Women's votes and reproductive rights were decisive in Virginia's gubernatorial election, securing Terry McAuliffe's victory over anti-choice Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli. But shortly after this victory, people started hearing that McAuliffe was thinking about keeping on Dr. Bill Hazel, Gov. McDonnell's Health and Human Resources secretary, in his own administration. [1] Hazel is privately credited with helping put together a less politically damaging version of Virginia's mandatory ultrasound law, which Gov. McDonnell ultimately signed. Is this the kind of administration McAuliffe's supporters were hoping for? Stand with us to ask Governor-Elect McAuliffe to remember the people he's representing as he picks a Health and Human Resources secretary of his own. [1] - "Terry McAuliffe Considers Retaining Gov. Bob McDonnell’s Secretary of Health," by Erin Matson, RH Reality Check, December 12, 2013 http://rhrealitycheck.org/article/2013/12/12/terry-mcauliffe-considers-retaining-gov-bob-mcdonnells-secretary-of-health/

The move of the USA Cycling cyclocross National Championships from December into January has made it difficult for many competitors to attend. By being held in the winter in the US, the options for a suitable host location are also limited. Travel during the winter months is also made more difficult by the potential adverse weather conditions. All of these factors combined with the date being right after the holidays makes the move of the race from December to January, counterproductive.

Abortion is legal, but Republican governors and legislatures in 11 states are have passed laws restricting abortion access, forcing closure of medical clinics and requiring a woman who wants an abortion to travel sometimes hundreds of miles to find an open clinic, even having to cross state lines. Give women their legal rights back!

We are seeing an enormous number of attacks on a woman's fundamental freedoms across the country today. Anti-choice politicians are dictating ridiculous regulations about hallway width and grass length and parking spaces at abortion clinics with the goal of shutting them down. They interfere with doctors who know a lot better than they do. They force women to sit through mandatory ultrasounds and pointless waiting periods, as though women weren’t capable of making decisions on our own. They make us listen to lectures full of lies. But the fact is, the more roadblocks they put in front of safe abortion, the more they put women’s lives at risk. That’s why the Women’s Health Protection Act is so important. It puts a stop to pointless regulations and obstacles that keep women from getting the care they need and deserve – and it’s just the beginning. Call on your members of Congress to keep politicians out of our private decisions about pregnancy and health care and cosponsor this bill.

County Commissioner Lawrence Romero introduced a 20-week abortion ban to the county commission and in mid-December they could vote to pass it. Even though the county does not have any clinics performing these services, politicians like Romero are pushing this law to let politicians tell women how to make personal medical decisions.

The Senate has FINALLY introduced a bill, the Women's Health Protection Act 2013, to help protect a woman's right to choose in the face of ongoing attacks across the country. Even though some Senators recently introduced a constitutional amendment to ban abortion, pro-choice advocates are finally hitting back with the first proactive bill in quite some time. Support the bill, and urge your Senators to do the same.

It seems that more and more people think they have a right to make decisions about my body. It is time to stand up and make it very clear that we will not tolerate this. Our Bodies---Our Choice!

If one women is adversely effected by this law, we are all adversely effected.

I'm a superfan of TLC's family-friendly show, “19 Kids and Counting,” which follows the Duggar family, Michelle, Jim Bob, and their 19 J-named children[1]. Though their conservative Christian views are very different from my own (I'm a pro-choice, observant Jew,) I like following the antics of a big rowdy family. But this time, their right wing views have gone too far. In a recent speech at the Values Voter Summit Jim Bob Duggar compared America today to Nazi Germany. Why? Because of abortion. When asked to explain, he said that the millions of legal abortions that have occurred since Roe v. Wade was decided are an ongoing "baby holocaust." I take this seriously, because my grandfather was very nearly a victim of the Holocaust. He fled Austria after the Nazis had come to power, making his way to the United States, a land of freedom. He was also a lifelong progressive, who supported a woman's right to make her own healthcare decisions. Let's be clear: America today is nothing like Nazi Germany, and a woman who decides to have an abortion is not taking part in a Holocaust. Please join me in telling TLC and Discovery Media to cancel the Duggars' show, "19 Kids and Counting," and stop rewarding people who misuse the history of the Holocaust to play politics with women's rights. __________ [1] Josh, Jana, John David, Jill, Jessa, Jinger, Joseph, Josiah, Joy-Anna, Jedidiah, Jeremiah, Jason, James, Justin, Jackson, Johannah, Jennifer, Jordyn, and Josie.

Mississippi ranks at the bottom of nearly every positive indicator when it comes to a well functioning, productive, prosperous, and equal society for all. This must come to an end. The unjust and unequal treatment of Mississippi's women is directly tied to this very unfortunate reality. Our elected officials must take swift and decisive action to ensure that Mississippi's women and girls are treated as full and equal citizens of our state. It is time for Mississippi to enter the 21st Century, demonstrating we have moved beyond our often difficult past and into a bright and positive future we know our state can achieve. Supporting the adoption of the above resolution is critical to achieving these goals. Mississippi Ranked as the Worst State for Women in the US: Time Magazine: "And, at last, we come to the worst of all U.S. states for women to live in. Perhaps the female citizenry of Mississippi already suspects this, since 22% of women are impoverished, they earn the lowest average wages in the country, with a median income of $28,879, and college-graduation rates are grim at only 21%. Also, while 68% of Mississippi women are overweight or obese, nearly a quarter of the state’s women have health insurance. With such a depressing state of affairs, is it really any wonder that Mississippi has never had a woman in Congress or as governor — and the state legislature is only 15% female?" Read more: http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/03/23/top-5-worst-u-s-states-for-women/#ixzz2iJi5KW9T

I have not been personally affected by this issue. I just believe that a woman should be able to make decisions for herself. Especially ones as big as having a child. I believe it's her body, her life, and her choice.

I was offended at being asked to support an anti-choice charity, also known for it's questionable financial management.