prochoicemississippi.org

MS folks, we need your help

Wed, 14 Nov 2007 21:07:51 GMT

From staff at Planned Parenthood:

I've been busting my tail to get 750 signatures on a petition to urge Thad Cochran to support a fix for the national birth control pricing crunch hitting college students and low-income women. Pill prices have gone up from $5 to $50 in some cases, HERE in Mississippi. I've been in touch with all of the major universities in both MS and AL, and its killing everyone. Some schools have stopped carrying birth control altogether.

We've got 683 signatures at this point, so we only need 67 more to reach our goal. [UPDATE, We now have 706, so we just need 44 more!]

If you are a Mississippi resident, pretty, pretty, pretty please sign this petition asking Thad Cochran to help fix this problem. (If you have already signed it, I love you and I thank you 1000 times.)

4 million women around the nation are affected by this issue and need your help!

Support Planned Parenthood, Buy Something Pretty!

Fri, 31 Aug 2007 21:46:37 GMT

Hi there.

I'm Deirdra, and I run the website ProChoiceMississippi.org. I also make wirework jewelry on the side, and have begun to donate a portion of my proceeds from each commission to the causes I care about.

This month, I'll be donating $5 from each sale to Planned Parenthood of Alabama (they also run the PP office in Hattiesburg, as well as some outreach services in Pensacola, FL.) In addition to providing vital health and medical services and consultation, Planned Parenthood works their ass off to introduce state and federal legislation that champions comprehensive sex education, medically accurate information regarding contraception and disease prevention, and access to contraception. They also have an amazing and informative education and outreach program that frankly discusses reproductive health, contraception and sexuality. Planned Parenthood is on the forefront of the battle to keep abortions safe and legal, as well.

If you haven't done so, I'd also like to encourage you to sign up for their Action Network, that'll keep you informed on state and national issues.

SB 2391 on Barbour's Desk

Thu, 15 Mar 2007 16:32:52 GMT

From Planned Parenthood VP of Public Affairs, Felicia Brown Williams:

According to the MS Legislative website, SB 2391 has been signed by all appropriate legislative parties, and has been sent to Governor Barbour. Barbour has five days to sign the bill, though he may choose to expedite the process.

Please call Governor Barbour's office and leave a message with his staff asking him to veto this legislation.

You can reach his office TOLL FREE at 1-877-405-0733.

You don't have to say much. In fact one sentence will do. I suggest saying something as simple as:

"As a Mississippi voter, I urge the governor to stand up for women's health and safety and to VETO the abortion ban and restrictions."

Feel free to post about your call here, and pass this information on to supporters.

CLPP annual reproductive justice conference

Thu, 15 Mar 2007 15:59:55 GMT

The Civil Liberties & Public Policy Program at Hampshire College invites you to our free annual reproductive justice conference at Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts from Friday, March 30-Sunday, April 1, 2007. More information can be found on our website: http://clpp.hampshire.edu

Do you want to learn more about reproductive freedom and social justice? Or are you a longtime activist looking for inspiration and rejuvenation? Whether you are new to the movement or a veteran organizer, join us at the 21st annual national conference “From Abortion Rights to Social Justice: Building the Movement for Reproductive Freedom.

On March 30-April 1, 2007, campus and community activists will be gathering at Hampshire College to unite for reproductive justice. We are expecting a large turnout—last year there were over 1000 participants from the US and abroad. We offer more than 30 workshops and trainings. Conference speakers address reproductive freedom as it relates to a broad range of social justice initiatives including economic justice, health care reform, racial equality, the war on terrorism, freedom from violence, youth liberation, civil liberties, and LGBTQ rights.

Over the weekend, you will deepen your understanding of issues you already know about, make new connections, and unite with others who are passionate about working for social justice.

Free housing (in Hampshire dorms) and food are provided for the conference weekend. Free childcare and sign language interpretation is also available.

For more information, check out our website at http://clpp.hampshire.edu or contact us at (413) 559-6976 or clpp@hampshire.edu

sigh

Thu, 08 Mar 2007 20:38:26 GMT

Mississippi SB 2391, the combined bill that trigger-bans abortion (should Roe v. Wade be overturned) as well as restricting the current abortion laws, passed today, and is headed for Governor Barbour's desk to be signed into law. While it doesn't change much today, it's still moving towards an ugly time in our nation's past.

Planned Parenthood's release here.

Senate passes two anti-choice bills; Abortion ban likely to see a vote today

Wed, 07 Feb 2007 17:42:32 GMT

Earlier this morning, the Senate passed two anti-choice bills (SB 2391* and SB 2801**), breezing through the votes without discussion. It's reported that a senator will be introducing a Motion to Reconsider these two pieces of legislation, but it's uncertain the motion will be accepted.

However, it seems certain that SB 2795*** will be also be put to a vote before the end of the day.

Anyone with some time to spare is urged to gather at the state capitol at around 1 p.m. to join with fellow activists in their support of reproductive freedom and justice. Your voice can make a difference.

* SB 2391, TO PROVIDE THAT MINORS WHO SEEK TO WAIVE THE PARENTAL CONSENT REQUIREMENT FOR AN ABORTION MAY NOT OBTAIN THE ABORTION UNTIL THE COURT GRANTS A WAIVER OF THE CONSENT REQUIREMENT

** SB 2801, TO REQUIRE THAT A WOMAN BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO VIEW A SONOGRAM OR LISTEN TO THE HEARTBEAT OF HER UNBORN CHILD BEFORE CONSENTING TO AN ABORTION

*** SB 2795 TO DECLARE LEGISLATIVE INTENT RELATIVE TO THE TERMINATION OF THE LIFE OF AN UNBORN CHILD AND THE PROTECTION OF THE HEALTH AND RIGHTS OF WOMEN; TO PROHIBIT ABORTIONS IN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI EXCEPT IN CERTAIN CASES; TO AMEND SECTION 41-41-39, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PRESCRIBE CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS OF THIS ACT; TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS THE INTENT OF THE LEGISLATURE THAT THE STATE WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MEDICAL AND EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF ANY CHILD BORN TO A CITIZEN OF THE STATE

Abortion Legislation on Senate Agenda Today

Wed, 31 Jan 2007 18:34:18 GMT

http://prochoicemississippi.org/content/view/70/1/

All three pieces of Senate-proposed abortion legislature are on the Senate's calendar today (Wednesday, January 31st).

Our elected representatives would rather waste countless dollars of Mississippi taxpayers' money to trot a show pony in front of the Supreme Court, when the bottom half of our state is still a shambles. Mississippi spends $20 per capita on children's welfare programs. Planned Parenthood attempted to find sponsorship for a fantastic package of legislation that would help prevent unintentional pregnancies, which had the potential to drastically reduce the number of abortions in Mississippi. NO ONE would introduce the package. This is nothing short of the state legislature attempting to enforce parenthood.

If you haven't contacted your legislators yet, please do so, and keep calling regularly! The House and Senate need to know that we take it seriously when they push to curtail women's rights. Support local chapters of activist groups who mirror your goals.

Update (11:46 a.m.)

I've just gotten word SB 2801 (fetal sonogram) was passed over on the agenda this morning. Watch this space for further updates.

2007 Legislative Session

Fri, 12 Jan 2007 21:09:46 GMT

There's some fairly tough anti-choice legislation being proposed by the Mississippi House and Senate for the 2007 legislative session, including a concurrent resolution to amend Mississippi's state Constitution. Jackson Area NOW kindly furnished us with the text of all (six) current proposed legislature.

Watch this space for details and information on how you can get involved.

Free EC Day at Planned Parenthood on Dec. 6

Tue, 05 Dec 2006 20:52:59 GMT

(originally posted on prochoicemississippi.org)

HATTIESBURG, MS —The Hattiesburg and Gulfport health centers of Planned Parenthood of Alabama, Inc. will be celebrating increased access to Plan B emergency contraception (also known as EC, or the "morning after pill") with a Free EC Day. Stop by a participating Planned Parenthood on December 6th and receive free EC to keep at home – just in case.

If a condom breaks, you miss a couple of pills, you were sexually assaulted, or if you had unprotected sex for any reason – there is help. EC can safely and effectively reduce your risk of pregnancy if started within five days after unprotected sex. Plan B emergency contraception is most effective when used within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse or contraceptive failure. The sooner you take it, the better. It is your best chance to prevent an unintended pregnancy after unprotected sex.

The Hattiesburg health center of Planned Parenthood of Alabama, Inc. is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Gulfport health center is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. For those outside the Hattiesburg or Gulfport areas, call 1-800-230-PLAN to reach the Planned Parenthood Health center nearest you.

Accidents happen. Be prepared. Stop by Free EC Day at participating Planned Parenthood Health centers on December 6th.

Help Needed: Press Conference Today, 3 p.m.

Wed, 12 Jul 2006 17:59:21 GMT

I've just received word from Michelle Colon, President, Jackson Area NOW, that a city press conference regarding the Operation Save America protest is being held at the Jackson Police Training Academy

Jackson Police Department
3000 St. Charles Street
Jackson, MS 39209

That's in South Jackson, near Provine High School. It's reported that Reverend Philip (Flip) Benham, director of Operation Save America, will be speaking at the press conference.

Please make your best effort to attend this press conference and provide a strong pro-choice presence.

Update on the Clinic protests (please pass around)

Thu, 15 Jun 2006 13:32:40 GMT

Dear Colleagues:

As some of you have heard, Flip Benham and Operation Rescue (or Operation Save America at http://www.operationsaveamerica.org) are planning a protest in Jackson, Mississippi at Jackson Women's Health Organization (http://www.gynpages.com/jwho) for the week of July 15-22.

The frightening words from their website:
"The Gentle Revolution is making its way toward Jackson, Mississippi, this year, July 15-22, 2006. Pro-life leaders from across our nation will be joining us at the "last abortion mill" in the state of Mississippi. We will be storming the gates of hell in the strong Name of Jesus Christ. Little did any of us know, as we ran to the roar to help those devastated by Hurricane Katrina in Mississippi and Louisiana, that God was preparing us to return to Mississippi to deal with an even more deadly foe - Abortion!"

They recently picketed the Raleigh Women's Health Organization (http://www.gynpages.com/rwho) and Susan Hill's home in Raleigh, NC. This is also the same group that attacked Dr. Warren Hern in Boulder last Summer.

On behalf of Susan Hill and the rest of the staff, we appreciate the concern and outrage of all who want to help with this effort in Jackson. Fortunately, many of the events staged by anti-abortionists recently have fallen flat and have not attracted the numbers they have been claiming. We do want to be ever vigilant, and to this extent we'd like for anyone wanting to assist in the defense of JWHO to contribute money to our security efforts.

For obvious security reasons, we're not going to detail our efforts but rest assured that they include professional security services, surveillance, and video.

We're requesting that there be no large counter demonstrations near the clinic during clinic hours. There will be pro-choice events throughout the week at the clinic and in other parts of Jackson, but the area around the clinic is small and not conducive to large groups of people. Patients don't have to walk in a public area from their cars to the clinic. Our clinic parking lot is attached to the building, so there is no need for escorts. In our experience, patients aren't able to distinguish between anti-abortion and pro-choice demonstrators, so any increase in numbers will only confuse them and make their access and comfort more difficult.

We want to hire the most sophisticated professional security detail available to protect our patients, our staff, and the clinic.

If you'd like to contribute to that effort, please send contributions to:

National Women's Health Foundation
http://www.nationalwomenshealth.org
Raleigh Women's Health Organization
3613 Haworth Drive
Raleigh, NC 27609

We promise that 100% of your contribution will go directly to security efforts at Jackson Women's Health Organization. Betty Thompson is coordinating the events in Jackson. She can be reached at the clinic at: 601-366-2261.

Again, we appreciate everyone's volunteerism and energy, and hope for a peaceful week in Jackson.
Cordially,

Ann Rose
800-455-8130
On behalf of Susan Hill

Biloxi Man Proposes People's Amendment to Mississippi Constitution Banning Abortion, More

Fri, 02 Jun 2006 19:59:10 GMT

Initiative 22 is a campaign led by David Rogers to amend the Mississippi State Constitution through the use of a People's Initiative. According to Mississippi law, for an initiative petition to be sufficient a minimum of 91,673 certified signatures must be gathered; with at least 18,355 certified signatures from each of the five congressional districts.

The wording in this proposed amendment was designed specifically to include the legal recognition of"fetal personhood" to outlaw abortion, embryonic stem-cell research and human cloning, as well as banning euthanasia and assisted suicide. The "Ultimate Human Life Amendment" (UHLA) group has until January 19,2007 to collect these signatures.

Help Needed

Thu, 01 Jun 2006 02:26:23 GMT

Right now, there's a dearth of information regarding emergency contraception access in Mississippi. Princeton's most excellent Emergency Contraception Website only lists four providers who will prescribe emergency contraception. Many pharmacies carry it, and will dispense it freely, but the lack of concrete information is severely detrimental to Mississippians.

ProChoiceMississippi.Org's goal this summer is to create an online database of

--pharmacies who stock e.c. (and the pharmacists there who'll fill prescriptions
--physicians who will prescribe e.c.

The effort behind volunteering for this project is minimal, and will be broken up into small chunks (ten phone numbers, etc.) You don't even need to be in Mississippi, since so many of us have access to free nationwide long distance.

What I'm asking

--You call ten pharmacies in your area (or we'll throw together 10 numbers for you to call) and ask
---- If they stock e.c.
---- Which pharmacists there will dispense it
---- Note details (exact address, phone number with area code)
I'd prefer if you focused on pharmacies that AREN'T Target and WalMart, as the MS ACLU is compiling data about those two chains in particular.

-- Call your doctor's office (and your OB/GYN, if you have one) and ask
---- If they will prescribe e.c.
---- (if they are a group practice) if there are other physicans who will also prescribe it
---- Note details (exact address, phone number with area code)
If you're out of state, I can provide phone numbers of OB/GYNs for you to call as well as pharmacies.

Please email ecdatabase@prochoicemississippi.org if interested.

Together, we can help each other have access to speedy, compassionate care in the worst of situations.

Apply NOW for the Eighth Annual Advocates For Youth European Study Tour!

Thu, 18 May 2006 15:09:11 GMT

Advocates for Youth and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte are sponsoring their eighth European study tour, October 20-November 6, 2006. Apply now to travel to Netherlands, France, and Germany to identify the strategies, programs, and policies that have positively influenced adolescent sexual behavior and outcomes in these countries.

For more information and to download the application, please visit: http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/news/events/stdytour.htm

Tue, 16 May 2006 13:38:36 GMT

Pro-Choice Public Education Project's Young Women's Leadership Council (YWLC) is looking for new members to join this national advisory board. Please pass this information on to any who might be interested.

Pro-Choice Public Education Project (PEP) Young Women's Leadership Council application

What do Young Women's Leadership Council members do?

The mission of the Young Women's Leadership Council (YWLC) is to be the voice and raise the voices of diverse young women in the sexual and reproductive health and rights movement. In working towards this mission, the YWLC advises PEP on programming and outreach efforts to ensure that the interests and voices of young women are reflected in all of PEP's activities. In addition, the YWLC extends PEP's reach through events, public speaking, and the creation of new outreach and dissemination mechanisms for grassroots and national networks. The YWLC provides direction for PEP through ideas and feedback on programming and holds two seats on PEP's Steering Committee. In turn, participation on the Council enhances these young women's leadership skills, professional development and networking opportunities.

Who can serve on the YWLC?

The YWLC consists of young women from across the country age 29 and under who are involved in a wide variety of reproductive health and rights work. The YWLC is making an active effort to recruit young women of all ages, from junior high to post-college, creating an excellent forum for bridge-building between young women in different stages of their activist careers. From HIV-AIDS awareness to post-abortion counseling, to national advocacy and outreach, PEP has actively recruited women not only with diverse cultural backgrounds, but also with a wide range of interest and experience within the reproductive rights movement and beyond. The biographies of current Council members are available online at www.protectchoice.org.

What are the main goals of the Council?

In addition to contributing to PEP's work, the Council works to outreach to diverse groups of young women and elevate their voices within the movement, and to act as a model to the larger national and grassroots community for placing young women in positions of leadership and authority.

Qualifications: Council members should demonstrate leadership and professionalism, strong writing skills, comfort with public speaking, and a commitment to sexual and reproductive health and rights, broadly defined. The Young Women's Leadership Council strives to achieve diversity in the following categories: age, ethnicity, educational background, geography, sexuality, religion, and socio-economic background.

Responsibilities: YWLC members commit to monthly conference calls, as well as two mandatory in-person convenings per year that take place either in New York or in Washington, DC. Travel to these meetings will be financed by PEP. In addition, as a member of the Council you will be expected to engage in YWLC and PEP activities as needed (approximately 5-10 hours per month), and be an activist in your own community within the reproductive rights movement.

Application process: Interested applicants should submit one letter of recommendation from a teacher or supervisor who can speak about your qualifications either as a strong leader or as a member of the sexual and reproductive health and rights community. In addition, applicants should submit a personal statement of interest of no more than two pages that in some way addresses the topics raised in the questions below. Each of the questions can be interpreted as literally or as broadly as you wish. The statement need not be in list or bullet format, but can focus on a single theme or idea while also addressing the questions in an implicit fashion. Applicants may also submit other supporting materials such as resumes and writing samples if they feel it will help in the decision-making process, however this is not a requirement for application.

Reproductive rights: Why are sexual and reproductive health and rights issues important to you? Feel free to give either examples of how sexual and reproductive health and rights has played a role in your life, or address the issue more generally-we are looking for passion and commitment, not necessarily experience!!

Activism and outreach: How do you think that your involvement on the Council will help to expand the reach of your reproductive rights activism? What skills or knowledge do you hope to gain from participating on the Council?

Leadership: Give an example of a leadership position that you have held in the past, and why this was important to you.

Diversity: What unique skills, professional background and/or personal qualities can you contribute to the Council?

All applications and supporting documents can be sent to ywlcapp@protectchoice.org with the applicant's name in the subject heading. Recommenders are encouraged to email recommendations to ywlcapp@protectchoice.org with the applicant's name in the subject heading (example: Jane Smith Recommendation).

Applications can also be sent via regular mail to the address below, or via fax (email is strongly preferred):

YWLC Application
Pro-Choice Public Education Project
P.O. Box 3952
New York, NY 10163
Fax: 212.977.4578

Questions regarding the application process should be directed to pep@protectchoice.org.

The final deadline for this year's YWLC application cycle is June 21, 2006. Applications will be reviewed in late June/ early July and selected applicants will be required to participate in a phone interview. The final decisions will be made by mid-July and selected candidates will be required to participate in a convening in early August.

Help Planned Parenthood Fight for Health Care Rights

Tue, 02 May 2006 20:22:52 GMT

The U.S. Senate is about to vote on S. 1955, better known as the "Lose Your Benefits Bill," which would allow insurance companies to ignore state laws that protect health coverage. This bill aims to take away health insurance benefits regarding women's reproductive health care (including contraceptive coverage), not to mention a myriad of other vital health care programs.

What do you stand to lose if S 1955 passes? Click here and here to find out. (Folks in Georgia, it looks particularly ugly for you.)

Please take a few moments to call/write your federal representatives (or fill out Planned Parenthood's simple form here) regarding S 1955.

Mon, 03 Apr 2006 20:56:01 GMT

I was recently contacted by a producer for ARD, Germany's largest public television broadcaster. ARD is going to be in town this week, and they're looking to make contact with Mississippians for their new piece.

Valerie Hamilton (the producer) is looking to schedule an interview:

Is there any local abortion fund or low-income women's health group which is assisting women with abortion access, through which we could contact a future or past would-be abortion
patient? Pro-choice rural health workers? Social welfare organizations? We will be shooting at the Jackson clinic, but they prefer for us to try to meet patients when we're there, rather than beforehand. We can interview anonymously (in shadow) if need be.
I'd appreciate any ideas - I am getting the impression that people are eluctant to talk about abortion in MS and I am getting nowhere with my usual suspects inquiries at Dept of Health and others.

If you're interested, please contact Valerie via email or by telephone: 202-253-8854.

The Fat Lady Has Sung

Fri, 31 Mar 2006 23:01:01 GMT

SB 2922 is dead for 2006 leg. season, folks!

see http://www.prochocemississippi.org for ways you can become involved in our plans for the future. Groups are organizing across the state, and there are several upcoming meetings. Also, if anyone has connections to the Starkville chapter of NOW, please forward them to me.

Thanks for all your hard work, activists! Let's be prepared for next year.

DHG

Valuable Article Well Worth Your Time and Consideration

Fri, 31 Mar 2006 15:20:44 GMT

Testimony To the South Dakota Task Force to Study Abortion from September 22, 2005

National Advocates for Pregnant Women is headed up by the entirely badass Lynn Paltrow. In the above article, she talks about how the same anti-choice/fetal rights laws recently passed have negatively and dangerously impacted happily pregnant women, and how women who've suffered unintentional stillbirths have been criminalized for their health problems or other circumstances.

Here are some gems from Paltrow's testimony:

It is not possible to treat pregnant women and fetuses as competing legal entities in the context of abortion without undermining the health, wellbeing and safety of all pregnant women and new mothers.

...if pregnancy is viewed as a legal relationship between completely separate parties having separate, competing rights, shouldn't every woman who has experienced a miscarriage or stillbirth be questioned about the extent to which she may have contributed to that pregnancy loss and whether those actions or omissions constituted an appropriate legal waiver?

Pregnant women in more than 30 states includingSouth Dakota have been arrested based on the claim that a health problem, action or circumstance a woman experienced during pregnancy can be treated as child abuse of[sic] she continues to term, or murder if she suffers a miscarriage or stillbirth. Women in California, Florida, Utah, South Carolina, Tennessee, Oklahoma, and North Carolina have been charged with manslaughter and even first-degree murder for having suffered unintentional stillbirths.

I must confess, reading Paltrow's testimony slapped me awake. I've focused so much on the flip side of this, that discovering the impact of these laws on happily pregnant women (or women who have lost a child they so desperately wanted) has turned my worldview on its ear.

These are excellent talking points, folks, and I'm interested to know your opinion.

sb 2922 update

Fri, 31 Mar 2006 05:14:39 GMT

Please add prochoicems to your friends list, because I'm going to stop crossposting these sort of updates soon.

We've been calling offices left and right, as well as chasing after Mississippi legislators in their natural habitat. Several of us have met with or spoken to Holland over the phone, and he has absolutely no intentions of meeting with the conference over this issue again. He also said the deadline for the ban is Friday when everyone leaves, that he absolutely will not sign anything that is not the conference report that he put forth.

From Felicia Brown, Planned Parenthood's statewide Grassroots Coordinator:

I just spoke with Representative Moak, who told me that the House has
absolutely no plans to meet in conference with the Senate on the abortion
ban.  According to Moak, the House conferees have done everything they are
going to do.  With both Moak and Holland stating that they will not
participate further in the conference, the bill is dead, provided that the
Senators do not decide to sign on to the House's conference report.

Please keep your calls, faxes and visits steadily pouring into the Senate and House conferees' offices to remind our representatives we're still keeping watch and holding them accountable for women's lives and health.

National NOW VPs to meet with local activists

Thu, 30 Mar 2006 22:07:47 GMT

NOW representatives Latifa Lyles (Vice President of membership), and Melody Drnanch (Vice President of action) will meet with local activists in Jackson on Sunday, April 2, 2006.
Jackson Area NOW president, Michelle Colon, has secured Keifer's as our lunch spot. Our reservation is for 1:15 p.m. If you've never eaten at Keifer's, they have reasonably-priced food, and vegetarian options.

Keifer's
705 Poplar Blvd
Jackson, MS
601-355-6825

RSVP at michelle@prochoicemississippi.org if you plan to attend so Michelle can modify the reservations as necessary.

RSS Feed for ProChoiceMississippi.Org Site

Wed, 29 Mar 2006 13:07:03 GMT

If you're interested, please add prochoicems: we'll be using it for announcements, calls for action, etc. The LJ community is great for conversations, but having to post in multiple places is time-consuming.

SB 2922 Resurrected (more info)

Wed, 29 Mar 2006 03:47:01 GMT

As legomancer said so eloquently, "@*$&$*)@(&!$)(& zombie abortion bill."

We've just received news that Representative Fillingane (R-Sumrall) has introduced a concurrent resolution that suspended SB 2922 from its previous deadlines. The House and Senate approved the measure in hopes the conferees can reach a compromise.

House Public Health Committee Chairman Steve Holland (D-Plantersville) has stated previously that he will no longer negotiate the terms of the bill. Holland's last version of SB 2922 (which he negotiated with the National Right to Life group) is a trigger law, banning abortion if Roe v. Wade is overturned.

The time is now, activists. While Holland has said he will not be attending tomorrow's meeting of the conference (scheduled for late afternoon), and told the Jackson Free Press he would "sit back on (his) big a** and let it die," we need a strong pro-choice presence at the capitol building tomorrow afternoon. Make every effort to attend.

The Jackson Free Press has posted a well-written piece on yesterday's and today's proceeds.

Here's a link to a Clarion Ledger piece on the bill's resurrection.

More details

Wed, 29 Mar 2006 02:57:27 GMT

Okay, guys.

It's been confirmed that the anti's have re-introduced Senate Bill 2922, and it's been voted and passed by both chambers to extend the deadline to discuss it and several other bills. The same members as handled it last time will be handling it again.

Holland has stated that he will not be attending the meeting scheduled for some time late tomorrow afternoon.

BUT WE NEED FOLKS TO COME TO THE CAPITOL!!

If you can be there, BE THERE.

This is huge, this is a red alert of sorts, I don't know why they'd set a deadline on it and then let it run out, only to revive it.

Why they couldn't just figure out what they wanted to do within the original deadline's time frame, I have no idea.

Nonetheless, this doesn't sound good at all, and we all thought that we were out of the fire for at least a little while.

Put down your chablis, beer, and party favors. We're still truckin', folks.

Another conference meeting

Wed, 29 Mar 2006 02:46:51 GMT

Tomorrow afternoon, there'll be another conference meeting.

I am so completely baffled.

More details forthcoming ASAP.