DC Abortion Access

One of the (likely many) casualties of the late night budget deal that kept the lights on in the Government was DC abortion access.

Here's a note from Abby from DC VOTE:

As you may know, DC's right to provide abortions for low-income women was sacrificed by Senator Harry Reid and President Barack Obama in order to get a deal on the federal budget bill. We need to fight back before the deal is signed into law.

Are you tired of being treated like a second-class citizen? Mayor Vincent Gray said Friday that this deal makes him angry. Delegate Norton has been expressing her outrage all week. Both of them have called on DC residents to take to the streets.

The Senate and the House are drafting language for a federal budget bill that will likely include a permanent ban on DC spending its own local money for reproductive health care services for low-income women. It would also impose a voucher program and may ban syringe access programs that help stop the spread of HIV-AIDS.

Here's a good Post article about the deal, with lots of specifics. And another that quotes Obama as explicitly giving away "DC abortion" to Speaker Boehner.

MONDAY:

Demand democracy for DC by joining us this MONDAY at 5 PM outside of the Senate Hart Building, which is located at 2nd and Constitution Avenue, NE.

Pledge right now that you will take to the streets by emailing us at rsvp@dcvote.org.

WEDNESDAY

There is a happy hour this Wednesday sponsored by Planned Parenthood from 5pm-8pm at the Front Page in Dupont:

ONGOING (RIGHT NOW TIL SUNDAY):

The Sunday, yours truly (and bestie Allie Goldberg) are bowling for choice for the DC Abortion Fund. DCAF helps low-income women access the services they need- even more important now that Congress has taken away assistance. Here's a note about it:

We need funds now more than ever. Last night, in the eleventh hour compromise to keep the government open, Congress agreed to a provision banning the District from spending its own locally-raised revenues to provide abortions to low-income women. That's right - DC ripped of our own autonomy, and DC's women thrown under the bus. Here's some info on the ban:http://wapo.st/g2TEHN http://bit.ly/ieRbh8 http://bit.ly/fzOmy8 http://bit.ly/flG1zj

For DCAF, this policy rider is tragic. The women we serve will have one less option for help - making DCAF the last option. Over 60,000 women in the District will be affected. The need will skyrocket, and as a Fund we have to be prepared.

There's been a brilliant outpouring of support so far, but now, more than ever, we need to shore up our community and come together to fight back against these legislative atrocities. We can't let the women of DC suffer on our watch - this piece of legislation is cruel! Just in time for the bowl-a-thon, we have launched an emergency campaign to bolster our Fund for the increased demand, and we need your help!

Please donate to my team on my page, here: Tiffany's Bowl-a-Thon Page!