Focus on Women's Health 2007-08 legislative initiatives PPAWI is excited to embark on a new legislative session in which women's health advocates have made huge gains in both the State Senate and State Assembly.  PPAWI will be pursuing a strong pro-active prevention agenda this session focusing on access to health care.  The highlight of that agenda will be increasing critical cancer prevention services and improved access to family planning options for uninsured and underinsured women.   The first pro-active priority includes increased access to cervical cancer screening and treatment.  Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin maintains two of only three health centers in the state that provides cervical cancer diagnostic and treatment options for low-income women.  In the U.S., over 14,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer every year and 3,900 will die.  All women, regardless of income, deserve access to these life-saving screenings.  Through lobbying and organizing efforts, PPAWI will also seek increased access to the newly approved cervical cancer vaccine, Gardasil, for all eligible women and girls.   The second priority is increasing access to birth control, especially emergency contraception (EC), without harassment or delay.  PPAWI is working to maintain and expand the state’s commitment to providing family planning services for low-income women through the Healthy Women Program.  PPAWI will lobby for the passage of the Compassionate Care for Rape Victims bill that ensures emergency rooms provide all rape victims with crucial information and access to EC to prevent unintended pregnancies after an assault and the Birth Control Protection Act that guarantees unhindered pharmacy access to EC and regular birth control pills.   Keep an eye on the Capitol and join our efforts. Log onto ppawi.org/legislation [top]	Supreme Court Election   During the fall of 2006, voters overwhelmingly voted for pro-choice policies and candidates in states across the country.  One reason for this pro-choice tidal wave was the continued erosion of reasonable women’s health policies and constitutional protections at the state and federal levels.  Voters understood the importance of voting on these crucial issues in their state legislatures and governors' offices.   On April 3rd, Wisconsinites have the opportunity to protect access to safe, legal abortion and other reproductive rights by electing a new Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice and potentially swinging the court to a pro-women's health majority.   Protecting access to legal abortion continues to be played out in the U.S. Supreme Court, but state courts also have an important role protecting civil liberties.  Due to two new anti-women's health justices on the U.S. Supreme Court, both Roe v. Wade and constitutional protections that prohibit states from passing abortion restrictions that threaten a woman’s health are at risk.  The pending federal abortion ban case could trigger legal activity within Wisconsin courts in order to protect women’s health and abortion access.  This potential underscores the importance of state courts. Wisconsin's Supreme Court is an important body that could decide the future of women's access to reproductive health care, including legal abortion services.    On Tuesday, April 3rd vote for the candidate who supports women's access to reproductive health care:   Linda Clifford - WI Supreme Court [Volunteer to get out the pro-choice vote!]
Speak Out So NO Woman's Choice is Denied The anniversary of both Roe v. Wade and the Global Gag Rule on January 22nd served as powerful reminders that the struggle for women’s health and safety continues. The anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that legalized abortion nationwide, is a salient reminder that women should make their own personal medical decisions, not politicians.  Thirty-four years later, Planned Parenthood continues to fight for access to safe legal abortion, as well as keeping women and families healthy by helping them prevent unintended pregnancy and reduce the need for abortion.   The Bush administration's recent appointment of anti-birth control extremist Eric Keroack to oversee Title X, America's family planning program, is a prime example of the continued attack on women’s health care.  Now, we've got to make it clear that we won’t let Keroack, Bush, or anyone else stand in the way of our efforts to safeguard and expand access to birth control and family planning.   January 22 also marked the 6th anniversary of President Bush’s reinstatement of the Global Gag Rule.  The Global Gag Rule is a cruel policy that threatens the health, well-being, and lives of women around the globe by dangerously reducing reproductive health services, including family planning information, health care, and HIV/AIDS prevention and counseling.   Speak Out! So no woman's voice is silenced and no woman's choice is denied.  Log onto ppawi.org to find easy ways that you can speak out and make a difference to protect women's health. [top]	PPAWI — Standing Up for Women and Winning! PPAWI's efforts during Election 2006 resulted in the re-election of pro-choice Governor Jim Doyle, a pro-choice majority in the State Senate, and 9 new pro-choice representatives in the State Assembly! Your generous and dedicated support of time and money allowed us to:   Knock on 14,000 doors to inform and mobilize the pro-choice vote Send 543,000 pieces of mail detailing candidates' positions Make over 177,000 phone calls encouraging voters to head to the polls Launch a radio and online ad campaign in support of candidates who back women’s health initiatives. These efforts and victories were only possible because of all of you, our dedicated donors, volunteers and supporters, who worked tirelessly throughout the election season, financing our efforts and volunteering to turnout the pro-choice vote.  We should all be proud of the work we did.   With Governor Doyle at the helm of a new pro-choice majority in the State Senate, the next four years hold great promise for women's health.
Make Your Voice Heard on Campus! Through Vox and Advocates for Choice - Planned Parenthood's student groups - college students across Wisconsin organize and speak out for reproductive health and freedom.  Activities include organizing events on campus to raise awareness, educating students about sexual health through safe sex condom crawls, tabling in the Union, and working with Planned Parenthood to mobilize students around legislation affecting reproductive rights. There’s power in the voices of pro-choice students on your campus!  When you organize those voices as a Vox or Advocates for Choice group and work together to take action for reproductive health and freedom, you have a force that's more powerful than if you work alone. A student group also serves as: a forum to discuss ideas a fun way to meet new people and learn more about yourself an opportunity to educate and inspire other college students a way to stay informed, speak out and make a difference. The current and upcoming semesters bring great opportunities for students across Wisconsin to take an active role in the pro-choice movement by joining or starting a Planned Parenthood student group on your campus.  Learn more by logging onto www.ppawi.org/takeaction [top]	Legislative Lowdown With the re-election of pro-choice Governor Jim Doyle, a pro-choice majority in the State Senate, and nine new pro-choice representatives in the State Assembly, the 2007-08 Wisconsin Legislative Session brings great opportunities for women’s health.  With your help, PPAWI staff will focus on advancing pro-active initiatives that protect and enhance health care access for women and their families.  Keep an eye on the Capitol by logging onto ppawi.org/legislation Assembly There are 39 pro-choice legislators (all Democrats), 5 mixed-voting legislators (all Democrats), and 55 anti-choice and anti-birth control legislators in the new Assembly (3 Democrats and 52 Republicans).  There continues to be no Republican representatives who support access to safe, legal abortion.   Senate There are 15 pro-choice legislators (all Democrats), 5 mixed-voting legislators (3 Democrats and 2 Republicans), and 13 anti-choice and anti-birth control legislators in the new Senate (all Republicans).  We look forward to working with the new pro-choice leaders and legislators in the Senate to advance pro-choice legislation.
Volunteer Stories From high school students to senior citizens, our diverse group of volunteers donates thousands of hours of time and energy each year.  While they are all unique, they share a strong commitment to the Planned Parenthood mission.  Here are what some of our volunteers and interns say about their experience at Planned Parenthood: I volunteer at Planned Parenthood as part of my MSW curriculum at UW Madison. I am focusing on women's health policy, and I am passionate about choice issues.  When I thought about what kind of agency would bring my interests together and give me "real world" experience, the answer was clear: Planned Parenthood.  --Jennifer, MSW Intern   At Planned Parenthood I have learned a lot about... an organization that truly helps families and cares about women's health issues, whether they have insurance or not.  Before this last election, I tried to work as much as I could on phone banks and computer updating.  I really felt a part of something I believe in.  I was also a part of the team that helped to spread the word to many others about candidates that support the issues that are important to me.  It was exciting!  --Chris, West Allis   I was alarmed by the assault on reproductive freedom launched by elected officials and felt that the public was, to a large extent, ignorant of this or felt that it was not important to them or their family.  During the last election I volunteered at the Farmer's Market information table and distributed literature in Madison and other communities.  --Mary Ellen, Madison   Reproductive justice is important for me personally. The reason I volunteer with Planned Parenthood isn't all about me, though. Every signature I collect and every phone call I make to a Wisconsin voter helps to ensure reproductive freedom and healthcare choices for all Wisconsin women and families.  As a woman and as a citizen my health and the health and well being of my fellow Wisconsinites is critical to the overall economic, social, and political welfare of our state and our country.  --Jeannine, Milwaukee By volunteering or interning with Planned Parenthood you can help protect and expand access to basic health care for our patients, and all women.  Get involved by logging onto www.ppawi.org/volunteer [top]
Champions for Women's Health In 2005, PPAWI awarded its first ever "Champions for Women's Health" award to a group of women with the International Association of Machinists union at John Deere who, after a four-year effort, successfully won insurance coverage of contraceptives. This effort exemplified successful activism aimed at reproductive justice and freedom. This year, PPAWI is pleased to announce that two groups of dedicated activists with a common bond will share this honor -- the Chippewa Valley and Winnebago County Citizens for Women’s Health Action Councils.  These activists, who represent multiple generations and diverse experiences, diligently and persistently take action in their own communities.  The ripple effect of their efforts has had powerful implications for health care access for women across Wisconsin. Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin is grateful for the dedication and perseverance of these activists.  They fittingly personify Margaret Mead’s message, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." [top]	Collectively these two groups have successfully: Held community hearings in Oshkosh and Eau Claire on achieving Compassionate Care for Rape Victims in all hospital emergency rooms when anti-women’s health legislative leaders refused to hold hearings at the Capitol. Produced a half-hour public television show about Compassionate Care for Rape Victims that aired in Eau Claire. Changed emergency room policy at an Oshkosh hospital to ensure rape victims consistently have information about, and access to, emergency contraception.   Represented their efforts publicly as media spokespeople, educating the public by garnering countless newspaper, radio and television stories about the importance of access to quality reproductive health care.   Volunteered hundreds of hours to get out the vote in their communities which undoubtedly helped to secure a pro-choice majority in our State Senate and played a vital role in the re-election of Governor Doyle.
PPAWI's Endorsed Candidates Storm the Wisconsin Capitol  The important work you are reading about in this newsletter is only possible through the generous financial support of our steadfast allies, you.  The 2006 election is over, but the work of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin has, in a sense, just begun.  This election was a roadmap to making bigger inroads in 2008, and it prepares us for what we will face in the 2007-2008 Legislative Session. Please continue to support Planned Parenthood Advocates, both actively and financially, so we can fully leverage the gains we have achieved.  We must not rest until we know that the vital services Planned Parenthood provides will be secured for all generations.   This work takes unwavering financial commitment beyond election years.  We educate the public continuously, during non-election years as well, and we do it more economically than almost any other group because we have a brand name that is trusted by women and families.   I thank you for your past support and look forward to your continuing partnership in advancing this important work.   Sincerely, Jim Stewart, PPAWI President and CEO [top]	The New Congress In addition to the election victories here in Wisconsin, there were major victories for women’s health at the national level.  “Women and families are the real winners in this election,” said Cecile Richards, President of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund. “Anti-choice hardliners who oppose birth control and reproductive freedom went too far and American families spoke out.” The 2006 election represents a major step toward getting our country back on track and ensuring that our lawmakers have the right priorities, like support for women’s health care.  One such move was the introduction of the Prevention First Act on the very first day of the new 110th Congress.  We are optimistic about the potential for additional proactive, commonsense solutions for women and families both in Wisconsin and at the federal level.   To view the new choice landscape on both the federal and state levels, log onto plannedparenthoodvotes.org
View the full Advocate: ppawi.org/advocate [top]

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