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Kelly Hartzell Pd.3 3/15/12

"House GOP look to reshape birth control debate" http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46683286/ns/us_news/t/house-gop-look-reshape-birth-control-debate/#.T2Kf3pj6Qkc

__Summary__

Republicans in the House are attempting to "reshape" the birth control debate. Representative Jeff Fortenberry, a fellow Republican that proposed some legislation about this topic, acknowledged that his party is having a slight commitment problem to this fiery topic. The question is what is the problem: women's rights or religious freedoms? Republicans are claiming to be mulling over the American people's ideas on this subject, but with this being an election year, some conservatives are nervous to do anything too bold. Partly because of this, they created the idea to allow employers with "moral objections" to be able to deny birth control and other benefits. Senator Roy Blunt, a Democrat in Congress, says that we cannot win the women's rights side, however, religious freedoms will continue to be argued until definitively solved. Obama also backed-off slightly on this issue due to upcoming elections. He hurried to change his original legislation after religious groups protested to having the employers decide on birth control coverage, depending on their religious beliefs. Despite having the same conclusion in teh House, Republicans claimed Obama did not do enough in this compromise. Public figures like Rush Limbaugh openly supported Obama's version, although he made a fool of himself after calling a college student a "slut and prostitute" on air. Overall, this issue will make or break the Catholic vote for either side in November.

__Relevance__

Starting in 1914, Margaret Sanger started her campaign for the wide-spread use of birth control by publishing a monthly newsletter for women called //The Woman Rebel//. She started to gain some support and then in 1921 started the American Birth Control League, which later formed into the Planned Parenthood program still around today, and even opened the first clinic in Harlem. Before these kinds of clinics, pregnant women had what was called a "back-alley abortion" performed. They were illegal, but the only method around at that time although they were incredibly dangerous. Today, abortions are very safe. As of 2008, roughly 1.2 million abortions were performed in one year, which is down around 0.1 million from 2002 (Facts about Abortion). For the next 20 or so years, Sanger made her rounds creating new forms of birth control and speaking about it at all sorts of venues, even for the KKK in 1926 (Margaret Sanger). In class during our WWI unit, I read about venereal diseases throughout the 1940s. This brought to light the need for a real preventative method, like birth control, instead of a person's moral to slow the wave of disease. Soldiers were coming back from war to women in the states, who were contracting a plethora of venereal diseases. One thing led to another and men were contracting these same diseases. This led to a real government motion to have protection and education on this subject so the society was well-informed about the dangers of unprotected sex. Today, sex education and safe procedures have kept the masses free from STDs. Even with this knowledge of STDs, around 65 million Americans have an STD (STD Facts). The ever-popular birth control pill was also the result of Sanger. in the '50s, her and philanthropist Katharine McCormick financed Gregory Pince to create the birth control pill. This is a huge discovery for this time because it is widely effective and popular still today (Margaret Sanger). Since the pill is 98% effective when taken correctly, millions of people use it (Birth Control Facts). That is why the recent discussion about insurance-covered birth control is blowing up in politics. To some, birth control is a necessity that they cannot pay for, which may be the cause of the million or so abortions every year. This reform could really help more Americans have safe sex and prevent unnecessary pregnancies.

__Explanation__

Since the beginning of the United States, citizens have been fighting for their rights (no Beastie Boys reference intended). Whether it be women's rights, racial tolerance, anti-child labor law, or gay rights, people have been voicing their opinions for hundreds of years. Birth control is only one facet of the ever-changing women's rights. It is said that everyone is guaranteed these rights. Recently, birth control and abortion have been swirling around news outlets everywhere ever since the Congress and House have tried to make a law instating that birth control can be covered by insurance. Why? Because there is a discrepancy with what is the "right" thing and who shall get this coverage. Senators and representatives alike don't know what to do without offending anyone. If they try to allow everyone to have access to birth control covered by insurance, religious advocates become aggravated. If they say everyone except those employers with conflicting religious ties can have this, those who are not religious and are hired by this kind of employer become upset. In fact, several religious groups, like the Catholic TV Network, are suing the U.S.because the law that is to go into effect August 1st makes all organizations, religious or not, cover all birth control options. They claim that this law infringes on the basis of their religion. It is interesting how these two rights groups [women's rights and religious freedom] are so closely tied to this one law over abortion and birth control.

__Questions__

1. What kind of court would the Catholic TV Network case go to? 2. Would there even be a case to present on this? 3. Is this birth control law going to be passed sometime this year? 4. What kinds of birth control is law proposed to cover? 5. Will this coverage only be given to those with insurance or is it going to be free for all?

__Works Cited__

"Facts About Abortion: U.S. Abortion Statistics." //Abort73.com / Abortion Unfiltered//. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2012. "House GOP look to reshape birth control debate - US news - msnbc.com." //msnbc.com - Breaking news, science and tech news, world news, US news, local news- msnbc.com//. N.p., 12 Mar. 2009. Web. 15 Mar. 2012. "Margaret Sanger - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." //Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia//. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2012. "STD Facts & STD Information | STD Test Express." //Fast STD Testing. Get STD Tested Privately | STD Test Express//. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2012. "Sexually transmitted disease - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." //Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia//. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2012.