governor, he will continue to fight any VOTE VOTE VOTE attempt to weaken a woman’s right to choose in New York and in Washington. 4 ProChoice, Westchester Coalition for Legal Abortion, Inc. Summer 2002 Come Out, Gov. Pataki Show Us Who You Are ov. ’s position on abortion rights is what However, he has: Gone might call “fluid.” Prior to his run for the Assembly • named Dr. Antonia Novello, an abortion opponent, to in 1984, he claimed he was pro-choice. In his candidate be health commissioner. interview he was anything but and his voting record put him • permitted the diocese-run Medicaid-only HMO Fidelis squarely in the Right to Life column. Health Care to buy another Medicaid-only HMO and absorb Seeking his third term as governor, George Pataki again its 20,000 low-income clients. Roman Catholic Fidelis does claims to be pro-choice. not offer family planning, sterilization, or abortion. Perhaps the reason he makes that assertion is because • named Rev. John Bonnici to be a trustee of the City New York is a pro-choice state, thanks to a very strong University of New York (April 2002). Rev. Bonnici, director of grassroots movement. Many voters, especially women who the NY Archdiocese Family Life/Respect Life Office, is outnumber men at the polls, feel so strongly about abortion dedicated to opposing abortion, contraception, and gay rights that they will vote only for candidates who agree with rights. them. As Sen. , Attorney General , Pataki has stated that he would: and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton will attest, pro-choice voters • permit mergers of Roman Catholic and nonsectarian were a major factor in their elections, the flip side of which is hospitals where Catholic doctrine would prevail and eliminate their role in the defeat of Alfonse D’Amato, Dennis Vacco, reproductive healthcare. and Rick Lazio. • sign a ban on “partial-birth abortions.” New York Times reporter Adam Nagourney interviewed • sign a parental consent or notification bill. Pataki in April and said that Pataki went out of his way to Pataki’s positive actions: raise the issue of abortion, volunteering, “I disagree with • signed the clinic access bill in 2000, which increases many in my party in supporting abortion rights. They would penalties for illegally interfering with reproductive health say government should make the decision about whether or services. This law protects clinic staff and patients from not a woman can have an abortion. How is that consistent violent protesters, but it does not help women get abortions. with the belief in the individual and limited government?” • permitted Medicaid waivers for contraceptive services Unfortunately, Pataki’s words have not been reflected in for women whose income is at or below 200 percent of his actions. poverty. • signed the long sought Women’s Health and Wellness As an anti-choice legislator bill. For example, the law requires employers to offer insur- During the decade that Gov. Pataki was a state legislator, ance coverage for prescription contraceptives, infertility first in the Assembly and then the Senate, he voted against treatments, screening for cancers of the reproductive system, abortion rights every time. In 1990 he described himself as and mammograms for women over 40. pro-choice although his record made a mockery of the statement, Show Us ‘The Choice’ In 1984, ‘86, and ‘88, NYS and Westchester Right to Life Pataki now talks the talk. If he wants to be a credible pro- endorsed Pataki based on: choice candidate in Election 2002, he must walk the walk. • his voting record to eliminate Medicaid funding even for This means renounce his anti-abortion votes and statements rape and incest, and state clearly what he will do when an anti-abortion bill • support for a “Human Life Amendment” to the Consti- lands on his desk for his signature. tution, Divided from page 2 • support for mandatory parental involvement for minors. In its 1992 voter guide, Westchester RTL explained that did not need to concern himself. And, of course, since then though Pataki claimed to be pro-choice, “he has a pro-life have come the international gag order, the freeze on U.N. [sic] voting record” and even as he campaigned as pro- funding, the abstinence-only programs, the fetal homicide choice, he sought its help “behind the scenes.” bill, the anti-stem cell research platform….. Also in 1993, Pataki earned a 100 percent rating from the Every Friday I take food and, sometimes, clothing to a NYS Christian Coalition and New Yorkers for Constitutional homeless shelter. I do not do it because I believe I will single- Freedom, the leading religious right groups in the state. handedly defeat hunger. I do it because I can and because, maybe, I will help someone a little. With deep commitment Anti-choice actions as governor to the belief that lots of drops in a bucket eventually fill it, I In Pataki’s eight years as governor, not one anti-abortion challenge you to take out your checkbooks and write a check bill landed on his desk, sparing him from signing or vetoing. to WCLA, because you can. If you have written one in the He ought to thank the Assembly and Speaker , past, make this one bigger. which made one-house bills of the Senate’s attempts to limit Our parents did not just “talk the talk”; they have abortion rights. “walked the walk.” The only thing that they did not do was demand that we follow. Well, the free ride is over.

Summer 2002 ProChoice, Westchester Coalition for Legal Abortion, Inc. 5 Assaults on Choice nderscoring the power of the states to support or Uundermine a woman’s right to choose, three states are making headlines by attempting to elevate a fetus to a status equal to that of a woman. To do so, each state must redefine the “beginning of life.” The outcome is a proliferation of legislation and court cases relating to “protection of the unborn.” and Washington Post editorial boards have described these state actions as a means to chip away at abortion rights. New York State is far from immune to these extremist pressures.

Utah Legislature The homicide trial of Roger MacGuire has triggered just such action. As ProChoice reported, MacGuire, who is facing murder charges resulting from the death of his ex-wife who was about three months pregnant, is also being charged with the death of the fetus under a provision in Utah law defining murder as causing “the death of another person, including an unborn child.” His attorneys argued that the fetal murder charge violates Photo by D. Weintraub ©1992 Roe v. Wade. The legislature thus became aware that the Courts would have to interpret legislative intent. To resolve future ambiguities, they unanimously passed a bill that one state representative said makes it possible to prosecute some- one for homicide “even if a woman has been pregnant for 30 minutes.” The Utah statute was amended to include the phrase “at any stage of its development” in its definition of unborn child. The new legislation was signed by the governor and went into effect immediately.

New Jersey Courts A New Jersey attorney seeks to establish legal precedent by contending that a woman should be able to sue her physician for WCLA Salutes the the “wrongful death of a fetus” after voluntarily having an abortion. The anti-choice attorney who wishes to sue on behalf of Dobbs Ferry Clinic the “unborn” contends doctors should be subject to legal action if fter more than 30 years of providing legal and safe they do not explain to their patients that abortion “involves the Aabortions, the Dobbs Ferry Clinic closed its doors in May. termination of life — of a living human being” [sic]. From its beginning in 1971, the Dobbs Ferry Clinic stood by women, respecting their privacy and their right to choose, a New York State Senate right that the U.S. Supreme Court came to recognize as In May 2002, the NYS Senate passed a bill that would protected by the Constitution of the United States in 1973. amend the penal law to define a fetus as a person in assault The Clinic was a united front made up of doctors, staff, and homicide cases. Although the Republican majority escorts, and pro-choice demonstrators, all of whom put their claimed the legislation was a victims’ rights measure, they politics on the line and together kept this facility viable. They rejected a Democratic amendment to increase penalties for brought the issue home to Westchester, making each of us attacks on pregnant women. evaluate our own commitment to choice. WCLA offers a The New York Times reports the bill is not likely to come special note of thanks to the many members of N.O.W. who up for a vote in the Assembly “because abortion rights worked as escorts. advocates charge that it is a back-door attack on a woman’s right to an abortion.” While the measure passed the Senate on virtually a party Protect your line vote, Westchester’s Nick Spano joined with Senators Ruth Hassell-Thompson and Suzi Oppenheimer in voting right to choose! “nay” (pro-choice). 6 ProChoice, Westchester Coalition for Legal Abortion, Inc. Summer 2002 Death Sentence for Third World Women n early July, President Bush moved closer to eliminating three-person investigatory team to China, none of whom was Ifunds allocated to UNFPA ( Population a recognized expert in Chinese culture and/or language nor Fund). In January, he had authorized the appropriation of an expert in family planning. Although this team returned $34 million to UNFPA. However, Bush now claims that from its mission in early June, no report of its findings was coercive programs allegedly supported by the agency in released prior to Bush’s directive to the State Department to China are unacceptable and justify the cutting of US funding withhold the funds from UNFPA. of UNFPA. Following the issuance of the directive, the White House The Bush administration wants the public to perceive the Domestic Policy Council released a preliminary report admit- cuts as a stand against forced abortions and involuntary ting that “the U.N. agency had no direct knowledge or sterilizations by the Chinese government. In truth that cannot involvement in China’s coercive policies but that these be the reason because, as stated in The New York Times practices [abortions and involuntary sterilizations] did go on article “Devastated Women” (April 26, 2002), UNFPA does in some of the Chinese counties where the agency operated.” not — in China or elsewhere — use these funds for abortions The freezing of the funds has raised the ire of congres- or involuntary sterilizations. Women around the world rely sional members on both sides of the aisle. Lawmakers said upon these funds to survive. These monies provide the only the administration’s action did not reflect the intent of access to reproductive health care – including family plan- Congress. Four members of the House of Representatives, ning, testing for HIV/AIDS, medical intervention in problem including Nita Lowey, wrote urging Bush to release the State pregnancies resulting from female genital mutilation, and Department report, “We are confident that this team, like care for women afflicted with obstetric fistula. over 60 diplomatic observers who have already visited the The U.S. Committee for U.N. Population Fund explains program, will affirm that the U.N. Population Fund is promot- that withholding the U.S. contribution “will undermine the ing human rights and volunteerism and pushing the Chinese UN Population Fund’s ability to prevent 2 million pregnan- government to respect the fundamental rights of their cies, 800,000 induced abortions, 4,700 maternal deaths and citizens.” 77,000 infant and child deaths.” Religious leaders also criticized Bush’s failure to fund By withholding funds in an attempt to force its own UNFPA. The International Committee of Religious Leaders agenda, including abstinence-only programs (even for for Voluntary Family Planning, with members from 31 married women), on the world at large, the Bush administra- countries, sent a letter to the White House requesting the tion is sentencing Third World women to death. release of the funds. In search of justification for his agenda, Bush sent a Bramson from page 1 Tocci pleases, then disappoints. NYS Pro-Life [sic] News said that Tocci “deserved accolades, By contrast, Tocci tends to favor government restrictions. In because the Democratic Party in the northeast makes it very 1996, 1997, and 1999, Tocci (who runs on the Conservative uncomfortable for its members to stand up for life.” Party line and this year will also run on the Republican line) To his credit, Tocci has kept his promise to vote to maintain voted to ban so-called “partial-birth abortion.” He was the the state’s funding of abortions for low-income women under only Westchester member to do so. Although Tocci likes to the Medicaid program. claim that the bill targeted only abortions late in pregnancy, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Nebraska’s identical law. Why Bramson? Why now? Justice Stephens wrote that the law is “deceptively crafted, Roe v. Wade is hanging by a thread in Washington. The affected abortions throughout pregnancy, and was not limited expected anti-choice appointments to the Supreme Court to the post-viability procedure graphically described by from the Republican White House could very well further supporters.” weaken Roe and place a woman’s right to choose back in the Tocci is also the only Westchester Assembly member, hands of state legislatures. It is essential that candidates for regardless of party affiliation, who has failed to sign on as a state offices are strongly committed to choice. “Noam gets sponsor of The Unintended Pregnancy Prevention Act, it,” said Lederer-Plaskett. “He understands that being pro- introduced by Amy Paulin (AD88), to make emergency choice means trusting women and their doctors to make the contraception available without a prescription in New York. right decisions. Ron Tocci doesn’t.” Showing his true inclination, Tocci introduced a bill (A6768) “The Bramson-Tocci primary is the race to watch,” said which would allow wrongful death actions to be brought on Lederer-Plaskett. “Noam Bramson is the only reliable pro- behalf of a fetus in utero. The bill would give a family standing choice candidate in this race. Pro-choice voters can deter- to sue for wrongful death upon “fertilization”; thereby, in mine the outcome of this critical primary.” effect, defining an embryo as a person from fertilization to (Assembly District 91 now includes the Town of birth. Lederer-Plaskett said, “This is a transparent step toward Mamaroneck, all of Rye and the southern part of the City of giving embryos and fetuses the status of persons.” But the New Rochelle.)

Summer 2002 ProChoice, Westchester Coalition for Legal Abortion, Inc. 7 Meet Your New District By Phillip Chonigman Partner—GeoPolitical Strategies nce again the New York State Legislature has fought a Ocontentious battle over an important new law that will greatly impact the direction of the state for many years to come. Although replete with last minute deals and secre- tive backroom negotiations, it was quite different from the budget battles on other significant pieces of legislation in that this directly impacts each and every incumbent legisla- tor. It’s called reapportionment and redistricting, and it’s what determines the boundary lines of the districts that our representatives represent. The State Senate lines and the Assembly lines have been Assembly completed. The maps and comments included here will not White address the new Congressional districts other than to say Plains. Districts that the changes in them are likely to put many Joining the Westchester residents with a new representative. More on district is that in a future newsletter. most of It’s also important to note that those districts with the the rest of greatest changes to their boundary lines are the ones most White likely to have hotly contested races this year. Plains, Be aware that many districts were renumbered. There- except fore, I have indicated the old number – based on the for that incumbent in that district – in parentheses after the new portion district number. For example, “District 87 (84)” means the remain- new district used to be known as 84, since 84’s incumbent ing in District 88 now resides in the new 87. (If that’s too confusing, down- (see above); while Somers load both old and new maps from the NYS Legislative Task and North Salem have been dropped from the district. The Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment incumbent Assembly member is Naomi Matusow. (LATFOR) website at http://www.latfor.state.ny.us/ and • District 90 (90) gets a fairly big makeover in that it zoom in to whatever level you need.) sheds all of Yorktown, instead crossing into Putnam County Let’s start with a look at the State Assembly, beginning to pick up the three Towns of Kent, Philipstown and at the south end of Westchester County: Putnam Valley. The district retains the complete Towns of • District 87 (84) now consists of the entire City of Cortlandt and Ossining as well as the City of Peekskill. The Mount Vernon, picking up the northeast corner of the city, incumbent Assembly member is Sandra Galef. along with a narrow corridor across the south end of • District 91 (85) looks to be the same on paper – the Yonkers (along border) to the west side of the complete Towns of Mamaroneck and Rye, plus the City of city up to Ashburton Avenue, thereby losing the section Rye and part of the City of New Rochelle – but the map north of Ashburton that it previously had. The incumbent tells a different story. Nearly all of the north end of New Assembly member in this district is J. Gary Pretlow. Rochelle is exchanged with District 88 (see above) for more • District 88 (88) may retain its old number, but still of the south and central downtown areas of the city. The sees some significant changes. Whereas Pelham, incumbent Assembly member is Ron Tocci. (Tocci is being Eastchester and Scarsdale all remain wholly within the challenged in the September primary by the WCLA- district, it loses any presence in Mount Vernon, nearly all endorsed candidate, pro-choice NOAM BRAMSON.) except the west side in the City of White Plains – essentially • District 92 (86) has changed minimally. It still consists keeping just the downtown area and the Battle Hill neigh- mainly of the complete Towns of Greenburgh and Mount borhood – and does a near total flip in New Rochelle, Pleasant, but adds a small area of a couple of election where it picks up the entire north end, while dropping a districts from the northern Saw Mill / Executive Boulevard few election districts in the southwest and downtown area of the City of Yonkers. The incumbent Assembly areas. The incumbent Assembly member in this district is member is Richard Brodsky. Amy Paulin. • District 93 (87) vies with District 92 for the title of • District 89 (89) is another district that has changed a least changed. Although still falling fully within the borders bit despite keeping its old number. Staying in the district of the City of Yonkers, it lost some territory to 92 (see are Bedford, Harrison, Lewisboro, Mount Kisco, New above) while picking up some western sections of the city, Castle, North Castle, Pound Ridge and the north end of north of Ashburton Avenue, from District 87 (see above). 8 ProChoice, Westchester Coalition for Legal Abortion, Inc. Summer 2002 Senate Districts New Rochelle, Pelham, Yonkers and the Bronx; basically circumnavigating the predominantly African American neighborhoods in Mount Vernon and the north Bronx. The incumbent Senate member is Guy Velella. • District 35 (35) remains with the entire Town of Greenburgh and all but the southeast corner of the City of Yonkers (to allow a corridor for district 34), loses the Town of Eastchester, and instead moves north to pick up the Town of Mount Pleasant. The incumbent Senate member is Nick Spano. • District 36 (33) is largely unchanged, consisting mostly of the African American sections of the north Bronx and of the City of Mount Vernon. The Westchester portion The makes up less the 15% of the district. After taking in Co- incumbent op City, Baychester, Wakefield and Williamsbridge, the Assembly member Bronx portion then follows a narrow corridor that goes is Michael Spano. along the width of the Bronx River Parkway from the • District 99 (91) is Botanical Gardens to the Cross Bronx in order to pick up new to Westchester additional minorities in the Bathgate, Claremont Village and County, previously Concourse sections, coming within blocks of Yankee occupying all six Stadium. The incumbent Senate member is Ruth Hassell- Towns in Thompson. Putnam along • District 37 (36) had only a minor change, replacing with six the Town of Mount Pleasant with the Town of New Castle. eastern All other municipalities, including Harrison, Mamaroneck, towns in North Castle, Ossining, Rye City, Rye Town, Scarsdale, Dutchess. Its White Plains and most of New Rochelle, remain in the new incarnation is district. The incumbent Senate member is Suzi vastly different, retain- Oppenheimer. ing only the Dutchess • District 40 (37) has seen little change other than to its Town of Pawling and the Putnam Towns of Carmel, number and from the loss of the Town of New Castle in Patterson and Southeast, while adding Yorktown (from Westchester and the gain of the Town of Milan in District 90), North Salem and Somers (both from District Dutchess. All else remains the same including: the six 89). This new configuration has nearly half of its residents Harlem Valley towns of eastern Dutchess; the entire county now from Westchester County. The incumbent Assembly of Putnam; and Bedford, Cortlandt, Lewisboro, Mount member is Willis Stephens Jr. Kisco, North Salem, Peekskill, Pound Ridge, Somers and Now let’s turn to the creative State Senate lines: Yorktown in northern Westchester. The incumbent Senate • District 34 (34), which is 70% in the Bronx and 30% member is Vincent Leibell. in Westchester, has one of the more unusual shapes to be If after reviewing this list you’re still unsure whose found in the state’s redistricting plan. Looking something district you fall into, contact your local municipal clerk’s like a giant lobster, it has added the Town of Eastchester to office, the County Board of Elections, or, if you’re a good its cadre of mostly non-minority areas from Mount Vernon, map reader, the LATFOR website noted earlier. Anti-Choicers Have to Pay lanned Parenthood Federation of dismissed the case last March on the however, has demonstrated that there PAmerica was awarded $77,835 in grounds that the lawsuit sought to is no linkage between abortions and a legal fees incurred in unsuccessful interfere with Planned Parenthood of higher risk of breast cancer. Despite litigation brought against the organiza- San Diego and Riverside Counties’ right that fact, Kansas, Louisiana, and tion by an anti-choice legal group. to free speech. Mississippi require that information be Thomas More Law Center, located in The issue of abortions providing a given to women about abortion and Ann Arbor, Michigan, had filed a greater risk of breast cancer has been the risk of breast cancer. lawsuit against Planned Parenthood hotly debated in 18 states, according to alleging a possible connection between the National Abortion and Reproductive abortion and breast cancer, and accus- Rights Action League. Scientific re- Register ing Planned Parenthood of not inform- search by the National Cancer Institute, ing abortion patients of this “risk.” the American Cancer Society, and the Superior Court Judge Ronald Prager National Breast Cancer Coalition, to vote!

Summer 2002 ProChoice, Westchester Coalition for Legal Abortion, Inc. 9 ACTION These elected officials represent you. ALERT! ACTION Contact them and let them know how ALERT! YOU want them to vote.

Your Elected Officials: Keep For Future Reference U.S. President NYS Senate AD 89 Naomi Matusow [+] D, I President George W. Bush [-] R Hon. ______914/241-2649; 518/455-5397 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. New York State Senate [email protected] Washington, D.C. 20500 Albany, New York 12247 AD 90 Sandra Galef [+] D, I Opinion phone: 202/456-1111 Switchboard: 518/455-2800 914/941-1111; 518/455-5348 [email protected] Fax 202/456-2461 SD 33 Ruth Hassell-Thompson [+] D E-mail: [email protected] 518/455-2061 Speaker: Sheldon Silver [+] D, L [email protected] 212/312-1420; 518/455-3791 SD 34 Guy Velella [-] R,C, I ◊ U.S. Senate [email protected] 718/792-7180; 518/455-3264 Hon. ______Health Committee Chair [email protected] U.S. Senate Richard Gottfried [+] D, L, W SD 35 Nicholas Spano [+] R,C, I ◊ Washington, D.C. 20510 518/455-4941 914/969-5194; 518/455-2231 Switchboard: 202/224-3121 [email protected] [email protected] Hon. Hillary Rodham Clinton [+] D,L,W SD 36 Suzi Oppenheimer [+] D 202/224-4451 914/934-5250; 518/455-2031 County Executive [email protected] [email protected] Andrew Spano [+] D, I, C, L, W Hon. Charles E. Schumer [+] D,L,I SD 37 Vincent Leibell [-] R,C, Michaelian Office Building 212/486-4430; 202/224-6542 845/279-3773; 518/455-3111 White Plains, New York 10601 [email protected] [email protected] Phone: 995-2900 [email protected] Majority Leader Joseph Bruno [-] R,C, I U.S. House of 518/455-3191 Westchester Board of Legislators Representatives [email protected] Hon. ______Hon. ______Health Committee Chair Michaelian Office Building U.S. House of Representatives Kemp Hannon [-] R,C, I White Plains, New York 10601 Washington, D.C. 20515 518/455-2200 Switchboard 995-2800 Switchboard: 202/224-3121 [email protected] CBL 1 George Oros [-] R,C ◊ CBL 2 Ursula LaMotte [+] R,C, I CD 17 Eliot Engel [+] D,L NYS Assembly CBL 3 Suzanne Swanson [+] R,C 718/796-9700; 202/225-2464 Hon. ______CBL 4 Michael Kaplowitz [+] D, I, W www.house.gov/writerep New York State Assembly CBL 5 William Ryan [+] D, I, W CD 18 Nita Lowey [+] D Albany, New York 12248 CBL 6 Martin Rogowsky [+] D,I,W 914/428-1707; 202/225-6506 Switchboard 518/455-4100 CBL 7 George Latimer [+] D, W [email protected] AD 84 Gary Pretlow [+] D, I CBL 8 Lois Bronz [+] D, W CD 19 Sue Kelly [+/-] R,C 914/667-0127; 518/455-5291 CBL 9 Richard Wishnie [+] D, I, W 914/241-6340; 202/225-5441 [email protected] CBL 10 Vito Pinto [+] D, W [email protected] AD 85 Ronald Tocci D, C [+/-] CBL 11 Jim Maisano [+] R, I, C, W CD 20 Benjamin Gilman [+] R 914/235-7900; 518/455-4897 CBL 12 Thomas Abinanti [+] D, W 845/343-6666; 202/225-3776 [email protected] CBL 13 Clinton Young, Jr. [+] D www.house.gov/gilman AD 86 Richard Brodsky [+] D CBL 14 Bernice Spreckman [+] R,C,I, W 914/345-0432; 518/455-5753 CBL 15 Louis Mosiello [+] R,C,I,W Governor [email protected] CBL 16 Andrea Stewart-Cousins [+] D,W CBL 17 Jose Alvardado [-] D, W Hon. George Pataki [-] R,C AD 87 Michael Spano [+] R,C, I Executive Chamber 914/779-8805; 518/455-3662 Key State Capital [email protected] + Pro-choice I Independence AD 88 Amy Paulin [+] D,W - Anti-choice L Liberal Albany, New York 12224 +/- Mixed, qualified RTL Right to Life Phone: 518/474-8390 914/723-1115; 518/455-5585 D Democrat W Working [email protected] [email protected] R Republican ◊ Has run on RTL C Conservative This list keeps improving because YOU elect pro-choice candidates. The New York Times The Journal News Weekly papers: To write rd 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 2002 Finally, Women’s Health Is Law t has finally happened. On June 17, 2002, after four years even organizations such as Catholic Charities to include birth Iof political wrangling, both houses of the NYS Legislature control in their prescription drug package. According to passed the comprehensive women’s health bill. Governor Catholic Conference members, the bishops are considering a Pataki, prior to the passage, promised to sign the legislation. lawsuit to block enforcement. However, as reported on Women’s Health and Wellness (WH&W) will become the law timesunion.com, a similar suit in California failed. on January 1, 2003. The other major obstacle to be overcome had been the The inclusion of contraceptive coverage had made the bill issue of co-payments and deductibles. To ensure passage NY one of the most hotly contested. Finally, on February 5, the Assembly Democrats agreed to co-payments and deductibles state Senate approved a version of the bill which contained for cancer screenings. With compromises reached on all only a narrow opt out clause, a radical departure from its major points, the Assembly approved the bill 138 to 10. previous version of the bill. The Assembly, which never had Passage in the Senate was by 49 to 10. included a loophole in its version, compromised in April, “Today’s passage of the landmark Women’s Health and accepting the Senate exemption. Now, only religious Wellness Act is the culmination of years of work by women’s organizations with faith-based objections, which primarily health advocates all over New York State,” said JoAnn Smith, employ and serve members of that faith, can be exempted. President and CEO of Family Planning Advocates. “This All others must provide birth control in their prescription drug legislation is a recognition of women’s rights and it is good plans. That provision was modeled after California’s WH&W. public health policy for the state, as well.” The narrow California opt out has been interpreted to require Anti-Choice Bonnici Appointed to CUNY Board ow can Gov. Pataki claim to be of Priests for Life, Bonnici’s office is concerns, Bonnici said, during his Hpro-choice and still have nomi- “one of the largest, busiest, and most hearing before the Senate Finance nated anti-choice activist Rev. John successful diocesan pro-life [sic] offices Committee, that providing comprehen- Bonnici to the City University of New in the world.” sive health services is not part of York (CUNY) Board of Trustees? Pro-choice organizations, including CUNY’s mission, and women in need of Bonnici’s only credential for the job WCLA and NARAL, opposed his reproductive health care can get these seems to be as a vocal opponent of nomination fearing that Bonnici would services elsewhere. abortion, contraception and gay rights. work to discontinue access to contra- Professional Staff Congress (PSC), He has no prior experience with higher ceptive services, including emergency the union that represents faculty and education. contraception, at CUNY health centers. professional staff at CUNY, adamantly Since 1996 Bonnici has headed the During the hearings Westchester’s opposed the appointment of Bonnici. In Archdiocese of New York’s Family Life/ Senator Suzi Oppenheimer gave voice a press release PSC stated that they Respect Life Office. According to to these important issues. have long held that appointees need to Anthony DeStefano, Executive Director Giving further credence to these have an established track record in public higher education. PSC President Barbara Bowen explained: “It does not serve CUNY well to appoint a trustee with no history in higher education. Father Bonnici’s history of advocacy against women’s reproductive rights and gay rights makes his appointment inappropriate as a trustee of this diverse institution.” PSC asserts, further, that trustees need to be selected on the basis of their professional qualifications not their political allegiance. Unfortunately, the New York State Senate Committee on Higher Education voted affirmatively on the appointment and Bonnici was confirmed by a voice vote by the full Senate. There was no record of how individual Senators voted but it appeared to have been on a Reprinted with permission—Jimmy Margulies straight party line vote. Summer 2002 ProChoice, Westchester Coalition for Legal Abortion, Inc. 11 This Act Doesn’t Protect Children by Rep. Benjamin A. Gilman Parental involvement is ideal, and dangerous in every aspect. young women who have loving and In addition to preserving the prin- hrough- understanding parents that they can ciples of Roe v. Wade, we need to T out talk to are quite fortunate, but not all continue to educate our nation’s my tenure teenagers are that fortunate. Those children about safe sex, encourage in Con- teenagers who feel that they cannot them to practice abstinence and help gress, I involve their parents are left with no them mature into responsible young have one else to turn to, and thus are forced adults, thus making abortion an consis- to make this difficult decision alone, for unnecessary procedure. This would be tently fear of putting a family member or far better than passing legislation which supported trusted adult in danger of committing a holds concerned family members and a woman’s Federal crime. We owe these young trusted adults criminally responsible for right to women the chance to involve someone helping these young women make a choose they trust in making such an important very difficult decision. and I have decision. If they cannot go to a parent, When a woman is confronted with fought in and instead enlist the help of a step- an unexpected pregnancy, Congress opposition to legislation that would parent, grandparent, or sibling in and the Federal Government have no infringe upon that right, including obtaining an abortion over state lines, role in the decision-making process. legislation concerning parental notifica- the family member would be commit- Abortion is a very serious and personal tion laws and the banning of specific ting a Federal offense. This is uncon- issue and prior to viability, should be a abortion procedures. scionable. decision made by the prospective The House of Representatives Those who support this bill claim mother, her family, religious counselor, recently considered H.R. 476, the Child that it will strengthen the lines of and her doctor. Custody Protection Act, which would communication between young women By pursuing restrictive legislation, prohibit any individual other than a and their parents, when in reality the we are destroying the balance between parent, from transporting a woman opposite will result. A young woman a woman’s right to choose and the under 18 years of age over state lines in may be forced to cross state lines alone, State’s interest in protecting potential order to obtain an abortion. I could not putting herself in a dangerous situation, life after viability. Many of my col- support that legislation. However, and may even turn to an illegal back leagues in Congress support a woman’s many of my colleagues disagreed with alley abortion, putting her life at right to choose and as a Republican me and regrettably the bill passed by a unnecessary risk. This legislation is pro-choice member, I will continue to vote of 260-161. fight with them on behalf of all women.

Mind from page 2 two weeks with a friend who gave me all the help I needed. We I am incensed

Photo by Robert A. Behrstock went all the way down to Delmarva and up to Boston, reveling with the politicians, in spring migration, which I completely missed last year. religions, and Adjusting to my new life as a physically disabled person is a pseudo-moralists complex process. Birding helps, in that I still can do something that are revved up that has been such a big part of my life, such a delight, such a to a fever pitch pleasure, albeit in a limited fashion. When I was at WCLA, I was over embryos. happiest when I had a birding jaunt on my calendar, assuring me How dare they that there was a bright spot ahead that would take me away stand in the way of from the political horrors in Albany and Washington. the research that Birding is my hobby. The most sustaining element of emo- could cure so many tional recovery from a trauma like mine is friends, of which I illnesses and have many, apart from my family and our friends. They are from injuries. These moral absolutists have turned their backs on all my subcultures: WCLA and the wider abortion rights family, the the people who could lead a healthy life from the stem cells Westchester Civil Liberties Union, the environmentalists, and the created in the process known as “therapeutic cloning.” It’s up to birders. Without these steadfast friends bolstering me up, caring the grassroots activists and the voters to change the political about me, being with me, I don’t know if I could hold up. climate so that research money flows and scientists have the Something else could help me and others like me: a stem cell wherewithal to go to their labs and do the extensive testing that transplant. It’ll take many more years of research and is a long will be required. We built a grassroots base on abortion rights; way off, to be sure, and probably too late for me, but it’s the we can do it with medical research that will benefit humanity. only hope for millions of people. 12 ProChoice, Westchester Coalition for Legal Abortion, Inc. Summer 2002 The Lowey-Hyde Bill Putting Money By Nita M. Lowey physicians to pick and choose between n early March, the Administration what affects the fetus and what affects Ahead of Safety Itook one more misguided step on the the woman. Clearly, a woman’s overall bortion politics has become a issue of health is vitally important to the health Apowder keg in the debate over a of her baby. the bankruptcy reform bill. Thanks to woman’s For years, I have been working in a NY Senator Charles Schumer, an right to bipartisan way to pass the Mothers and amendment included in the Senate choose. Newborns Health Insurance Act, which version prevents anti-choice activists The would give states the option of covering from declaring bankruptcy to avoid Depart- low-income pregnant women in SCHIP. payment of civil and criminal damages ment of My legislation was endorsed by Secre- resulting from the Freedom of Access Health tary Thompson and is sponsored by to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE). and Senator Bond and Rep. Hyde — vocal Schumer’s amendment only affects Human anti-choice members of Congress. It is a violent offenders of FACE, not people Services straightforward way to ensure that protesting in a legal manner. The anti- (HHS) women receive the care they need for a choice House bill does not contain that pub- healthy pregnancy. provision. lished a Nearly one in five women of child- Because the bill would be a major pro- bearing age were uninsured in 1999, plus for credit card companies, big posed and more than half had family incomes business interests want Schumer to Rep. Nita M. Lowey rule below 200% of poverty. These numbers drop the amendment. To that end, and extending coverage under the State are likely to increase due to the eco- with total disregard for women’s health Children’s Health Insurance Program nomic downturn. Women who lack and welfare, credit card companies and (SCHIP) to “unborn children” — insurance are less likely to receive other big business interests have embryos and fetuses. While the adequate prenatal care. The related launched an aggressive radio campaign, Administration claims that it is trying to problems of low birth weight and pre- in New York, discrediting Schumer’s improve the health of financially term births are among the three most amendment. disadvantaged women and provide expensive reasons for a hospital stay in The following companies and them with better access to prenatal the United States. organizations are behind the effort to care, this is just another charade in the The good news is access to prenatal intimidate Senator Schumer: American game to make abortion illegal. care can prevent these problems — Bankers Association, American Financial Under the rule, the pregnant woman infants born to mothers receiving late or Services, America’s Community herself would not be eligible for health no prenatal care are twice as likely to be Bankers, Consumer Bankers Associa- care services and is not considered the low birth weight than those born to tion, Credit Union National Association, patient. Why did the Administration mothers who received prenatal care. DaimlerChrysler, Ford Motor Company, adorn “unborn children” with this The Administration should not respond General Motors, Independent Commu- benefit rather than directly providing it to the need to provide more women nity Bankers of America, MasterCard to pregnant women? They did it with access to prenatal care and medical International, National Retail Federa- because a long-sought goal of the anti- benefits by enacting divisive and tion, and Visa USA. Is a boycott in choice movement is to grant fetuses the potentially flawed SCHIP policy. order? same legal standing as a person. Although the public comment period Not only has the Administration’s on the draft regulations closed in early Pregnant from page 3 proposed SCHIP rule wrongly involved May, the Administration has not issued majority of the electorate favors a the issue of reproductive rights, but it final regulations and has indicated that it woman’s right to choose. However, would leave glaring holes in health care would support the enactment of some officials renege on their commit- coverage and could potentially endan- legislation addressing the issue if passed ment to reproductive rights, hoping that ger the health of pregnant women. As I by Congress. The time to act is now. the public will listen to what they say told the HHS Secretary, Tommy Thomp- We must work together to let Congress rather than watch what they do. son, the Administration’s approach just know that the Lowey-Hyde bill is the Choice is not a single vote. It is a does not make sense. There are appropriate solution, and must be philosophy that must be applied by our circumstances when the woman’s health passed in the coming weeks. My bill legislators whenever they cast a vote. could be at issue, but because that would allow approximately 41,000 Choice must be considered whether the health problem may not immediately additional women to be covered for vote is for an appointment to the CUNY affect the fetus, the woman would not prenatal care and ensure that children Board, a judicial nomination, budget be eligible for care. This rule will force receive the care they need to be healthy. allocations to family planning, UNFPA, or on legislation entitled “Unborn Victims.” Summer 2002 ProChoice, Westchester Coalition for Legal Abortion, Inc. 13 Stem Cell Therapy: Pro and Con By Polly Rothstein adequate government funding and no safeguards, may yield cures for many veryone, with no exceptions, is at restrictions. serious illnesses. And why would Erisk of the diseases that terrify us anyone oppose that?” most. At this time, the road to a cure or Cloning The Senate has also been choking preventive measures for many diseases Cloning is the current focus of on a bill (S 1899) sponsored by Sena- is stem cell therapy, which uses stem legislative attention. tors Sam Brownback (R-KS.) and Mary cells instead of drugs. “Reproductive cloning” could lead Landrieu (D-LA.) that would ban both Scientists believe that unspecialized to installing an exact genetic copy of a reproductive and therapeutic cloning, a cells, grown in a laboratory, can be person into a woman’s uterus. There is measure passed by the GOP-anti- coaxed into becoming any of the no support for reproductive cloning in choice controlled House. Partisan body’s cell types, such as bone, skin, Congress and little anywhere else. politics stalled both bills, at least for pancreas, liver, or nerves. For example, There is, however, enormous public now. they could become tissues or organs for support for “therapeutic cloning,” in Cure-by-stem cell isn’t imminent. It patients with Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, which stem cells that do not have the will take years of pure science and diabetes, heart disease, kidney failure, potential to become fetuses are created experimentation before a single spinal and spinal cord injuries. The possibilities to cure diseases. Researchers have cord is repaired or stem cells become give hope to all of us — but nothing created kidney and heart tissue from the pancreatic islet cells that secrete will happen without years of costly cloned cow embryos, then implanted insulin. But the excitement is there, the research. the genetically identical tissue into the hope is there — and it will happen. Throughout the nation, there is cow it came from. The cows’ immune Strategically, we must personalize remarkable comprehension of the big systems did not reject the tissue and the the stem cell issue. Christopher Reeve, picture, if not the medical details. The new organs functioned properly. The a quadriplegic, is a headline-making people’s grasp of the issue has given scientists believe that this shows the advocate, as is Michael Fox for rise to anger because of political battles “enormous medical potential” of Parkinson’s. I’m up-front about being that delay stem cell research. They therapeutic cloning in large mammals, disabled from a spinal cord injury. The know that religious anti-abortion including humans. more we all speak out, the quicker we’ll absolutists have wormed their way into An advance recently reported shows get lawmakers like Sen. Hatch to science and medicine with special that embryonic stem cells can be understand that the world exists emphasis on curtailing embryonic stem switched over into significant amounts beyond the anti-choice agenda. cell research. of exactly the kind of brain cell that is Michael Kinsley (Washington Post, Embryonic stem cells come primarily lost in Parkinson’s disease, a technique 8/29/01) said, “Opposition to stem cell from excess frozen embryos in fertility that might have possible use in therapy. research is the reductio ad absurdum of clinics and from abortions. Like the the right-to-life argument. A goldfish Shmoo in Al Capp’s Li’l Abner comic Congress weighs in resembles a human being more than an strip, the lovable creature shaped like a A bill introduced by Senators embryo does. An embryo feels nothing, bowling pin became what was needed. thinks nothing, cannot suffer, is not They laid eggs and gave milk, became Edward Kennedy (D-MA.) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) (S 2439), would allow aware of its own existence. ... Yet chicken when fried, and steak when opponents of stem cell research would broiled. They multiplied so fast you therapeutic cloning but would impose criminal penalties for engaging in allow real people, who can suffer, to do could never run out of them. so in service of the abstract principle Dragging the abortion controversy reproductive cloning. Opponents, including Mr. Bush, have warned that that embryos are people too. If faith into the stem cell issue, the Roman takes you there, fine. Reason can’t.” Catholic bishops and the conservative the therapeutic cloning studies will evangelical Christians oppose embry- inevitably lead to “embryo farms” and onic stem cell research because they the manufacture of babies for “spare maintain that the human embryo is a parts.” person and that “embryonic children” Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT), long Visit our must be protected. These religious opposed to abortion, announced his conservatives enact their agenda support of the Kennedy-Feinstein bill. web site through the Bush White House and He wrote, “Therapeutic cloning could anti-abortion members of Congress. It benefit millions of Americans. I ana- is up to advocates for abortion rights, lyzed this issue from a pro-life, pro- at medical research, and specific diseases family perspective, with the conviction to insist that crucial research into that being pro-life demands helping the www.wcla.org embryonic stem cells goes forth with living.” He also said, “Therapeutic cloning, if conducted with appropriate 14 ProChoice, Westchester Coalition for Legal Abortion, Inc. Summer 2002 WCLA Scores Again Lest We Forget… Dear Catherine: “Women came in on the GYN wards with Please express to your Board my deep appreciation and heartfelt thanks for your all sorts of conditions and you suspected strong and significant support for my candidacy in my recent Special Election to the – even though they would maybe never County Board of Legislators. I am particularly appreciative for the postcard that admit it – that there had been an illegal WCLA-PAC mailed out which was received the day before election day. I was not abortion. There were a lot of kidney expecting it. The postcard was a most welcomed surprise. problems, bladder problems, and infec- For a Democrat to win in an off-year election in the 6th District is a real accom- tions from incomplete abortions….Many plishment. To win the seat in an off-off-year as on May 14th was a real challenge women died from peritonitis, an infection and WCLA’s support and ability to energize the pro-choice constituency was in the abdomen, and septicemia, an particularly important. Please advise your Board that on Election night, I gave infection in the bloodstream. WCLA a stong endorsement in my victory speech that I delivered on Cablevision “Absolutely, all the time, women were 12. pressured to give the names of the Once again, my thanks to you and WCLA for a job well done. abortionists, but it was the best-kept Very truly yours, secret in the world. There was a bond there. The women would either die or go home without telling. In those days, the authorities reported an abortion just like it was a major crime….” MARTIN ROGOWSKY Registered nurse in “The Choices we County Legislator Made,” edited by Angela Bonavoglia, Random House, 1991. It’s a Bird…It’s a Plane…It’s Intimidation he single-engine plane cruising over raise additional funds for aerial banner CBR’s website (www.cbinfo.org) TSanta Monica Beach in June towed campaigns over professional sporting shows an active anti-choice agenda, a different sort of banner: the 100- events and college campuses. including large signs on trucks, their foot-long and 30-foot-high image of The group, which started its air- Genocide Awareness Project, which an aborted first-trimester fetus. Re- borne campaign on Memorial Day carries graphic displays of aborted sponsible for this advertising is the weekend in the Miami-Ft. Lauderdale fetuses and acts of historical genocide, Center for Bio-Ethical Reform, a Los area and also flew it over Cape Cod, and likens abortion to racial cleansing. Angeles organization. The cost of the plans to repeat the action over Coney CBR’s traveling display visits college exercise was $2500/per day to rent the Island, the Hamptons, and the Jersey campuses around the country. plane. The anti-choice group hopes to shore during the summer. E-mail users: We would like to contact you. We won’t inundate you, but we send inter- esting items from time to time and it saves us money on thank-you notes for contribu- tions. Please e-mail us at [email protected]. Include your name and, if you can, the 5- or 6-digit code on the left of the line above your name on the mailing label.

Please return this coupon with your contribution to Westchester Coalition for Legal Abortion-PAC. I will help WCLA-PAC pay for the Voting Guide and get-out-the-vote effort. Enclosed is my contribution to WCLA-PAC: $35 $50 $100 $150 $250 $500 $1,000 Other $______

Visa, MC, AmEx Expires Signed Name E-mail Address I will volunteer for WCLA. Send me a form. I will contact my legislators when notified. By e-mail. City/Zip I will do phoning. I won’t vote for candidates who would restrict abortion. Political Party Phone Checks are payable to WCLA-PAC. Mail with this coupon to 237 Mamaroneck Ave., White Plains, NY 10605. Contributions to WCLA-PAC are not tax deductible. To phone in a charge, please call (914) 946-5363. Summer 2002 ProChoice, Westchester Coalition for Legal Abortion, Inc. 15 Great Gifts and No Shopping WCLA Seeks Office Manager WCLA needs an office manager/coordinator. This is an excellent job opportu- tumped for an innovative gift? nity for the right person. The ideal candidate should be pro-choice, efficient, SThere’s a perfect solution that has organized, careful with details, good with people, flexible and computer literate. never failed to please: a donation in the The position involves a lot of computer work as well as managing a small office, recipient’s name to a cause. Donations some secretarial work, research, writing, bookkeeping, and managing volun- to WCLA to honor birthdays, anniversa- teers. It would be a plus to be interested in politics and familiar with ries, bat/bar mitzvahs, confirmations, Westchester’s elected officials. and for memorials, are a wonderful idea. To apply, send a letter and resume to WCLA, 237 Mamaroneck Ave., White Please consider WCLA when you make Plains, NY 10605, or e-mail to [email protected]. Please do not call. your next special contribution. We will graciously thank not only you but also the recipient or their family. Remember to Register to Vote! Reliable Listing o vote you must be registered! If you register for the primary, you do not need Tto register again for the general election. The primary is on Sept. 10. The of Abortion Providers deadline to register is Aug. 16. The general election is on Nov. 5. The deadline to listing of bona fide clinic-based register is Oct. 11. You can do it in person or by mail. The mailing address is: Aabortion providers may now be Westchester Board of Elections, 25 Quarropas St., White Plains, NY, 10601. For found online at a new site run by the more information, call the Board of Elections, (914) 995-5700. National Coalition of Abortion Provid- NYS to Require Coverage of Some Infertility Treatments ers. Point your browser to: he Albany budget wrangling provided an unexpected benefit for infertile www.abortionclinicdirectory.com or Tcouples. Legislative leaders agreed to insert into a budget bill the requirement http://www.ru486.com to see a list by that insurance companies cover most infertility treatments as of Sept. 1. While some state or by services provided. This drug therapies will be covered, in vitro fertilization and vasectomy reversal will not be. Abortion Clinic Directory is a product of Many New Yorkers, however, will be unaffected by the change. Medicaid recipi- the Foundation to Preserve Access to ents, the uninsured, individual policyholders and those covered by self-insured plans Abortion, a non-profit organization (subject to federal regulation) will not benefit. NYS will institute a pilot project with which is the educational arm of the $10 million in funding for those who would not benefit. The criteria for inclusion is to National Coalition. be formulated.

Inside Third World Women...... 7 Money vs. Safety...... 13 Divided We Fall...... 2 Meet Your New District...... 8 Stem Cells: Pro and Con...... 14 President Emerita’s Mind...... 2 Your Elected Officials; Action Alert...... 10 Lest We Forget...... 15 Editorials ...... 3 Women’s Health Law...... 11 WCLA-PAC Coupon...... 15 Faso: RTL Poster Boy...... 4 Bonnici Appointed to CUNY...... 11 Come Out, Pataki...... 5 Margulies Cartoon...... 11 For up-to-date information, Assaults On Choice...... 6 Benjamin A. Gilman...... 12 please point your browser to Farewell, Clinic...... 6 Nita Lowey...... 13 WLCA’s website, www.wcla.org.

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