Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) and his Republican allies in the state
legislature launched an aggressive legislative campaign against
reproductive rights over the summer, including measures intended to
close the vast majority of clinics where reproductive services are provided.

Proponents of the policies said the measures were necessary in order to
protect public safety. Becca Aaronson reports in the Texas Tribune this
week that the arguments are plainly contradicted by the facts.

The Texas Tribune review of state inspection records for 36
abortion clinics from the year preceding the lawmakers' vote turned up
little evidence to suggest the facilities were putting patients in
imminent danger. State auditors identified 19 regulatory violations that
they said presented a risk to patient safety at six abortion clinics
that are not ambulatory surgical centers in Texas. None was severe
enough to warrant financial penalties, according to the Department of
State Health Services, which deemed the facilities' corrective action
plans sufficient to protect patients.

And between 2008 and 2013, the Texas Medical Board, which regulates
the state's physicians, took action against just three doctors who
performed abortions -- all of them for administrative infractions that
did not involve criminal practices or late-term abortions.

Republican officials swore up and down this was about "safety" concerns
at health clinics. The evidence clearly suggests otherwise.

Amy Hagstrom Miller, chief executive officer of Whole Woman's Health,
which operates five abortion facilities in Texas, told Aaronson, "The
point of this legislation was to make abortion inaccessible. It wasn't
about safety, because there is no safety problem around abortion in Texas."

In theory, revelations like these might have some effect on public
policy, except it seems rather obvious that the "safety" argument was a
pretense for opponents of reproductive rights to do what they wanted to
do anyway -- close clinics in order to restrict women's reproductive
choices.

The fact that the right's argument has been discredited, alas, will have
little practical effect on a debate that was never about facts or
evidence in the first place.


http://tinyurl.com/kqc9k6r

- - -

What a surprise!

On Tue, 17 Sep 2013 09:51:33 -0400, "F.O.A.D." wrote:

Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) and his Republican allies in the state
legislature launched an aggressive legislative campaign against
reproductive rights over the summer, including measures intended to
close the vast majority of clinics where reproductive services are provided.

Proponents of the policies said the measures were necessary in order to
protect public safety. Becca Aaronson reports in the Texas Tribune this
week that the arguments are plainly contradicted by the facts.

The Texas Tribune review of state inspection records for 36
abortion clinics from the year preceding the lawmakers' vote turned up
little evidence to suggest the facilities were putting patients in
imminent danger. State auditors identified 19 regulatory violations that
they said presented a risk to patient safety at six abortion clinics
that are not ambulatory surgical centers in Texas. None was severe
enough to warrant financial penalties, according to the Department of
State Health Services, which deemed the facilities' corrective action
plans sufficient to protect patients.

And between 2008 and 2013, the Texas Medical Board, which regulates
the state's physicians, took action against just three doctors who
performed abortions -- all of them for administrative infractions that
did not involve criminal practices or late-term abortions.

Republican officials swore up and down this was about "safety" concerns
at health clinics. The evidence clearly suggests otherwise.

Amy Hagstrom Miller, chief executive officer of Whole Woman's Health,
which operates five abortion facilities in Texas, told Aaronson, "The
point of this legislation was to make abortion inaccessible. It wasn't
about safety, because there is no safety problem around abortion in Texas."

In theory, revelations like these might have some effect on public
policy, except it seems rather obvious that the "safety" argument was a
pretense for opponents of reproductive rights to do what they wanted to
do anyway -- close clinics in order to restrict women's reproductive
choices.

The fact that the right's argument has been discredited, alas, will have
little practical effect on a debate that was never about facts or
evidence in the first place.


http://tinyurl.com/kqc9k6r

- - -

What a surprise!

Do 'reproduce' and 'abort' have the same meaning to you? You keep referring to reproductive rights
and reproductive services, but don't you really mean abortion rights and abortion services?

Unlike China, reproduction is not the issue here. Abortions are the issue.
--

John H.

Hope you're having a great day!

In article , says...

Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) and his Republican allies in the state
legislature launched an aggressive legislative campaign against
reproductive rights over the summer, including measures intended to
close the vast majority of clinics where reproductive services are provided.

Proponents of the policies said the measures were necessary in order to
protect public safety. Becca Aaronson reports in the Texas Tribune this
week that the arguments are plainly contradicted by the facts.

The Texas Tribune review of state inspection records for 36
abortion clinics from the year preceding the lawmakers' vote turned up
little evidence to suggest the facilities were putting patients in
imminent danger. State auditors identified 19 regulatory violations that
they said presented a risk to patient safety at six abortion clinics
that are not ambulatory surgical centers in Texas. None was severe
enough to warrant financial penalties, according to the Department of
State Health Services, which deemed the facilities' corrective action
plans sufficient to protect patients.

And between 2008 and 2013, the Texas Medical Board, which regulates
the state's physicians, took action against just three doctors who
performed abortions -- all of them for administrative infractions that
did not involve criminal practices or late-term abortions.

Republican officials swore up and down this was about "safety" concerns
at health clinics. The evidence clearly suggests otherwise.

Amy Hagstrom Miller, chief executive officer of Whole Woman's Health,
which operates five abortion facilities in Texas, told Aaronson, "The
point of this legislation was to make abortion inaccessible. It wasn't
about safety, because there is no safety problem around abortion in Texas."

In theory, revelations like these might have some effect on public
policy, except it seems rather obvious that the "safety" argument was a
pretense for opponents of reproductive rights to do what they wanted to
do anyway -- close clinics in order to restrict women's reproductive
choices.

The fact that the right's argument has been discredited, alas, will have
little practical effect on a debate that was never about facts or
evidence in the first place.


http://tinyurl.com/kqc9k6r

- - -

What a surprise!

When Governor Perry comes to Maryland to talk to Beretta, you can meet him and possibly spit
on him if your are so inclined. We know you want to offend him.