Tonight, with the aide of some 60 Democrats, women's rights were effectively negated by the US Congress as the House passed the Stupak amendment to HR 3962, the Affordable Health Care Act of 2009.Read the rest here.
More in-depth analysis of how we got here is forthcoming. But one thing is clear: The US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) apparently is running the US government, aided by a cadre of "faith-based advocacy groups," the House Democratic leadership, the White House and members of the Senate.
If you didn't know that before, be clear about it. Know it now.And this is particularly true when it comes to women's rights. Any time there is an "important" vote that implicates women's rights and onto which a politician has hitched their political star--in this case President Obama and Speaker Nancy Pelosi among them--you can bet that the Bishops will be wielding huge influence to make sure no "gains" can be made unless women are screwed. You will hear a lot tomorrow and in the days ahead as to how "this important bill" could not be "held hostage" to any one issue, "it's not perfect," and how "compromises needed to be made," in order to "get things done."
To the extent that the Catholic bishops were indeed involved in this victory I can only say... well done!
What amazes me is that 60 Democrats somehow share one aide. That guy must really get a work-out!
ReplyDeleteThe problem is that the bill will still lead to "life" decisions, particularly when the well starts running dry and government is placed in the position of determining who "ought" to receive government coverage for what type of care. The ethical questions have hardly been resolved by this one amendment.
ReplyDeleteAlso, a further point, there is nothing which would stop a future Congress from repealing this amendment. Nothing is in stone.