The Megaphone (Georgetown, Tex.), Vol. 99, No. 20, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 24, 2005 Page: 5 of 8
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OPINIONS AND EDITORIALS
The Megaphone, March 24, 2005
PP Lobby Day 2005
Texans argue for women’s health at the capitol
By BETH FREED
Megaphone Op/Ed Editor
On March 1. three South-
western women and two South-
western men went to the capitol
to participate in Planned Parent-
hood's state wide Lobby Day.
More than 7(X) folks from around
die state came lo tell their
legislators exactly where they
stood in regard to three women's
health hills. The Texas Legisla-
ture only meets once every two
years for 140 days, so we felt it
was pertinent to have our voices
heard in the short span of time
when wc could be most effec-
tive.
I he three bills we were lob-
bying about were Senate Bill
(SB) 747, House Bill (HR) 676,
and HB 16. While these are
not the only bills in the legis-
lature right now that have to
do with women’s health, we
studied these three in depth so
that we could talk about them
knowledgeably with our public
official Si.
SB 747 is also known as the
Medicaid Waiver for Women’s
Health. Now before a whole
barrage of images of loose, irre-
sponsible women who should
lie in the beds they've made
for themselves, consider this:
in the current situation, women
must live at or below 17% of
the Federal Poverty Level (FPL)
to qualify for Medicaid family
planning services.______
In “real" numbers, this
means an annual income less
than $3,300 for a family of four.
You literally have to be strug-
gling for survival to qualify for
the services, and I guarantee
you that some people who are
working several jobs to get by
don't have the time to go to the
Human Services office within
their office hours and fill out a
“For every dollar
Texas spends on
these services, the
federal govern-
ment will con-
tribute $9. This
is called a 90:10
1 match.”
bunch of forms. Getting into the
Welfare system' requires being
proactive, because they make
it so time-consuming and diffi-
cult.
Texas leads the nation in
rates of uninsured women aged
IS 64 ■ 28.3%! (US average is
I 7.7%.) The bill would provide
for gynecological exams, con-
traceptive methods, screenings
fur diabetes, breast and cervical
cancer, STD tests and treatment.
raise the requirement from 17%;
of the FPL to 185%, which
would mean a whopping
$34,873 income for a family of
four. I think it is necessary that
this bill make it into law, if only
tor the socially moral reason
that women should be entitled to
these kinds of services ropard-
less of their economic standing.
But if you need a more fis-
cally focused reason, try this
one on: For every dollar Texas
spends on these services, the
federal government will contrib-
ute $9. This is called a 60:10
match. The state will only
have to spend 10% ol its reve-
nue on this program that could
benefit so many people. The
Senate Health and Human Ser-
vices Committee passed tins bill
on Tuesday, March 22.
According to a Scripps
Howard poll. 80% of 1,000
random Texans favored
increased funding for family
planning services to reduce unin-
a student, if the HR had not
informed her about EC after she
had been assaulted. And she's
pro-life, by the way.
Providing information about
EC is the minimum standard
of care for sexual assault sur-
vivors, according to the Ameri-
can Medical Accoriatii-m and a
ITS Stetl v
Imagine that you are eleven
years old. living life in a
care free manner, as many
young children do. Thinking
one month hack, you recall
spending time with a group of
friends, at
should be the standard of care
for all emergency caregivers in
Texas.
HB 16 would amend an
already existing statute that
allows doctors to conscien
tiously object to administering
an abortion by allowing phar-
macists refuse to fill emergency
contraception (EC) prescrip-
tions.
One glaring problem is that
the definition of EC is so broad
that it could potentially include
the regular birth control pill
(“a prescription drug containing
an elevated dose of hormones
that is used to prevent preg
nancy”). Ninety-five percent of
Draconian Justice:
By JOHN KOEN
A Staff Perspective
Anyone displaying anti-social
behavior can be victim. Exam-
ples of anti-social acts can
include the selling of drugs,
racial harassment, making too
much noise and the damaging
of property. What is most non-
sensical is that one man was
imprisoned for four months for
During this break, a common
acquaintance to you and your
friends hurls a stone at another
classmate. Are you to blame
for this act of intimidation?
You well might be to
blame, according to Anti-Social
Behavior Orders, otherwise
known as ASBOs. this new
legal tool, introduced into
Britain over the last decade,
wasj designed to combat lack
of proof, no-show witnesses
involved in testimony,and
offenses that are not outright
criminal, when prosecuting an
individual ASBOs may be
used to criminalize just about
any form ol behavior that
someone in authority finds
inconvenient and difficult to
prosecute.
This potent weapon can be
secured on children as youn-
gas ten, all the way to mem-
howling like a werewolf A~
mother who was cited with
an AS BO for arguing with her
children. Once an ASBO is
secured, certain restrictions arc
tailored to meet the anti-social
behavior of the assailant.
For instance, a drug dealer
may be proscribed from using
his cell-phone, an assumed
necessity in his profession, for
a period of.time. If this restric-
tion is breached, a penalty of
- up to five years in prison may
be assumed. This is a punish-
ment
assigned to an offense that
under normal circumstances, is
not a crime in itself (the use of
a cell phone),.
Offenders can be banned
from ringing door bells, enter-
ing into certain neighborhoods,
leav ing their homes, or even the
articulation of certain words.
Many restrictions last for a
Should it be astonishing
that ASBOs are widely issued,
and with little restraint? There
were over one thousand
restraints handed oul in 2004.
Fewer than one in seventy
applications for ASBOs are
turned down. So what if the
criminal justice system does
not work well all of the time.|
Should that reasoning give the
English police the ability to
circumvent conventional court
proceedings, especially when
there is not serious proof
offered. Everyone is capable
of being mistaken, or worse,
lying.
Thinking over legal fair-
ness, 1 imagine the figure of
Lady Justice and her holding
two scales in complete bal-
ance. The phrase “Innocent
until proven guilty” comes to
mind. Wc value greatly the
freedom to fight our case in
court. Safeguards are built into
our legal system for a reason.
I pray that the United States
will continue to offer a chance
for two competing stories to be
heard in litigation, and that all
accusations are meticulously
examined. May ASBOs never
find their way onto America
— ----„--------...— —.— ---------- Courtesy of Pljnniwl-l»arenttmo(fs Webpage
Lobby Day attracts mai)y constituents looking to hold Reps, accountable
tended pregnancies You can call
Senator Steve Ogden’s office at
(512) 463-0306 to ask him to
vote for SB 747 when it comes
to the Senate Floor for a vote.
HB 676, which is currently
sitting m the House Public
Health Committee would ensure
that emergency rooms offer
sexual assault survivors infor-
mation about emergency contra-
ception (EC), more commonly
known as the mornina-after
pill.
The bill docs not require
that a doctor prescribe LC. but
merely that they inform the
assaulted person with the mlor
mation to make a knowledge-
able choice. EC is not the
same thing as the abortion pill,
because it prevents pregnancy
by interfering with ovulation,
fertilization, and/or implanta-
tion, the medically recognized
point of an established preg-
nancy.
This is very important to
accomplish, because right now.
(41%_of hospitals do not
pro
all women in the I: S have used
contraception at some point in
their lifetimes, so this bill could
potentially have some devastat
ing effects.
Also, imagine having one
pharmacy within twenty or so
miles of your house. What do
you do when that pharmacist
says, “No, I don't want to till
your EC prescription." regard
less of whether you need it lor
an assault or an accident. It is
not right to ask a woman to drive
(if she has a car) far from her
home just because a pharmacist
doesn't approve of the choice
she made with her doctor.
This bill is m the State
Affairs Committee, so you
should definitely call Represen-
tative Dan Guttis, who is a chair-
person of the committee, to let
him know if you oppose this
legislation at (512) 463-0306.
Denying patients the right to
medical care prescribed by their
own physician should not be tol
crated.
-14—you—would—Like
more
The Cuban update
By ALEX RUTLEDGE
Mngnpliin ■ Sf <n \Ai lr'<
I Ins is( lib,I now : It s Aincr
ica’s fault' I lie embargo is
choking u.-d Which is the most
common tespon.e to Cuba's
woes, but it is simpK iiieorreet.
As much as \mciiea is blamed.
..AOJAiilLino-.iiglu.1 uiiy..j>t.t. Cuba'
s . I meat) Castio < vivice against
the 1 S is losing, w ind
Rei - nils. tli-. ! 'luted States
has lilted segments ol the
embargo, u liieh allow \merican
businesses to all food and med-
icinc to ( nli,i Si nee November
ol 20(H). ( 'nisi ha-, bought $600
million m net i- nbtn al eomnK id -
itics making the I S . ( uha's 8th
largest trading partner. Before
trade was np< md between the
two countries ( uha was paying
20% more to lumpc loi food
and medicine. Still want to
blame the IS’
What the enil'.ngo comes
down In i- lei mm tinsel and
it should siav n -urieled until
( astiii is none < asm> has
proven hnn-ell unable to pio
vide a stable economic sitUa
lion ill Cuba I ! a. a tills ts
not an aseidenl < hie l.u.lor that
helped In am I ( a-I i • > a i v i ant is
his men J\ s 0 • a month to
Cubans. Whv mild l". pi«w ide
such an m a it 11 i, ni amount o!
money'! Ho ana lie w ants to
keep th- p-siple m lore lines
waiting I'M n ii ■ 1 11irdit me. and
liaiispoi i.i’ a m !" i an p- ople
Ihc entire economy based tour- away with this romantic pcrcep
ism as its source of income,
w hich in that year was $220 mil-
lion. And yes. this money found
its place in tourism, again. Or
m Castro’s Swiss bank account
that Forbes magazine recently
estimated at being worth $550
million, which, to Castro, is
a generous estimate. After 46
tion of Cuba painted by tiTov ies
such as Dirty Dancing Havana
Nights and Buena Vista Social
Club. In addition, the (’he (lue
varra paraphernalia that makes
its way around gives people
a huge misconception Porlrav
ing this man’s lace supposedlv
symbolizes rebels, for.justice..
. Courtesy of Grogln fm.6cp* 'tr< h
A young Che Guevara with Castro accompanied toy some revolutionaries
years of rule and that crook only
has $550 million? There has
been estimates that Castro could
hold up to as much as several
billion.
Amidst the rule of an ego-
tistical mailman, the Cubans are
left participating in the black
market which in Cuba has
entirely different connotations
and humanity. Sorry to bust die
party, but Che does not repre
sent justice or lumumitv' 1 he
man played a hand in killing at
least 20. 000 Cuban dissidents
lie gave no fait trials and is
not the man portrayed in Motoi
cycle Diaries. Buying into ibis
propaganda and supporting Lire
evil tourism scheme ( i tro set
11oni rttc lkS. black market, up in Cuba, only tmtm rftr
and most importantly to remem- vjje emergency ^contraception information on other lulls, or
bet, NO I ablutions, because it is to rape survivors, ...... , , ,h if you would like a form letter
illegal for Medicaid funds to be Personally, i have a cousin to sign and send to your leg
spent on abortion procedures. who could have not made it islators, contact Mia Smith at
I he Medicaid Waiver would to Syracuse, where she is now smith2<« southwestern.edu. ♦
V
fm
V
■ i$sl
Diversity Open Mic
..
m
In the Cove Wednesday,
March 30, 8pm
wort's abi 'in 'Ium 1 w, n 11miiiIi v
without wocVitH*-' aRuiit"theiC
ow n sm \'i -. at 1
\\ hai s \ 111 a mouth does
is rendei 'Ii- -i- I imalile to
hiIV medii lue I- a then stomach
worms, s- 10 a no >nlh pushes
llespeiale I I y eat old gu Is to sell
then \ irgiiniv ha V'lhin to rich
Luropcanw S' in ,i month is
inliumaih . hut tin is kept limn
the ten "I tin- world ( astro
know s that mini mat ion against
him will 1 dnei t hngei1 rom
Amei ica it' Immell
I low dues ( 1111.1 si in i \ e
with all die opptession and
inability to sene the people? .
lout ism < as11o pumps mi ome
into tomts111. ,pending millions
on ti'soiis md c hilts, ihai ate
convemeitiU placed in closed
oil seilnni ol die i land in an
allempl lo keep lhe loin ists horn
sceiim ih- n il ( aha In loos.
Keeping a bed and breakfast
open is considered black market
activity, and the Cuban govern
merit makes an effort to root out
these bed and breakfast owners.
Why ? Because it takes money
from the government in the field
of tourism. As an alternative, a
Cuban can sign up for a gov
ermnental job and make $128 a
year.
In return, the regime
applauds "revolutionaries" and
thanking their efforts in light-
ing for the "revolution"; yes. the
same "revolution" which ended
m 1656 and Inis been scream-
ing fin attention since, yet it still
won't die! The Cuban people are
fed up. except for the minority
who go back and forth between
the black market and "comply
ing" with the “revolution"
To help Cuba, we must do
conditions lor the eounirv and
adds more monev to li.is I' ml
account. The Cuban people nr
and will only be spectators to
the touristic' playground < a .in -
is creating: even il the embaim■
were lifted tomorrow the ('uhan
people, would see a sea’
amount of the money
The conditions of ('uha pat
allcl far too well vvuh the vm
conditions that Castro led a
revolution against: il a yoniiL’
Castro was planted in ('uha.
Castro would get a taste ol In.
own medicine. But since that n
impossible, wc will pisi h.n
to sit bis tcrm/dictltfot'sliip~oiTi ~
Until then, you can help tin
Cuban people b\ eilbet \isitum
Cuba for humanitat urn pm pos, -
and/ot joining the Miami base 1
The Cuban American National
Foundation ( w vv w c ant oi e i ♦
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The Megaphone (Georgetown, Tex.), Vol. 99, No. 20, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 24, 2005, newspaper, March 24, 2005; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth634297/m1/5/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Southwestern University.