NOW Celebrates D.C. Council Vote to Approve Same-Sex Marriage

	For Immediate Release Contact: Mai Shiozaki, 202-628-8669, ext. 116; cell 202-641-1906 NOW Celebrates D.C. Council Vote to Approve Same-Sex Marriage December 15, 2009 Same-sex couples may soon be able to wed in the District of Columbia thanks to today's 11-2 vote by the D.C. Council. "NOW commends the D.C. Council for acknowledging that the LGBT people of this city have a fundamental right to marry," said NOW President Terry O'Neill. "Same-sex couples should not be denied the protections and benefits that opposite-sex couples have always enjoyed." Mayor Adrian Fenty has promised to sign the bill; however, because Congress has jurisdiction over the governance of our nation's capital, same-sex marriage will not become legal in D.C. until it survives a 30-day congressional review period. NOW will monitor this process and is prepared to activate its grassroots if an attempt to overrule the Council gains any traction in Congress. "Discrimination against same-sex couples is coming to an end in this country," said O'Neill. "We have made great strides in the past decade, and NOW pledges to continue working until equal marriage is the law of the land."

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Say NO to Commission that will Cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid

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Support NOW's Work |	December 14, 2009	| Tell a Friend

Action Needed Background All NOW Actions Take action NOW!		Say NO to Commission that will Cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid There is a stealth move under way in Washington, D.C., to recover the billions spent on bailing out the banks and Wall Street by cutting benefits under the Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid programs. A special commission would address the federal deficit by considering cuts to entitlements programs and would fast track recommendations by an up or down vote in Congress -- with little debate and no opportunity for amendments. This is a reverse Robin Hood -- stealing from the poor and middle-class to give to the rich in a way that will have a disproportionately negative impact on women. Tell your senators... After taking action, please support our work! Action Needed: Tell your senators: Do not balance the federal deficit caused by bailing out big banks and Wall Street on the backs of the elderly and poor women who depend on Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid to survive! Oppose the creation of a debt-reduction, entitlements-cutting commission with fast-tracked recommendations -- make these important decisions in public. If your senators are part of the group of eleven (see below) -- call their office now! These eleven U.S. Senate members of the Democratic Caucus have threatened to hold the debt ceiling bill hostage unless there is an entitlements or debt-reduction commission. This commission's recommendations would have to be acted upon with no opportunity for amendments, only limited debate, and only one single take-it-or-leave-it vote on the entire package. Naming a commission is an act of political cowardice, as it operates to steamroll benefit cuts in our most important social programs while shielding elected officials from direct responsibility for such unpopular solutions. The senators include: Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) (202) 224-3841 Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) (202) 224-3244 Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) (202) 224-6154 Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) (202) 224-2043 Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) (202) 224-5623 Mark Udall (D-Colo.) (202) 224-5941 Mark Begich (D-Alaska) (202) 224-3004 Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) (202) 224-5852 Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) (202) 224-5274 Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) (202) 224-4041 Mark Warner (D-Va.) (202)-224-2023 Take action NOW! Background: Fearmongering the National Debt: All the breathless talk about the national debt is seriously misleading. The truth is that the interest on the national debt is a big number (approximately $700 billion), but it is a small percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). After five years, the national debt is going to be a lower percentage of GDP than many other industrialized nations have had in the past. Furthermore, the national debt will remain a lower percentage of GDP than the U.S. had after World War II. There is not a critical problem with the U.S. national debt. Social Programs to be Cut to Pay off Debt: Unfortunately, the ill-conceived solution to this over-hyped problem is to cut benefits under Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, which will hurt the most vulnerable in society -- the elderly and the poor (mostly women). The proposed solution will not solve the real problems that plague our economy. It is the lasting effects of George W. Bush's tax cuts for the rich, the spiraling for-profit health care costs, big bank and Wall Street bail-outs, and wars that are the cause of debt increases -- not the fact that the U.S. has entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare. Furthermore, the deficit should not be balanced on the backs of those that could least afford the consequences. Deficits should be balanced by asking those who have the most to pay more in taxes, since they benefited the most from government bailouts. Social Security Checks Vital: Without a Social Security check, most seniors would be poor, and senior women would suffer the most. Social Security makes up 55 percent of older women's income, compared to just 39 percent for senior men. For many elderly unmarried women, it is their only source of retirement income! Senior men's average annual income in 2002 was $29,385; senior women's average annual income was about half that at $16,124 in 2002. Social Security "Crisis" a Myth: Talk of a crisis in the Social Security program is false. By the most cautious projections, there is enough money in the Social Security Trust Fund, secured by U.S. bonds, to continue paying full benefits for the next 30 years. If the U.S. economy keeps growing at the same rate as it has until fairly recently, Social Security will be able to pay full benefits -- with a few adjustments to the system -- forever. Even with slower economic growth, a small adjustment in the payroll tax rate, plus lifting the cap (currently at $106,800) on the taxable wage base, would fund Social Security into the next century. More Retirement Insecurity: Women make up the majority of the 45 million Medicare beneficiaries. Millions of women rely on Medicare as their sole health care plan. Medicare expenditures represented 3.2 percent of GDP in 2008, but costs are projected to increase to about 7.3 percent of GDP by 2035 and to 11.4 percent of GDP by the end of the 75-year period. Obviously, adjustments to financing the Medicare program are needed. But if the deficit hawks have their way on this stealth commission, not only will senior women see their benefits cut, but the huge baby boom generation will be facing retirement years with greater economic insecurity. Coming at a time when millions of homeowners have seen their equity disappear, cutting retirement benefits seems an especially cruel solution. Follow the Money!: The fear-mongering over the national debt has been promoted mostly by billionaire Peter G. Peterson who made his fortune doing takeover deals on Wall Street and who is now specializing in inaccurate and misleading information about our national financial "crisis." Peterson has funded a national campaign around this issue and has managed to marshal supporters in the Obama administration, some Democratic leaders in Congress, and the elites among think tanks, media and conservative politicians (who have never liked Social Security and Medicare anyway). But their idea about how to deal with government debt is fundamentally wrong. Decision-makers need to bite the bullet, make adjustments in Social Security and Medicare financing and raise taxes on the wealthy -- not steal from the poor and middle class! More Information: "Looting Social Security" by William Greider, The Nation "Breaking Down the Deficit" by Michael Linden, American Progress and then
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Will Stupak Come Back? Dear Salima, We Need Your Help -- This Fight Isn't Over! We did it! Yesterday the U.S. Senate beat back the most dangerous anti-abortion legislation in decades. A solid majority of 54 senators voted to table and effectively defeat the Nelson-Hatch Amendment to the Senate's health insurance reform bill. This amendment was virtually identical to the Stupak-Pitts Amendment which did pass in the House of Representatives. Both provisions would extend the Hyde Amendment's already shameful restrictions on abortion care funding. I know you join me not only in celebrating this victory, but in congratulating the senators who, after hearing from outraged reproductive rights supporters like you, voted to stand up to the anti-abortion lobby. But the fight isn't over -- and we need your help NOW to maintain this momentum. Will you donate today to help us make sure that nothing resembling Nelson-Hatch is put back in the final version of this legislation? The so-called moderate Democrats, led by Senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska, will be pressing for a further "compromise" in the final bill brought to the Senate floor by the leadership. Right now, you can be sure that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is quietly considering a concession to get Senator Nelson on board. We can't allow this kind of back-room scheming to expand the Hyde Amendment, making the current bad situation for women's reproductive health even worse. We urgently need your support today. Don't stop fighting now -- we must hold on to the victory we won yesterday! That, I'm afraid, is far from a certainty today. For women's lives, Terry O'Neill, NOW President P.S. Donations of any size will greatly help to ensure this horrific abortion funding ban goes no farther. We need your support today. Sign Up for Emails | More about Stupak | NOW Home | Support NOW's Work | Unsubscribe / Edit Profile

NOW Congratulates Massachusetts Primary Winner Martha Coakley

	For Immediate Release Contact: Mai Shiozaki, 202-628-8669, ext. 116; cell 202-641-1906 NOW Congratulates Massachusetts Primary Winner Martha Coakley, Looks Forward to Feminist Candidate Breaking Through the Glass Ceiling in January December 9, 2009 The National Organization for Women congratulates Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley for her overwhelming victory in the Democratic primary in the special election to fill the late Ted Kennedy's U.S. Senate seat. If Coakley prevails as expected in the Jan. 19 general election, she will be the first woman senator from the state of Massachusetts, and she will double to two the number of women in the state's current 12-member congressional delegation. The NOW Political Action Committee proudly endorsed Coakley in her run. "As the first woman attorney general in Massachusetts, Martha Coakley has demonstrated commitment and leadership on a wide range of feminist issues," said NOW President and NOW/PAC Chair Terry O'Neill. "Most recently, her vocal opposition to the Stupak-Pitts Amendment and its assault on health insurance coverage for abortion care proved that Martha is a force to be reckoned with when women's rights are at stake." O'Neill pointed to Coakley's other strong credentials: As Attorney General, Coakley investigated and pursued cases related to housing discrimination, disability rights, fair lending, equal marriage, health care disparities, and hate crimes based on race, ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation. Coakley is the only Attorney General in the country to file a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act. And she successfully advocated for and defended legislation to create and expand buffer zones around reproductive health care facilities to ensure the safety of patients and staff members. "If elected in January, Martha Coakley will be a real champion for women in the U.S. Senate," said O'Neill. "Following the irreplaceable Ted Kennedy truly is a daunting job, but I am confident that Martha is up to the challenge."

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NOW Applauds Senate Defeat of Abortion Ban Amendment, Urges Removal of Stupak-Pitts

	For Immediate Release Contact: Lisa Bennett, 202-628-8669, ext. 123; cell 301-537-7429 NOW Applauds Senate Defeat of Abortion Ban Amendment, Urges Removal of Stupak-Pitts in Conference Statement of Terry O'Neill, NOW President December 8, 2009 The National Organization for Women applauds the Senate for voting to table and effectively defeat the Nelson-Hatch Amendment to the health care reform bill. This victory is just one small step, however, toward enacting health care reform that recognizes health care as a human right, abortion as health care and women as deserving of coverage that meets all of their medical needs. The Nelson-Hatch Amendment would have instituted a ban on abortion care coverage in the proposed health insurance exchanges, which are expected to serve tens of millions of people. It would have far extended the Hyde Amendment's already shameful restrictions on abortion funding. It would have betrayed the promise that no one would lose health care coverage they currently have due to reform. And, in all likelihood, this prohibition on abortion coverage would have spread industry-wide in little time. That's why NOW is thanking all of our activists for the many messages they sent and calls they made to their senators. Our early and strong call to reject any health care legislation containing Stupak-Pitts language made its mark. Our virtual and physical presence on Capitol Hill helped send the message that health care reform should not be negotiated on the backs of women. We thank the 54 senators who listened to our concerns and considered women's health and well-being as they voted. The bad news is that the similar Stupak-Pitts Amendment, which the House did pass last month, is still in place. When the two versions of the bill are reconciled and merged into one, abortion opponents will no doubt demand that the Stupak language be maintained in order to win their votes on the bill. We cannot let this happen. Make no mistake, the efforts of the radical right are to outlaw all abortion. They will use whatever method is convenient, and right now that happens to be health care reform. They want women's rights supporters to compromise, but they won't budge an inch. Well, in case they haven't noticed, we're done compromising. NOW urges legislators to oppose the entire bill unless the Stupak-Pitts provisions are removed in conference. Women's lives are at risk, and our rights are not for sale.

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Callers Needed for Tuesday's MA Special Election Primary

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Support NOW's Work |	December 05, 2009	| Tell a Friend

More about Martha Coakley All NOW Actions		Martha Coakley in Close Race for US Senate Massachusetts is about to make history toward electing the first woman to the U.S. Senate on Tuesday. NOW/PAC endorsed candidate Martha Coakley is a true progressive. She was the only candidate in this race to stand up for reproductive rights during the recent health reform debate and she has been a true leader on marriage equality. She can win, but Martha needs your help to make this a reality. Recent polling has shown that the race is tightening and that a frightening 93% of voters don't know the date of the election. Martha Coakley's campaign is appealing for help to change all this TODAY. They need activists to make calls from home to tens of thousands of voters throughout Massachusetts. Activists can volunteer to make these vital phone calls by sending an email to elise@votecoakley.com and including their phone number. She will contact the activist immediately and get the caller set up on the campaign's call from home program. Hundreds of activists are already involved in this critical voter outreach. Martha Coakley urges volunteers to email elise@votecoakley.com to join the team. For more information call the campaign at 617-241-0200. and then
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Get Ready! Senate Abortion Ban Vote May be this Weekend

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Support NOW's Work |	December 04, 2009	| Tell a Friend

Action Needed Background All NOW Actions Take action NOW!		Get Ready! Senate Abortion Ban Vote May be this Weekend Representative Donna Edwards (D-Md) thanking activists at the National Lobby Day event in Washington D.C. ACT NOW! After taking action, please support our work! Action Needed: Take Action -- Please call AND email your senators one more time to tell them that they must vote against the latest abortion ban amendment that is likely to be offered (by Sens. Ben Nelson and Orrin Hatch) this weekend in the Senate. Background: Lobby Day Turnout Great: THANK YOU so much for all your help in our effort to stop a Stupak-like amendment in its tracks. But one could be on the Senate's agenda as early as this Saturday, Dec. 5. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is keeping the Senate at work through the weekend to expedite votes on health care reform legislation. NOW activists and our coalition partners have gone all out on this issue: we've heard from thousands of our supporters and a whopping 1,300 activists showed up in Washington, D.C., for Wednesday's highly successful Lobby Day and Rally. We met with senators and representatives to let them know we oppose any restrictive abortion provisions in health care reform legislation. NOW activists asked members to vote against the final bill if it contains restrictive abortion language. We are sure that our meetings strengthened the resolve of abortion rights supporters in Congress to stop Stupak, but the vote in the Senate could be very close. Stupak-Pitts All Over Again: An amendment similar to the House-passed Stupak-Pitts Amendment will be offered by Sens. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah). Sen. Nelson has also said that he would not vote for the entire bill if it lacked restrictive abortion provisions. While the exact language of the Nelson-Hatch Amendment wasn't available early Friday, we know that Nelson has vowed to offer a provision as close as possible to Stupak-Pitts. Millions of Women Denied Coverage: The Nelson-Hatch Amendment would likely prohibit insurance companies from offering abortion coverage in any plan sold through the health insurance exchanges if there are any persons in that plan who receive subsidies from the government to pay for coverage. Because millions of low- and moderate-income persons previously uninsured or underinsured would be seeking insurance through these exchanges and likely receiving the government affordability credits, the abortion coverage ban could be extended to millions of women. It could also affect insurance coverage for the millions of self-employed women, as well as women who have purchased expensive insurance plans in the individual market who will seek less expensive policies through these exchanges. We need you to not only take action now, but to call your friends and family, activate your email lists and alert other reproductive justice supporters and progressive allies in your area. We need to have tens of thousands of messages generated to Congress over the next few days. So please call your senators using our link for direct number phone numbers to their Washington offices AND send an email today. We hear that the abortion rights opponents are inundating members' offices with calls -- we've got to outdo them! and then
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