Texas Progressive Alliance Roundup - October 31, 2011

The Texas Progressive Alliance hopes everyone has a happy Halloween as we bring you this week's roundup.

Off the Kuff has some updates on the state of play in the redistricting lawsuits.

McBlogger finds Speaker Joe Straus finally discovering that he fudged the numbers on the budget (profanity warning).

As Michelle Obama appears at a Houston fundraiser hosted by hedge fund billionaire John Arnold, PDiddie at Brains and Eggs wants to know what the difference is between Democrats who cozy up to Wall Street and Republicans.

Now that Rick Perry has flamed out, CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme wonders if the batsh*t crazy crowd will prevail with Herman Cain?

Darth Politico takes a break from their Austin Film Festival coverage to offer some Star Wars themed advice to those enemies of the Occupy Wall St movement and offer solidarity with those who have been arrested: The more you tighten your grip, the more star systems will slip through your fingers.

The DOJ stated the GOP redistricting plans in Texas had "..the intent of limiting the voting power of Hispanic voters". WCNews at Eye On Williamson has that and more, Texas GOP's attack on Hispanic voters.

Lightseeker explains why The Banks have no grounds for raising their fees now! Check out the details at TexasKaos.

Neil at Texas Liberal offered up his views on who liberals and progressives can support in upcoming Houston municipal elections. Neil's view is that Green candidate Amy Price leads the pack for City Council, while incumbent Mayor Annise Parker does not merit the support of those on the left.

Week in Headlines

Texas News
Texas District Attorney Named in Alleged Drug Trafficking Bribery Plot

Texas Politics
Case Against Texas Business Tax Before Top Court

International News
Population Growth Taxing Planet’s Resources

Foreign Policy
Inspector General Report Finds US Wasting Money in Iraq

Veterans Issues
Jobs Increasingly Difficult to Find for Disabled Americans

War & Peace
Taliban Fighters Attack US Base in Kandahar

Domestic Policy
Government Announces New Program to Help Underwater Homeowners

Economy
Study Finds Top Earners Doubled Share of Nation’s Income

Health Care
States Are Limiting Medicaid Hospital Coverage

Education
New State Test Raises Concerns for Teachers and Educators

Environment
Red Tide Closes All Oyster Harvesting in Texas

Climate Change
Warming Could Exceed Safe Levels in This Lifetime

Energy
Exxon and Chevron Profit to Rise $6 billion

Human Rights
Study Finds Juarez Prime Location for Child Abuse

Civil Rights
DOJ Finds Evidence of Texas Intent to Limit Latino Voting Power

Women & Gender Issues
Birth Control Pill Lowers Ovarian Cancer Risk

Reproductive Rights
Federal Judge Blocks Part of North Carolina Anti-Abortion Law

GLBT Issues
Gay Troops to File Suit Challenging Defense of Marriage Act

District 14 Candidate First Look: Judy LeUnes

Among the candidates campaigning for Texas House of Representatives District 14, Judy LeUnes is the only candidate from the Democratic Party. She taught in College Station ISD for over 20 years and after retiring began her own education consulting business. LeUnes has never run for public office before, but she has served on several boards for the city of College Station and nonprofit groups.

According to her campaign web site, LeUnes is running to “to be a strong voice for families who are deeply concerned about the quality and affordability of their children’s education at all levels.” Even though the district is heavily Republican, LeUnes believes that she has a legitimate shot at winning since there are three other Republican candidates running that may split the GOP vote.

LeUnes is campaigning on two main platform planks, investing in public schools and creating jobs for Texans. In promoting these issues she says that public schools “are the best chance for every child to have an equal opportunity” and that “we need to grow new jobs and support small businesses.”

In an interview with the Bryan-College Station Eagle, LeUnes said that because of her experience she is the “only candidate who knows what is really happening in the public schools." She is also planning on her ties to the community helping her with voters. She is a graduate of Texas A&M, and has also served on the board of directors for the Brazos Animal Shelter and the Rape Crisis Center. And she has worked with the city of College Station at the Lincoln Center and the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.

District 14 Candidate First Look: Bob Yancy

The third Republican running to represent District 14 in the Texas House of Representatives is Bob Yancy, the founder and owner of MEMdata which uses innovation and technology to save hospitals money in the procurement of equipment. According to his campaign web site, Yancy is “so committed to combating wasteful spending and promoting free market competition, he built a business on these principles.”

Yancy says that the “problem in Austin isn’t that we’re not taxing and spending enough. Instead, I believe we’re not being as efficient and effective as we must be with public spending, most especially in these tough economic times.” His platform includes keeping taxes low, cutting wasteful spending, and promoting economic growth.

In an interview with the Bryan-College Station Eagle, Yancy described himself as a “I am a mainstream, pro-business, Ronald Reagan conservative and I intend to represent those values that I believe are the values of Brazos County.” According the interview Yancy’s campaign has focused much on reforming the state’s procurement code to allow for more competitive bidding on government contracts, which he claims will create a significant amount of savings for the state.

Yancy’s claims of creating health care savings for patients was challenges at a recent candidate forum by fellow Republican Rebecca Boenigk. As the Eagle reported Boenigk claimed that he only brings down cost for hospitals and not for patients, while Yancy countered saying that helping hospitals solicit competitive bids for equipment saves money that is passed on to the customer. "It is economics 101."

Yancy released the results of a poll via his Facebook page, that showed Yancy leading among voters surveyed with 35% and Democratic candidate Judy LeUnes with 26%. The poll was conducted by the Texas Association of Realtors and surveyed 330 likely voters, and had a margin of error of plus or minus 5.4%.

District 14 Candidate First Look: John Raney

A former chairman of the Brazos County Republican Party, John Raney is one of three Republicans running for Texas House of Representatives in District 14. Raney served as the chairman of the Brazos County GOP from 1971 to 1978, and was a candidate for office only one other time when he ran for Brazos County judge in 1978.

According to his campaign web site, Raney is a long time resident of Brazos County, and graduated from Texas A&M University in 1969 with a degree in Marketing. Raney is the founder and owner of the Texas Aggieland Bookstore, which opened its doors in 1969 while he was still attending Texas A&M.

In an interview with the Bryan-College Station Eagle, Raney revealed that one of the motivating factors behind his campaign was his experience lobbying for a piece of legislation in Austin. The legislation would have levied state taxes on online companies such Amazon.com and was eventually vetoed by Governor Rick Perry. Raney said he believes that bureaucrats often lead the discussion in Austin, not voters.

While he admits to not being an expert in most areas of public policy that are dealt with by the legislature, Raney told the Eagle that he would use a “common-sense approach." Raney says that he will refuse to sign any specific pledges and will sit down and talk with anyone. There are five goals listed under his “Conservative Vision for the Brazos Valley” on his campaign web site, than include jobs and economic growth, investing in higher education, supporting educators, securing the border, and taxes.

Raney was endorsed by the Ealge who said in their endorsement that his “solid, steady background, couple with his experience working with the Legislature in the past gives him an edge.”

District 14 Candidate First Look: Rebecca Boenigk

Rebecca Boenigk is one of three Republicans running for the Texas House of Representatives in District 14, and one of the five candidates vying for former Representative Fred Brown’s seat. Brown resigned his seat early this year to take a job outside of the district, after the end of the 82nd Texas Legislative session. According to her campaign web site, Boenigk thinks that “Brown is leaving some pretty big shoes to fill in our Texas Capitol” but that she “the background and experience needed to hit the ground running and to be a strong, conservative leader for Brazos County in the legislature.”

Boenigk is the founder and CEO of Neutral Posture, Inc. which is an ergonomic furniture company, that has grown into a $17 million a year business. Boenigk boast on her web site that she “will put the same proven, conservative free market business principles that allowed her to build her own successful business to work for Texas taxpayers and their families in her service to the Texas Legislature.” According to Neutral Posture’s web site, the company has a contract with General Services Administration and has several contract with state governments including Texas.

According to an article in the Bryan-College Station Eagle, Boenigk said that “If you are not involved in politics, then politics are running your business," although in that article she could not name any state regulations that are adversely affecting her business. In that same article she went on to say that “Sometimes it is not about getting the right legislation passed; it is about keeping the wrong legislation from passing and making sure that people there understand the ramifications."

Boenigk’s participation in candidate forums has been hit or miss. As the Eagle reported, she pulled out of the Bryan-College Station Tea Party forum at the last minute, and she cancelled an appearance on 89.1FM KEOS without explanation. During the Chamber of Commerce candidate forum she clashed with fellow Republican Bob Yancy over health care policy.

A group of conservative activist have started a campaign against Boenigk. The Facebook page “Conservatives Against Rebecca Boenigk” criticizes her for identifying herself as a conservative as “something of a charade.” The group condemns her connection to a local group called “Get Unboxed,” that they claim “advocates universal healthcare and gay marriage.” Although, a closer look at the group reveals that it advocates that “healthcare is a privilege, not a right” and that “cannot accept gay marriage as a religious marriage.” Among other things the group also criticizes Boenigk for sponsoring a town hall for then Democratic Congressman Chet Edwards, and attending the University of Texas at Austin. So far 8 people have “liked” the group, compared to the 161 that have liked her Facebook page.

How Economic Inequality Harms Societies

Texas Progressive Alliance Roundup - October 24, 2011

The Texas Progressive Alliance celebrates the start of the early voting period for the 2011 elections as it brings you this week's roundup.

Off the Kuff has information about the interim redistricting maps that the federal court in San Antonio will be considering.

Letters From Texas discusses Republicans not understanding basic biology, which is why some candidates might not even realize that they're advocating banning birth control. Much worse, others do understand it.

Several Houston city council candidates earned the coveted PDiddie endorsement. Pick up your progressive voting guide at Brains and Eggs.

As early voting starts for the November constitutional amendment election get started WCNews at Eye On Williamson says Vote No on Prop 4 - the latest transportation scheme.

Libby Shaw says it best in Rick Perry: A Right Wing Wrecking Machine . She compares the degrees of diaster that seperate Perry from Romney. The result is a "how low can you go" contest that America can't afford, not when one of these mean spirited clowns could be the next American President. See her post at TexasKaos.

Neil at Texas Liberal continues to blog about and to support Occupy Houston and Occupy Wall Street.

Week in Headlines

Texas News
Texas Ranchers and Farmers Seeing Record Losses in Grip of Drought

Texas Politics
Straus Releases Interim Charges for House Committees

National News
Poverty Rates Up in Most US States and Cities

National Politics
Perry’s Higher Education Involvement Overshadowed by Crony Capitalism Charges

Foreign Policy
Initial US Drawdown to Pull From Restive Afghan East

War & Peace
Kenyan Forces Enter Somalia to Battle Militants

Veterans Issues
Veterans’ Unemployment Outpaces Civilian Rate

Activism
Occupy Wall Street Protests Go Global

Domestic Policy
Millions to Lose Unemployment Benefits Without End of Year Extension

Economy
Housing Market Stuck Despite Low Prices and Rates

Poverty
Americans' Access To Basic Needs Hits Recession Lows As Income Growth Slows

Health Care
86% of Workers Obese or Have Other Health Issue

Education
Study Finds Many College Students Not Learning to Think Critically

Energy
Exxon Aims to Bail on Payments for Valdez Damage

Environment
Gulf Algae Bloom Affects Much of Texas Gulf Coast

Climate Change
Global Warming Blamed For Shrinking Species In New Study

Civil Rights
Protesters Arrested at Occupy Houston and Austin

Immigrant Rights
US Deportations Reach Historic Levels

Reproductive Rights
Planned Parenthood Reels From Huge Budget Cuts

Women & Gender Issues
New Hampshire Female Inmates Not Treated Same as Men

GLBT Issues
SLDN To Sue Over Military Benefits For Spouses Of Gay Troops

Race & Racism
US Rights Watchdog Accuses FBI of Racial Profiling

Campaign & Debate In 100 Seconds

Texas Progressive Alliance Roundup - October 17, 2011

The Texas Progressive Alliance reminds you that early voting for the November election starts next week as it brings you this week's roundup.

Off the Kuff looks at the likely effect of voter ID on voter participation. Hint: Fewer people will be able to vote. Who could have guessed?

CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme calls out Lamar Smith for his racist legislation that will harm abused women.

WCNews at Eye On Williamson says it's time for the people of Williamson County to stand up so they no longer ask, How do these people keep getting elected?

Neil at Texas Liberal offered some pictures of Occupy Houston. Neil has visted the good folks at Occupy Houston a few times now and has donated some supplies and a few bucks. The Occupy movement has taken hold in many Texas cities and across the nation. Please consider supporting Occupy in some fashion.

The Ghost of Sam Houston has some unkind words for Rick Perry's Energy Plan over at Darth Politico.

In the spirit of Halloween, McBlogger takes a look at The Return of the Living Dread.

Week in Headlines

Texas News
New Initiative Tackles Child Hunger in Texas

Texas Politics
Nearly Half of Texas Business Grantees Donated to Perry Campaign

National News
Showdown Averted in New York's Wall Street Protests

Foreign Policy
US Puts Iraq Withdrawal Plans Under Wraps to Discourage Attacks

War & Peace
Drone Attack Kills a Senior Militant Leader in Pakistan‎

Veterans Issues
DOMA Challenge Heads To Veterans Court Of Appeals

Education
Coalition of Texas School Districts Files Suit Over Funding Plan

Health Care
Report Finds Texas' Tort Reform Failed to Reduce Health Costs

Environment
Texas Drought Leaves Lake Too Low for Cities' Use

Climate Change
Scientists Revolt Over Texas Censorship of Climate Science

Human Rights
Code of Silence Among Jail Guards Hinders Abuse Probes

Civil Rights
Dozens of Protesters Arrested in Denver, San Diego and New York

Labor Rights
Ruling Deals Setback to Arizona on Amendment Requiring Secret Ballots for Unions

Immigrant Rights
Appeals Court Temporarily Blocks Part of Alabama Immigration Law

Reproductive Rights
House Passes Another Bill to Reduce Access to Abortions

Women & Gender Issues
Ex-Staffer's Suit Says UH Berated Her for Being Pregnant

GLBT Issues
Gay military college students come out, start club

Race & Racism
Could Discrimination Help Trigger Illness in Blacks?

How Crisis Pregnancy Centers Deceive Women

If you have spent any time escorting at Planned Parenthood or any other reproductive health care facility, you become intimately familiar with the rhetoric that the anti-choice protesters use. One of the most frequently used rhetorically tools used by the protesters is that the women frequenting these clinics can receive care “at another clinic.” The other clinics are usually not clinics at all by so-called crisis pregnancy centers.

Crisis pregnancy centers (CPC’s) often market themselves as women’s health care clinics, except that in most cases they provide no actual health care whatsoever. They are general staffed by a few paid employees and several volunteers, and usually employee no medical professionals. The centers sometimes have ultrasound machines, but aside from store-brought pregnancy test they have no other medical equipment.

They market themselves as providing counseling to women and young girls in the midst of a unplanned pregnancy, but the counseling the provide is simply anti-abortion propaganda laced with fundamentalist Christian theology. Women are not only advised not to terminate their pregnancy, but they are often given misleading and medically inaccurate information.

CPC Watch has cataloged the ways in which these organizations misrepresent the fact and deceive women. They also collect the stories of women that have frequented CPC’s, and tell their stories.

In a recent op-ed in the New York Times Katie Stack, a graduate student in gender and women’s studies at Minnesota State University, shared her experience with a CPC. After being asked on the intake form about her “relationship with Jesus Christ,” she was “counseled” that abortions caused breast cancer, warned that she would suffer from post-abortion stress syndrome, and that she wouldn’t hear this information from doctors, because doctors make money performing abortions and would lie about the procedure’s risks. All of those claims are in fact false.

Amy's story at a CPC New York City was told in Jezebel, detailed her experience with expecting to be able to terminate her pregnancy only to find herself in an anti-abortion CPC. The experience at the CPC made her experience with abortion more difficult than it already is for any woman. “If you think you want an abortion, you probably shouldn't be having a kid anyway. And if you know you want an abortion, someone misrepresenting themselves shouldn't make it harder on you.”

Our Reality: A Look at Crisis Pregnancy Centers from RH Reality Check on Vimeo.

Tina's Crisis Pregnancy Center Story

When Tina faced an unplanned pregnancy, she was tricked into visiting an anti-choice "crisis pregnancy center" (CPC). This is her story.

GOP Conducting Ideologically Driven War on Reproductive Rights

While millions of Americans are unemployed the Congressional Republicans have decided to spend their time waging an ideologue war against reproductive rights.

As the National Journal reported, House Republicans have opened a sweeping investigation into Planned Parenthood. House Energy and Commerce Oversight and Investigations Chairman Cliff Stearns, a Republican from Florida, has requested that Planned Parenthood detail how it has used its federal funding. While Planned Parenthood receives funding from the federal government, under law it must not use those funds to provide abortion services.

Reportedly House Republicans have requested internal auditing from Planned Parenthood and 83 affiliates over the past 12 years, state audits over the past 20 years, and “sensitive information” on how Planned Parenthood affiliates refer women to other clinics if they don’t provide abortion services.

What’s the driving force behind this assault on reproductive rights? The Americans United for Life released report accusing Planned Parenthood of misusing federal funds, failing to report child sex abuse, assisting sex traffickers and several other unsubstantiated claims. As the American Independent reported many of these claims date back several years, and they are supported by 250 notes which reference letters or newspaper articles not included in the document.

In promoting this investigation that would be a complete waste of tax payer dollars, the AUL has been making the false claim that Planned Parenthood has wasted tax payer dollars. The leader of AUL Charmaine Yoest made the claim that a Government Accountability Office found a “huge discrepancy” between what Planned Parenthood was spending and what the GAO was able to document. The non-partisan PolitiFact found that when multiple sources made this claim that they would not just false but “pains on fire” false.

This comes at the same time the House Republicans are poised to vote on the so-called “Protect Life Act.” As the Washington Post reports the bill was introduced by Republican Congressman Joe Pitts, and would prohibit federal funds from going toward any health care plan that covers abortion services; it also would block funding from being withheld from institutions that are opposed to providing abortions.

This bill would end abortion coverage in state health care exchanges, the public marketplaces for health insurance starting in 2014 under the Affordable Care Act, and it would place a gag order on insurers, preventing them from even giving women information about how to get abortion coverage. It would also permit hospitals receiving federal funds to deny emergency abortions to women whose lives are in danger. It is designed to simply make it impossible for women to obtain insurance that covers abortion.

The fact is that this investigation and the Congressional Republicans focus on abortion is an ideological drive war against reproductive rights and women in general. According to its annual report, Planned Parenthood received $363.2 million in federal funding in 2009. It is constantly audited by both the federal government and state agencies, and this high degree of scrutiny has never found any significant evidence of fraud, waste or abuse.

Framing Reproductive Rights

Amanda Marcotte of RH Reality Check examines the way the anti-choice movement attempts to frame the debate through language choices and offers some tips on combating them.

National Coming Out Day: Straight Allies

Today is National Coming Out Day. It is a day in which members of the GLBT community recognize the process of publically acknowledging their sexual orientation. It is also a day when straight allies publically acknowledge their support of the GLBT community. While I have publically supported this community for several years both through this blog and through other activism, it felt it would be important to share my coming out story as a straight ally.

During my service in the military I made deep and lasting friendships with those that I served with, but one of the most important friendships was with Patrick. There were few service members that I have ever met that served their country with as much love and devotion. From the way in which he kept his uniform impeccable to the way he carried himself, Patrick was the definition of a dedicated service member.

However, beneath that crisp uniform was a secret that if discovered, the military would have overlooked the awards and recognition. Patrick was gay. He came out to me after we had been friends for about a year, and he told me later how difficult that was. Despite how accepting I thought I obviously was, even my best friend wasn’t sure how I would react. If he had such a difficult time coming out to me, I could not imagine would it would be like for him coming out to other people.

Later Patrick and I would become roommates, and it was through him that I was introduced into the underground gay culture in the military. It was a community of military members from ever branch of service, and from every possible job field. All of them living in fear that despite their willingness to give their life for their country that their country was not willing to let them serve openly. Few days have given me more pride than when the policy banning openly gay men and women from serving in the military known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was finally fully repealed.

However, despite that victory there are still many ways in which our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters are being discriminated against. Many states and institutions still do not have laws and policies protecting members of the GLBT community from discrimination. Bullying of young gays and lesbians is a significant problem in our schools. The federal government and most states still do not recognize marriage equality, and committed gay and lesbian couples are still treated like second class citizens.

More and more members of the GLBT community are standing up and speaking out. One of the driving forces behind the repeal of DADT was active duty members bravely speaking out, and many willing sacrificed their careers to speak out for equality. However, far too few straight allies are willing to speak out and stand up with their gay and lesbian brothers and sisters.

Straight Allies: It’s time to come out and speak out.

Harvey Milk - Hope

"Somewhere in Des Moines or San Antonio there is a young gay person who all the sudden realizes that he or she is gay; knows that if their parents find out they will be tossed out of the house, their classmates will taunt the child, and the Anita Bryant's and John Briggs' are doing their part on TV. And that child has several options: staying in the closet, and suicide. And then one day that child might open the paper that says "Homosexual elected in San Francisco" and there are two new options: the option is to go to California, or stay in San Antonio and fight. Two days after I was elected I got a phone call and the voice was quite young. It was from Altoona, Pennsylvania. And the person said "Thanks". And you've got to elect gay people, so that thousand upon thousands like that child know that there is hope for a better world; there is hope for a better tomorrow. Without hope, not only gays, but those who are blacks, the Asians, the disabled, the seniors, the us's: without hope the us's give up. I know that you can't live on hope alone, but without it, life is not worth living. And you, and you, and you, and you have got to give them hope."
-Harvey Milk, 1978

Texas Progressive Alliance Roundup - October 10, 2011

The Texas Progressive Alliance is occupying your browser as it brings you this week's roundup.

Off the Kuff took a look at demographic change in one of Houston's historic neighborhoods.

Harold Cook at Letters From Texas takes a look back at old friend Molly Ivins, when he reviews a new book just released about her. His conclusion: "if you ever spent evenings with Molly, reading the book will give you the gift of spending one more. Even better, if you never got to spend that evening with Molly, you're in luck - after reading the book, you'll feel just like you did."

Bay Area Houston has an interesting audio clip of Teabag darling Galveston County Tax Assessor, Cheryl Johnson.

Justice finally starts to come for man falsely convicted 25 yreas ago in Williamson County. WCNews at Eye On Williamson has the story, Michael Morton walks free after 25 years behind bars.

CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme says Texas Republicans hate the elderly, workers, children and women.

Occupy Houston, the solidarity march and protest which grew out of the continuing Occupy Wall Street action, was covered by PDiddie at Brains and Eggs.

Neil at Texas Liberal reported on the first day of Occupy Houston. It is great that something hopeful is finally taking place in our politics. The Occupy Wall Street movement gets the idea that the work of freedom and democracy is up to each of us.

At TexasKaos, Libby Shaw tells us "Poor Rick Perry thought he could easily preen, charm and tall tale his way through the 2012 Republican Presidential primary cycle. Unfortunately for the Governor he has not been outside of his impenetrable Texas Republican bubble much. Rick Perry spends so much time with his crony donors that he obviously has no clue what the other 99% of the population believes." She explains why that didn't happen. Read more: Rick Perry: Razzle, Dazzle, Snap, Crackle and Flop.

Week in Headlines

Texas A&M News
Students Speak Out About Texas A&M University’s Future

Texas News
Texas School Budget Cuts Add to Jobless

Texas Politics
Texas So-Called Rainy Day Fund in Recovery Mode

National News
Secret Docs Show Foreclosure Watchdog Doesn’t Bark or Bite

National Politics
Poll Sees a New Low in Americans’ Approval of Congress

International News
Nobel Peace Prize Awarded to Three Activist Women

Foreign Policy
Secret Panel Can Put Americans on Kill List

War & Peace
Secret US Memo Sanctioned Killing of Aulaqi

Veteran Issues
Survey Finds VA Lacks Resources to Deal With Mental Health

Economy
Falling Wages Threatening US as Consumers May Cut Spending

Education
135 Texas Schools Challenge State Funding

Health Care
Shortages Lead Doctors To Ration Critical Drugs

Environment
Record Arctic Ozone Hole Raises Fears of Worse to Come

Climate Change
Group Urges Research Into Aggressive Efforts to Fight Climate Change

Energy
Homeowners and Businesses Embracing Small Wind Turbines

Religious Issues
Pastors Who Illegally Support Candidates From Pulpit Face Few Consequences

Human Rights
Report Finds Syrian Uprising Deaths Exceed 2,9000

Civil Rights
Wall Street Protesters Sue Over Bridge Arrests as Demonstrations Continue

Voters Rights
New State Rules Raising Hurdles at Voting Booth

Labor Rights
More Than 450 Texas Workers Killed on the Job Last Year

Immigrant Rights
Immigration Policy Overhaul Likely Would Spur US Growth

Reproductive Rights
Mississippi AG Candidates Back Personhood Initiative

GLBT Issues
Storm Over Benefits for Gay Partners in El Paso

Race & Racism
Report Shows Minority Students Suspended at Higher Rates

How the Coalition for Life Lies to Women

Every day during 40 Days for Life protesters stand in front of the fence at the Planned Parenthood in Bryan, and every day they spread misinformation and lies to the patients that utilize the clinic for reproductive health care. The protesters regularly attempt to pass information to the clients of Planned Parenthood both verbally and in written form. However, much of the information that the protesters try and give the clients is both intellectually dishonest and factually incorrect. Often false information is given about the services provided at Planned Parenthood and the facts about abortion and reproductive health care.

One of the pamphlets that are often given to clients, titled “10 Reasons to Avoid Planned Parenthood,” includes several factual inaccuracies and misrepresentations. The first claim listed is that the services at Planned Parenthood focus only abortion, and that while over 6,000 abortions were performed less than 300 women received prenatal care. The truth is that according to annual reports abortion only makes up 7% of the total services provided at Planned Parenthood. Also Planned Parenthood does provide both prenatal care and adoption refers for women that chose not to terminate a pregnancy.

According to the Planned Parenthood of Houston and Southeast Texas 2006 annual report, 87% of the patients visited Planned Parenthood for family planning: 89,611 out of the 103,004 patients. Also, 4,969 people were tested for HIV and counseled on prevention. Only 6,811 patients who visited all of the area Planned Parenthoods, including the Houston metropolitan area and Bryan-College Station, terminated pregnancies.

Another distortion of the facts include implying that surgical abortions are dangerous, even though less than 0.3% of abortion patients experience a complication that requires hospitalization.

The pamphlet also claims that the free condoms available at Planned Parenthood are “ranked dead last” in a study by Consumer Reports. This particular study used the airburst method instead of the “gold standard” water burst method, and all of the condoms tested in the study are FDA approved. While two Planned Parenthood where ranked 23rd and 24th in the comparative study of condoms, although another Planned Parenthood condom was ranked 14th in the same study. Consumer Report recalled the study after it was found to be flawed. It should also be noted Coalition for Life and its supporters are against all forms of birth control.

Free services such as pregnancy testing and STD screening are advertised in the pamphlet to be available at the local crisis pregnancy centers, and it claims that Planned Parenthood “is not the cheapest place in town.” However, Planned Parenthood does offer free pregnancy testing, and because Planned Parenthood is a medical facility medical grade pregnancy test are used and onsite STD screenings can be performed. Planned Parenthood also accepts Medicaid.

These distortions and outright lies are part of the propaganda that is spread by the protesters from the Coalition for Life in front of Planned Parenthood. The Coalition for Life does not care about the women of the Brazos Valley, as their advertisements proclaim, the Coalition for Life only cares about attempting to preventing women from having access reproductive health care.

1 in 3 Campaign: Deb

1in3Campaign.org: Deb from Advocates for Youth on Vimeo.

Dispatches From the Fence: First Week of Anti-Choice Protest

The 40 Days For Life anti-choice protest has been going on for a week. Each day Shawn Carney, the Campign Director of 40 Days for Life, sends out emails and blogs detailing that day’s events and protest.

In the first week they claim “38 babies — that we know of — spared from abortion.” Of course there is never any documentation of these claims. However, often is the case that women who may leave these clinics later return and the anti-choice protesters have only made their experience more difficult. They also continue to promote these so-called “pregnancy centers,” that in most cases provide no health care whatsoever.

In George they touted a woman who choose to have a child who is “now was so very happy with her choice.” However, the anti-choice movement would actually like to see that choice taken away, and to force all women to carry a pregnancy to term regardless of circumstance. The anti-choice movement made the same claim that the “media seems to have an agenda that’s radically in favor of abortion,” while at the same time citing favorable news coverage in places like Amarillo, Texas.

In Sacramento, California the anti-choice protesters grumbled that the reproductive health care facility had place redwood fence panels on the wrought iron gate. The protesters complained that the gate allowed them to access the women frequenting the clinic. “But apparently, the abortion business is not really supportive of ‘choice’ as they do everything they can to prevent women from changing their minds.”

Yesterday a post described the “incredible darkness at the places where abortions are done.” This was in reference to a recent blog post by Abby Johnson, the former Director of the Planned Parenthood in Bryan where I am a volunteer escort. In the post Johnson details an “insider view” of what passes for conversation in the clinic, and attempt to portray the clinic staff as course and crude. This is supposed to illustrate “how cold the staff was.”

In the several years that I have been volunteering at Planned Parenthood, the vast majority of the medical staff and volunteers have been professional and compassionate. Most of us take what we are doing seriously, and deeply care about the women that need reproductive health care service. There have been a few people that I have encountered that have been course and crude. However, many of us are quick to admonish people that make inappropriate remarks.

I cannot speak to the accuracy of Johnson’s anecdotes, but I would like to make one point. She was the director. Attitude reflects leadership, and if there was unprofessional behavior at the clinic it was under her watch, and apparently with her consent.

During these protest people from around the country volunteer their time to show women that we support them in whatever choice they make, and that we are there to provide a supportive, affirming, an safe environment. The protesters are fond of saying that they “can’t imagine” what a woman walking up to the clinic is going through. Neither can I – and that’s why I am there.

1 in 3 Campaign: Heather

1in3Campaign.org: Heather from Advocates for Youth on Vimeo.

Sexual Assault Resource Center Holds Training

The Sexual Assault Resource Center will begin its 70th Volunteer Training Class on
Wednesday, October 12, 2011.

The Sexual Assault Resource Center will begin its 70th Advocate Training Class on Wednesday October 12, 2011. The training class is open to all individuals interested in serving as an advocate for survivors of sexual assault, their family members and loved ones. Training is free and advocates will be certified through the Office of Attorney General upon completion. Anyone interested in volunteering may contact Audrey Bohannon at (979) 731-1000 between 8am and 5pm Monday through Friday or visit our website at www.sarcbv.org. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and pass a criminal background check.

Texas Progressive Alliance Roundup - October 3, 2011

The Texas Progressive Alliance has no plans to move to the Southeastern Conference or the PAC 12 as it brings you this week's roundup.

Off the Kuff notes that the federal court in San Antonio has issued an injunction preventing the state from implementing its new redistricting maps, and that until preclearance is granted it will draw its own maps to use for next year.

CitizenAndy has joined the dark side with his new blog Darth Politico. He'd appreciate if you checked out the new site, liked Darth Politico on Facebook, and subscribed to his feed. He's especially proud to have The Ghost of Sam Houston blogging at his site.

Letters From Texas explains why conservative pundits' Perry problems perpetually persist. Perfect.

WCNews at Eye On Williamson points out that while Gov. Perry and the Texas GOP think all is well with the Texas economy that's far from reality, 2012 revenue estimate for Texas will be “Flattish", dedicated funds trickery.

The "Move to Amend" Texas tour -- the effort to repeal the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision by constitutional amendment -- has stops scheduled in Bryan-College Station, Houston, San Antonio, Bastrop, Austin, and Corpus this week. PDiddie at Brains and Eggs has the details.

Over at TexasKaos, Liberal Texan has his say about Texas' latest assault on women: Family Unplanned: Texas Cuts Funding for Women's Reproductive Health Care. Check it out.

CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme tries on crazy shoes and rates the main GOP presidential candidates.

Bay Area Houston shows why Perry is weak and wrong on immigration.

Neil at Texas Liberal commented on welding and on the different ways that things are brought together based on a picture he took at the Houston Ship Channel.

McBlogger was a little surprised to learn from Rick Perry that Warren Buffett is clueless about the private sector.