Jenni's blog

The Democratic Party of Oregon today sent out an action item on the topic that I've been covering lately - women's reproductive health. As I wrote a few days ago, the Bush Administration is working on instituting new rules that will make it more difficult for women to have access to reproductive health services like annual exams as well as pushing birth control into "abortion" territory.

The Merkley campaign has put together a petition on this issue, and the DPO sent out this email about it today:

Sign the petition.

Write a letter.

Call out Gordon Smith.

While Jeff Merkley takes a public stand to protect a woman's right to choose, Gordon Smith offers only silence.

We need to respond with two actions:

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I learned more today about the Department of Health and Human Services' proposal on reproductive health and pregnancy prevention.

For a long time the accepted definition of an established pregnancy (both by medical experts and HHS) was after implantation of the embryo into the uterus. Without implantation, the egg (or embryo) would be flushed from the body during the woman's next period. And more importantly, a pregnancy test would not come up positive.

The Bush Administration is about to release a rule that would take federal funding that is designated for women's reproductive health and to prevent unwanted pregnancies to be used for anything but those services.

From Cecile Richards, President of Planned Parenthood Federation of America:

“Planned Parenthood is gravely concerned that the Bush administration is days away from an attack on women’s health care that would limit the rights of patients to receive complete and accurate health information and services. At a time when more and more families are uninsured and under economic assault, we find our health care system is in crisis and our president taking steps to deny access to basic care.

“This proposed rule will put women’s access to birth control and the information they need to make health care decisions at risk. The proposed rule will radically redefine abortion to include some of the most common and effective methods of birth control. As a result, women’s ability to manage their own health care is at risk of being compromised by politics and ideology.

“As one of the leading women's health care providers and advocates, Planned Parenthood will not stand by and watch the Bush administration deny quality, affordable health care and accurate information to millions of women.”

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As if soaring gas and food prices isn't enough, we've just learned about another way Oregonians are going to be hit in the pocketbook - heating your homes this winter.

NW Natural and other natural gas companies offered projections to the Oregon Public Utility Commission today, and the numbers aren't good:

Northwest Natural says its 595,000 customers in Oregon can expect a rate increase between 35-40%. Cascade, which supplies 200,000 customers in eastern Oregon, says rates will go up 15-20%. Avista, the gas company for southern Oregon, is projecting a 10-15% increase.

PGE is also talking about 15% increases, on top of the increases we've already had over the past few years.

Sometimes the truth in humor hurts more than the pain in my side from laughing.

We all know about Gordon Smith and how he tries to make himself look like a Democrat. He's careful to never list himself as a Republican on his web site. He likes to tout in ads how Democrats support him, how he supports progressive issues like ending the war in Iraq and opposing drilling in the Arctic. He tries to make it appear that he's an independent voter who doesn't follow his party lines. But his new ad goes even further.

In his newest ad, he is aligning with Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama.

From the Associated Press:

Republicans go after Barack Obama in their political advertising, but GOP Senator Gordon Smith aligns himself with the Democratic presidential candidate in a new ad, citing work they both did to improve fuel efficiency standards.

...

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From our friends over at Brave New Films:

Joe Lieberman is a war hawk, plain and simple. He staunchly supports George Bush's War in Iraq and John McCain's plan to stay in Iraq for 100 years. But Lieberman's new alliance with the Republican Party runs even deeper. He has endorsed and stumped for McCain, wants to be the star of the Republican National Convention, and has even served on a 527 group that smeared Barack Obama with a nasty attack ad.

And yet Lieberman still holds a top rank within the Senate Democratic Caucus as chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. The Senate Democratic Steering Committee needs to know just how much of a conflict of interest this is. That's why we created Lieberman Must Go.

Watch the video: http://bravenewfilms.org/watch/4063829/43061?utm_source=rgemail