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PA NOW State Convention Passes Resolution to Stop Stupak-Pitts Amendment to Healthcare!

On December 7, 2009, I sent out an email alerting all members to please immediately call Senator Casey and Senator Specter!  The vote on the Nelson-Hatch anti-abortion amendment -- the Senate's version of Stupak-Pitts -- is expected on December 8, 2009.

  • NOTICE, Senator Bob Casey (D-PA)  is one of the co-sponsors - even though he told PA NOW members who talked directly to him last week in DC that he didn't want to go as far as this amendment does and intended to introduce some kind of "compromise" amendment that he said would be less restrictive than this but more restrictive than either the original House Capps amendment or what is currently in the Senate health care bill.

    Message to Casey - express your anger at his cosponsorship of this amendment. Let him know you will remember that he is willing to throw women to the back alleys and deny them full, comprehensive health care.  He is creating, .like Rep. Joe Pitts (R-PA), government intrusion into women's private health care decisions.

    Casey's phone numbers are 202-224-6324 and 717-231-7540

  • Message to Specter - Stand up for women.  Do not allow a vote on this amendment. Vote to table the Nelson-Hatch amendment. And if it does come up for a vote.  Vote NO!

    Specter's phone numbers 202-224-4254 and 215-597-7200

For more information and talking points, please see the resolution passed by the Pennsylvania NOW members on Saturday, December 5, 2009 in State College entitled Federal Healthcare Bill and Protecting Reproductive Justice.
Thank you!

Sincerely,
Joanne Tosti-Vasey, President

Also see Stupak-Pitts Protest in Chester County

Pictures from PA NOW State Convention Dec.4-6th

In addition to the resolution covering healthcare and reproductive justice referenced above, the Pennsylvania NOW State Convention also passed a resolution covering Winning Justice for Long-Term Care. Below are pictures from the Convention.

Newly Elected Executive Committee Picture    
Picture of Deirdri Fishel at PA NOW convention
PA NOW Executive Committee 2010-2011: L-R, Joanne Tosti, Kathy Wilson, Pamela Macklin, Robin, Susan Woodland (missing: Mary Key Peterson and Doris Pridgen).     Det. Deirdri Fishel was the featured speaker during the morning session.
Barbara Ernsberger Picture
    
Lois Herr picture NOW PAC Endorsed
Barbara Ernsberger, PA NOW PAC endorsed candidate for 2009 PA Commonwealth Court.     NOW PAC endorsed candidate for the 6th Congressional District, Lois Herr.
Latifa Lyles Picture     Molly Yard Awardees picture
Keynote Speaker: Latifa Lyles, Women's Bureau and former NOW Action Vice President.     Molly Yard Women of Courage Recipients with PA NOW President: L-R: Det. Fishel, State College Mayor-Elect Goreham, Joanne Tosti-Vasey (PANOW), & Peggy Lorah, Director, PSU Women's Center.

National NOW Political Action Committee Endorses
Lois Herr in Bid to Oust Pitts

The National Organization for Women Political Action Committee is proud to announce our endorsement of Lois Herr for Congress in Pennsylvania's 16th District. Lois is taking on the all-important challenge of unseating Rep. Joe Pitts, co-author of the outrageous Stupak-Pitts Amendment. Lois rightly called this amendment "a direct attack on the freedom and privacy of American women." (see full statement by Terry O'Neill, NOW President and Chair of NOW/PAC.)