Proposed Bush Amendment
A recent proposal by the Bush Administration could threaten legislation passed by the 2007 Oregon State Legislature. Last week, the Secretary of HHS released a proposed administrative rule that dramatically redefines abortion to include some forms of contraception, including the pill, IUD and emergency contraception. The rule mandates any health care institution receiving federal funding must hire staff even if they are opposed to birth control and abortion. If implemented, this rule would have a far reaching affect on women's health and would threaten Oregon's new EC in the ER law by allowing hospital staff to opt out of providing emergency contraception to rape victims. As the political leader of the pro-choice movement, NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon has launched a grassroots campaign asking supporters to contact Oregon’s U.S. Senators with an urgent message to stop the rule from moving forward. Already Senator Ron Wyden has signed on to a letter asking Secretary Leavitt to drop the proposed policy change. The letter referenced the impact on state laws noting, “the regulation directly undermines many important state laws. It could threaten rape survivors’ access to emergency contraception in hospital emergency rooms, and might even prevent women from learning that this option exists.” Pro-Choice Oregon is also calling on Senator Gordon Smith to clarify his position on this proposed rule. In a recent article by Willamette Week, a Smith spokesperson first declined to give his position and then later said [there is] "no real evidence it could be a reality, so at this point, we aren’t going to speculate on it." This comment comes after the proposed rule was reported in the New York Times.
Gordon Smith has voted twice to overturn Roe v. Wade and in 2005 he voted against a family planning package that would ensure women have access to contraceptive services, including birth control, and that would help couples plan their families and thus reduce the need for abortion.
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