Blog Category: Make NYS a Reproductive Rights Sanctuary


Let anger be the wind in your sails

By catherine,

 

Dear Friends,

Bruised, Beaten, Distraught But Not DEFEATED. WE GET UP AGAIN.

Yes, survivors from all over the country spoke out and millions of Americans called, protested, and marched. But still, two key senators committed to voting to confirm Brett Kavanaugh, basically assuring his place on the Supreme Court.

Yes, Kavanaugh lied under oath. He lied about sexual assault. He lied about overturning Roe v. Wade. He lied about his determination to find against requiring insurance companies to cover pre-existing conditions. And tomorrow, they will confirm him anyway.

Yes, we are despairing. But more importantly, We Are Angry- and that anger will take us farther, to the place we must go to win. To Take The New York State Senate.

The women of New York deserve nothing less.

We’re organizing in key races in NY this November to stand up for the rights of women, survivors, and everyone else under attack by Donald Trump and Brett Kavanaugh.

Women all across the country came forward to courageously share their stories.

Together, we said “HEAR ME.” We said “LOOK AT ME.” And we said NO to Brett Kavanaugh.

Today Susan Collins and Joe Manchin committed to voting “YES” for Brett Kavanaugh, and therewith we fell short of the votes we needed to stop Kavanaugh.

But that defeat will feed us. Our power – the power of our movement has grown and will continue to grow–and this November we will storm the polls and show the politicians what our power can do.

Brett Kavanaugh is a lying sexual assaulter and extreme right-wing political hack. His horrific confirmation to the Supreme Court gives us all the power to put our fury to work.

>The president of the United States openly mocked survivor Dr. Christine Blasey Ford.

>Only one Senate Republican seemed to care about us.

>The FBI investigation was a total sham.

We must channel our fury and use it to drive voters to the polls all over New York State.

We can make New York State a Reproductive Rights sanctuary so that women cannot be ignored. Not Here. Not Now. Not Ever.

Thank you & onward,

-Catherine, Janey, Pablo, Diane, Iris and the WCLA team

  Filed under: Election 2018, Make NYS a Reproductive Rights Sanctuary
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Goldberg for the Win – NYS Senate District #38 – Primary, 9/13

By catherine,

 

WCLA  PAC ENDORSES JULIE GOLDBERG
for NYS Senate!
District #38
(Westchester County: Town of Ossining (includes the Village of Ossining & Briarcliff Manor) & Rockland County: Towns of Clarkstown, Orangetown & Ramapo (including Nyack, Suffern, Spring Valley, & New City.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click here to watch the video

IT IS TIME to elect a REAL Reproductive Rights Advocate to represent the New York State 38th Senate District.
Julie Goldberg is THAT Person!

Julie is a 100% pro-choice, outspoken advocate of women’s reproductive rights.

In sharp contrast, her opponent, the incumbent, is just pretending to walk the walk. He has stood as a major roadblock in advancing women’s health care.

When elected, Julie will dedicate herself to the passage of:

  • The Reproductive Health Act, which will guarantee access to safe and legal abortion in New York no matter what the US Supreme Court does to Roe.
  • The Comprehensive Contraceptive Coverage Act to give all women in New York insurance coverage to all FDA-approved contraceptive drugs, devices and products.
  • The New York State Fair Pay Act which will establish that it is discriminatory and unlawful to pay different wages to employees doing the same job on the basis of sex, race, or national origin.

WE MUST STAND UP AND FIGHT FOR NY WOMEN.
The sitting president and anti-choice Republican-controlled Congress now in Washington DC are committed to stripping women of all of our constitutional rights to control our own bodies – those very rights that were acknowledged by US Supreme Court decisions in the late 1960’s and 1970’s. The president’s nominee for the US Supreme Court is an outspoken opponent of abortion rights and is committed to overturning Roe v. Wade.
WE MUST DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO PROTECT NY.

That starts with defeating Julie’s OPPONENT in the NYS Primary on September 13th.

ABOUT JULIE’S OPPONENT:
HER OPPONENT is a co-founding member of the so-calIed Independent Democratic Conference (IDC) in 2011. This group literally stripped the majority away from the Democrats in the State Senate by throwing their voting power in with the Republicans and sharing power with them — all the while deceiving their own constituents by not telling the voters about their slight-of-hand actions.

As co-founder of the IDC, her Opponent blocked all progressive legislation including reproductive health bills from coming to the floor of the New York State Senate for a vote.

VOTE for JULIE GOLDBERG ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13TH!
(This Democratic Primary is on a Thursday, not Tuesday!)

By supporting pro-choice candidates in your state and local elections, you can make New York a Reproductive Rights Sanctuary and protect our state against Trump attacks.

  Filed under: IDC, Make NYS a Reproductive Rights Sanctuary, Election 2018
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Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Dem Primary, 9/13 & You

By catherine,

Democratic Primary

Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018

 

 

NYS SENATOR ANDREA STEWART-COUSINS
NYS Senate  District #35
(Greenburgh, Scarsdale, parts of New Rochelle, parts of White Plains and parts of Yonkers)

 

 

 

Talk sounds great but action is what matters.
Andrea Stewart-Cousins is that “ACTION”.

Andrea is a 100% pro-choice advocate – inside the NYS Senate and outside.
Andrea knows that to make comprehensive reproductive health care a reality in New York State requires vigilance, activism & work.
Andrea has brought all of that to the table since her first term in Albany when she stepped up to sponsor the Reproductive Health Act. Despite bullets being shot through the windows of Andrea’s office in Yonkers, she has never backed away. She stands fully with the women of New York in our quest to guarantee all women all the rights that should be guaranteed to us under Roe v. Wade but are not now under New York State Law.

WE MUST STAND UP AND FIGHT FOR NY WOMEN.
The sitting president and anti-choice Republican-controlled Congress now in Washington DC are committed to stripping women of all of our constitutional rights to control our own bodies – those very rights that were acknowledged by US Supreme Court decisions in the late 1960’s and 1970’s. The president’s nominee for the US Supreme Court is an outspoken opponent of abortion rights and is committed to overturning Roe v. Wade.
WE MUST DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO PROTECT NY.

That starts with defeating Andrea’s OPPONENT in the NYS Primary on September 13th.

Her Opponent is anti-choice.
A bit of history about The Opponent:
*The Opponent
was a registered Conservative until she decided to run for County government & realized that she could be not win in her district unless she changed parties.
*The Opponent changed parties, got elected & within 3 years aligned herself with Anti-Choice, Trump-supporter, Right-to-Life endorsed, reactionary Republican County Executive Rob Astorino.
*The Opponent was chosen by the extremist group the Right-to-Life’s voting guide as the “preferred candidate”.
*The Opponent voted to cut all funding from neighborhood health centers which the County had supported for years.
*The Opponent then went on to refuse to return questionnaires or stand up in any way for women’s health care, including reproductive health care.

This Democratic Primary is Thursday, September 13th!
(NOT TUESDAY!)

By supporting pro-choice candidates in your state and local elections, you can make New York a Reproductive Rights Sanctuary and protect our state against Trump attacks.

  Filed under: Make NYS a Reproductive Rights Sanctuary, Election 2018
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Stand with WCLA & Andrea Stewart-Cousins for Abortion Rights

By catherine,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday at 2 PM – 3 PM  Outside the White Plains Federal Courthouse – 300 Quarropas Street White Plains, NY 

Join Westchester Coalition for Legal Abortion PAC & fellow advocates Planned Parenthood Action Fund, NOW-NYS, National Institute for Reproductive Health, Eleanor’s Legacy, and Westchester Black Women’s Political Caucus.
WE MUST STAND UP AND FIGHT FOR NY WOMEN.
The sitting president and anti-choice Republican-controlled Congress now in Washington DC are committed to stripping women of all of the constitutional rights to control our own bodies which were acknowledged by US Supreme Court decisions in the late 1960s and 1970s. The president’s nominee for the US Supreme Court is an outspoken opponent of abortion rights and is committed to overturning Roe v. Wade.
WE MUST DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO PROTECT NY.

  Filed under: Make NYS a Reproductive Rights Sanctuary, Election 2018
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Kathy Hochul – A Women’s Reproductive Rights Champion

By catherine,

WITH WOMEN’S REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AT RISK FROM TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, KATHY HOCHUL ENDORSED BY WESTCHESTER COALITION FOR LEGAL ABORTION PAC

WESTCHESTER, NY– WESTCHESTER, NY– Today, July 23, 2018, New York Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul announced that she has secured the endorsement and support of Westchester Coalition for Legal Abortion PAC (WCLA PAC), the political arm of WCLA – Choice Matters. Kathy is proud to stand with WCLA PAC as a champion for women’s reproductive health at a time when women’s rights are being attacked by the Trump Administration. Kathy has also been previously endorsed by the National Organization for Women, Emily’s List, and Planned Parenthood.

Roe v. Wade is in danger with Washington Republicans looking to confirm President Trump’s extremist Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. That’s why New York needs leaders who have consistently supported a women’s right to make their own decisions about their health. Kathy has led the call for the New York State Senate to return to Albany and pass the Reproductive Health Act. The need to protect a woman’s right to choose is more important than ever.

“The Trump Administration is attacking women’s reproductive health with the threat of ending Roe v. Wade and a woman’s right to choose,” said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul. “I’m proud to be a voice for all New York women and stand up for their rights, because I know firsthand that we are sick and tired of men trying to legislate our bodies. I am steadfast in my commitment to protecting a woman’s right to choose and advancing women’s equality in all aspects of their everyday lives. I look forward to continuing to work with organizations like the Westchester Coalition for Legal Abortion – Choice Matters. We have much more work to do to protect women’s rights and reproductive health.”

“WCLA PAC is proud to endorse Kathy Hochul for New York Lieutenant Governor. With the US Supreme Court on the verge of overturning Roe v. Wade, New York women need a Lieutenant Governor who is committed to making New York a reproductive rights sanctuary – and that starts with the passage of the Reproductive Health Act. Kathy Hochul is that person. New York women cannot afford a candidate who is “evolving”, like her opponent. We need experienced leadership. As a former Member of Congress and as New York’s Lieutenant Governor, Kathy Hochul has demonstrated that she is an outspoken proponent of women’s comprehensive reproductive health care and is willing to fight for it. We stand with Kathy Hochul,” said Catherine Lederer-Plaskett, WCLA PAC Director

About Kathy Hochul
Kathy is the highest-ranking female elected official in New York State. She travels to every corner of the state – tracking enough miles to go around the earth 7.5 times – putting a spotlight on issues that impact women, supporting women leaders, and strengthening women’s networks in business and government. Kathy has always been of the belief that no one working full time should live in poverty. As a proud daughter of steelworkers, she joined labor leaders and working families to successfully fight for increasing the minimum wage and is proud that New York lead the fight for $15 and beyond. Kathy was also especially vocal in her advocacy for Paid Family Leave, pushing it through the budget and helping promote its roll-out in 2018.

About the Westchester Coalition for Legal Abortion PAC

The WCLA PAC, together with Westchester Coalition for Legal Abortion – Choice Matters and ProChoice Voter, ensures that all women, regardless of age, race, class, status, geography or ability to pay, have full, unimpeded access to reproductive health care. To make our mission a reality, we work to get pro-choice candidates elected and appointed at every level of government. WCLA – Choice Matters is not a member of any political party and relies on support from donations and grants.

  Filed under: Make NYS a Reproductive Rights Sanctuary, Election 2018
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Pro-Choice SHELLEY MAYER versus Anti-Choice Killian

By catherine,

WCLA PAC ENDORSES SHELLEY MAYER
for NYS Senate District 37*

SPECIAL ELECTION 
Tuesday, April 24, 2018

SHELLEY MAYER – OUR CHOICE FOR NY STATE SENATE!
<>Shelley is 100% pro-choice and has spent both her professional career and private life battling for women to have unimpeded access to comprehensive healthcare including abortion and contraception, regardless of age, race, class, status, geography or ability to pay.

<>Shelley supports the Reproductive Health Act and the Comprehensive Contraceptive Coverage Act, and has voted for the passage of both while in the Assembly. As a State Senator, she will continue the fight to make these two bills New York State law.

<>Shelley is committed to the funding of our health centers and Planned Parenthood.

<>She is an outspoken advocate for gender equality, equal pay, and an end to sexual harassment and abuse.

<>Shelley has signed a pledge promising NOT to join the IDC*!

<>Shelley is rated A+ by WCLA – Choice Matters!

IN SHARP CONTRAST, her Opponent is Anti-Choice and puts Big Business before people – AND WILL BE ONE MORE VOTE FOR THE PARTY OF TRUMP IN ALBANY!

<>This Opponent refuses to support the Reproductive Health Act which would remove abortion from New York’s penal code, put it in the health code, and provide women with the 21st century healthcare we deserve.

<>This Opponent doesn’t believe that health insurance plans need to cover contraceptives. INSTEAD, she believes the insured woman should pay extra, out of her own pocket, every month. (That would be a “no” to the Comprehensive Contraceptive Coverage Act then…??)

<>This Opponent thinks that the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby is “no issue”. That decision allows corporations to claim so-called religious convictions in order to refuse to provide contraception as part of their health insurance plans. (Remember, businesses make a conscious decision to incorporate, giving up any ownership by individuals,  to gain tax breaks and avoid liability.) This Opponent thinks this is “no issue”, allowing corporations to refuse to provide contraception as part of the health insurance plans.

<>This Opponent refuses to take a stand on the funding of stem cell research and family planning.

This Opponent will govern with the Party of Trump and the IDC.

New York Women CANNOT Afford this Opponent!

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WCLA – Choice Matters & WCLA PAC respectively have rated and/or endorsed the candidates based upon their positions on a woman’s right to choose. These ratings have been made based upon this year’s process & the 2017 and 2016 process and questionnaires.

*What comprises NYS Senate District #37? Bedford, Eastchester, Harrison, Mamaroneck, North Castle, Rye (City & Town), and parts of New Rochelle, White Plains and Yonkers.The 37th district is incredibly gerrymandered to favor Republicans.

**Why a Special Election? This Special Election was called after then-Senator George Latimer was elected to be Westchester’s County Executive in November 2017. Latimer represented the 37th Senate District prior to the November election.

***What is the IDC? The IDC (so-called “Independent Democratic Conference”) is a group of 8 rogue Democrats. This group of 8 have taken the majority away from the duly elected Democrats and given it to the Party of Trump, the Republicans. The IDC literally stripped the majority away from the Democrats in the Senate by throwing their voting power in with the Republicans — All the while deceiving their own constituents by not telling the voters about their slight-of-hand actions on Election Day, or any other day.
Click here to see the names of the 8 IDC members. These fake Dems deliberately catapulted the Party of Trump into the majority. No progressive legislation can come to the floor of the Senate until these 8 return to the Democratic Caucus, or are replaced.

  Filed under: IDC, Make NYS a Reproductive Rights Sanctuary, Election 2018, Special Election
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Where Will Our Women Go?

By catherine,

by Nicky Brussel Faria

Reproductive freedom in the United States has been under siege for years. Since November, state governments have been passing abortion restrictions at a record speed. Every new regulation passed further limits what was once a recognized Constitutional right – the right for every woman to be able to have a safe, legal abortion. Ironically, these regulations – which according to Roe v. Wade are unconstitutional – are being passed in the name of protecting the health and safety of women. In reality they are endangering women by forcing them to return to back alley abortions – all at a time when Trump has promised to overturn Roe.

Earlier this month the Center for Reproductive Rights filed a law suit in the Louisiana District Court challenging the onerous regulations that serve only to impede access to abortion care.

Louisiana could be Any State, USA. Only one year ago, the US Supreme Court affirmed that a similar Texas abortion restriction was unconstitutional because the burdens imposed on abortion access outweighed the so-called benefits conferred by such action.

Under the guise of “health and safety,” Louisiana is again trying to pass a version of the Texas T.R.A.P. law, but now we have a new anti-choice Supreme Court Justice. T.R.A.P., Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providers, is exactly that. These bills target abortion providers with a series of arduous requirements that affect every aspect of the medical care being provided. The restrictions are issue-specific: they are only being applied to abortion providers, not to any other low-risk healthcare providers. Abortion providers and their facilities are already subject to the State’s medical licensing laws so these bills are further unwarranted.

These new regulations are not structured to make the medical procedure safer. The sole goal is to close clinics, thereby making safe and legal abortion access impossible. As Whole Woman’s Health (2016) clarified, states may not infringe on Americans’ constitutional right to abortion by subjecting it to sham medical regulations and by pressuring abortion facilities to close.

Louisiana is not the only State crafting this type of deceptive legislation. It is happening across the country, in every state.

The threat to abortion access is real and only proliferating. Under this administration and with a new Supreme Court justice changing the balance of the Court, no previous decision is safe.

We need a state that is committed to being a reproductive rights sanctuary – a safe zone where any woman can safely, swiftly and legally terminate her pregnancy.

You might believe that New York is already that state, but in reality our state has only become less friendly to reproductive rights as time has passed. Our abortion law is arcane, and still in the penal code. It was passed in 1970 and has never been updated to include 21st century medical care or the full constitutional protection guaranteed by Roe. 53% of NY counties have no abortion clinics. If a woman’s health is at risk or something goes wrong in her pregnancy after 24 weeks, she must seek care outside of NY because State law doesn’t allow a doctor to provide abortion coverage. Where will she go when Roe is overturned?  We need New York State to be a leader again. To accomplish that, we must pass the Reproductive Health Act.

But…we have a serious roadblock…the IDC (Independent Democratic Caucus).  The IDC stands in the way of passing reproductive justice legislation in New York State.   The eight state senators who comprise the IDC will not allow such legislation to come to the floor of the Senate.  Instead, they govern with the Party of Trump! As long as the IDC exists there will be no reproductive justice in our state.

Help us to remove this roadblock.  Help us get the IDC members to return to the Democratic Caucus or vote them out of office.

Let’s make NY the progressive state it once was.  Let’s protect the reproductive rights for all women.

 

  Filed under: IDC, Make NYS a Reproductive Rights Sanctuary
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The IDC* Mantra: When all else fails, LIE

By catherine,

Clearly Choice Matters’ expose of the IDC’s anti-choice actions as well as their tactics of obstruction of all progressive legislation is taking its toll. 

They just sent out a mailing  implying that their 8 rogue members were endorsed by Planned Parenthood — NOT!

The truth is:
1. Planned Parenthood had nothing to do with the mailer.
2. The 8 IDC members stopped the Reproductive Health Act & the Comprehensive Contraception Coverage Act from coming to the floor for a vote.
3. The  IDC members did nothing to advance the Reproductive Health Act and Comprehensive Contraception Coverage Act to the floor, despite these bills having bipartisan sponsorship and support – BUT the mailer falsely implies that IDC members successfully passed both bills.
4. In addition, the IDC members REFUSED to support a bill that would have provided contingency funding to Planned Parenthood.

Call All 8 IDC members & tell them to stop lying!  
Click 8 NYS Democrats for their names & telephone numbers!

fyi: The IDC  is blocking all progressive legislation including the Reproductive Health Act, Comprehensive Contraceptive Coverage Act, and  Contingency funding for Planned Parenthood from coming to the floor of the NYS Senate, INCLUDING a New York State bill that would force Trump to disclose his taxes.

  Filed under: Election 2017, IDC, Make NYS a Reproductive Rights Sanctuary
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