Striking the first blow

The new congress hasn't even been sworn in, and already the GOP is leveraging its mandate to interfere with women's reproductive rights: the GOP has attached an anti-abortion rider to the current omnibus spending bill, which will probably pass because it funds all sorts of critical infrastructure and security agencies.

It expands to all hospitals, clinics and doctors a provision that currently applies to Catholic hospitals, which do not have to comply with a federal law that requires health care providers who receive taxpayer dollars to discuss the option of abortion with women if they inquire about it. The language also allows hospitals and health care providers to opt out of state and local laws that require them to provide abortions, abortion counseling or referrals.

Sen. Barbara Boxer intends to stand up against this, but she's unlikely to make much headway against the need to keep the government open during and after the holidays...

(via LaDiDa)

Update: Ms. Magazine has a follow-up on this. Apparently Frist has agreed to have a separate hearing on this provision "next spring"...

(via Talking Points Memo)