Monday Monitor: April 11, 2016
By Planned Parenthood Advocates in Missouri | April 11, 2016, 4:30 p.m.
Category:
Contact: M’Evie Mead
314-531-7526 x348
[email protected]
#ShameOnSchaefer
We’ve had enough of Sen. Schaefer's schemes to punish Missourians, invade privacy, and attack our rights.
When Kurt Schaefer ran for Senate, he described himself as a moderate who wouldn't play politics. Now he's attacking Missourians' access to health care to score political points with extremists.
Sen. Schaefer is pushing legislation that would take vital health care services like birth control and annual exams away from thousands of Missourians. He’s already cut access to safe, legal abortion care in Mid-Missouri. He is trying to force Planned Parenthood to turn over private patient information in violation of federal law. And now, Sen. Schaefer is threatening to throw Planned Parenthood’s President and CEO in jail if he doesn't get his way.
Really? It’s shameful. Tell Sen. Schaefer: Enough is enough.
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Add Your Name: ShameOnSchaefer.com
Schaefer and Co. Demand Private Patient Info, Threaten Jail
Last week, a Senate committee passed Sen. Kurt Schaefer’s (R-Columbia) resolution to compel Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri President and CEO Mary M. Kogut to appear before the Senate to explain why she shouldn’t be “punished” for refusing to comply with a subpoena that requested private patient information. Planned Parenthood’s attorney objected to the subpoena, issued by the interim “Sanctity of Life Committee,” on several grounds. The subpoena requests six years’ worth of documents, including private patient information. Sen. Schaefer is threatening Kogut with jail time if she does not turn over the requested information.
“It is deeply, deeply concerning that in 2016 we are talking about criminalizing women’s health care providers for protecting their patients’ privacy,” Kogut said. “These baseless threats to our health care professionals and providers are disturbing.”
- AP: Missouri GOP combs past for Planned Parenthood censure rules
- St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Planned Parenthood must stand firm against demand to supply patient records
- The Pitch: Missouri Sen. Kurt Schaefer furthers his crusade against Planned Parenthood
In Budget, Schaefer Attacks Planned Parenthood, Discriminates Against Medicaid Patients
Sen. Kurt Schaefer (R-Columbia) and Senate Republicans have passed a budget that discriminates against Medicaid patients by denying their right to choose Planned Parenthood and other women’s health providers for their care. Lawmakers are trying to dodge federal law that guarantees Medicaid patients can choose their own health care provider. To that end, Sen. Schaefer has proposed opting out of the Medicaid family planning program and instead creating an entirely new state program, leaving $8 million in federal money on the table.
Planned Parenthood affiliates in Missouri provide thousands of Medicaid patients high-quality, compassionate health care each year, including birth control, annual exams, cancer screenings, and STI testing and treatment. This budget scheme would leave many of these patients with nowhere else to turn for their care. Sen. Schaefer and his extremist allies are forgoing $8 million to make a political point, and denying thousands of Missourians access to vital preventive health care in the process.
Anti-Shackling Measure Makes Progress
In a bit of positive news, Sen. Jamilah Nasheed (D-St. Louis) successfully amended her anti-shackling bill onto Sen. Wayne Wallingford’s (R-Cape Girardeau) SB 618, a bill addressing juveniles in the criminal justice system. Sen. Nasheed’s amendment is identical to her SB 977, which received a hearing in February. The measure protects pregnant and postpartum prisoners from being shackled during the second and third trimesters, during labor and delivery, and for 48 hours postpartum. The Federal Government and several states have banned the practice.
Shackles are degrading, unnecessary, and medically dangerous. Leading medical organizations, including the American Medical Association and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, have denounced shackling as an inhumane and dangerous practice that can harm the pregnant person and put the pregnancy at risk.
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American Civil Liberties Union: The Shackling of Pregnant Women & Girls in U.S. Prisons, Jails & Youth Detention Centers
Lobby Day Tomorrow!
Join us at the Capitol tomorrow, Tuesday, April 12 for a coalition lobby day in honor of Women’s Equality Day. Lawmakers are pushing a host of measures that would hurt Missouri women, including more than 25 anti-reproductive health care bills. Gather with fellow advocates and let your legislators know that attacks on reproductive health care have to stop!
Carpools will be available in St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield, and Columbia. We will meet in in House Hearing Room 2 between 8:30 and 9:00 a.m. to begin the day. If you can’t join us tomorrow, please mark your calendars for our final lobby day of the session on Thursday, May 5.
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Planned Parenthood Advocates in Missouri: RSVP for Lobby Day
Tags: Abortion, #shameonschaefer
