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.

In the Spring 2011 CU Student Government Election, a referendum was passed to “Buff up the Rec.” This was brought to a vote of the students because it was projected to raise student fees approximately $122-125. In voting on the referendum, students were not given specifics of what the new Rec Center would look like, but rather were asked the following yes or no question: “Do you, as a University of Colorado-Boulder student, approve an increase in funding for the extensive renovation and expansion project of the University of Colorado Recreation Center at the rate of $121-125 ($102-104 for construction bonds and $19-21 for operations) per student, per semester, beginning Fall 2013 in student fee dollars and spanning a period of 25 years?” The referendum passed with a vote of, “yes,” and construction began in Spring 2012. While the blueprints and floor plans were presented to CUSG, there was not clear indication that the Women’s Workout area would be removed from the Women’s locker room. In the midst of the “Buff Up the Rec” construction, the Women’s Workout area was taken out of the Women’s Locker Room over the summer of 2013, and there are no concrete plans to create a similar workout area for women elsewhere. After speaking with Gabrielle Krupp, member of the Rec Center Board, she stated that the completed construction will foster a more private workout environment. This has caused temporary concerns for many women who previously used that workout area. Many women in the CU community have expressed that they do not feel comfortable working out in the same weight room as men. Some have even expressed that without the privacy of the women’s workout room they will no longer use rec center facilities to workout. In a recent survey that was conducted by Representative at Large, Coco Wham, women indicated that they would like free weights and mats to be returned to the women’s locker room.

Mothers of the Dallas/Fort-Worth area would like to attend a MommyCon event locally.

The numbers are startling. Each day, an average of 71 cases of sexual assault happen in America's military. That's more than 26,000 per year. To make matters worse, these victims are unable to have their cases heard by independent military prosecutors. Instead, these cases work their way through the chain of command, where they're often ignored and swept under the rug. Led by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, bipartisan leaders in the U.S. Senate have proposed the Military Justice Improvement Act, to ensure that these victims of sexual assault get justice. Here's the problem: As of this moment, Arizona's U.S. Senators, John McCain and Jeff Flake, have not signed on to co-sponsor this critical legislation. As Senator McCain himself has said, we've been talking about the issue for years and talk is insufficient. The time is now. And you have a voice. Sign our petition and demand that Senators McCain and Flake co-sponsor the Military Justice Improvement Act today.

Pregnancy shouldn't mean the end of civil liberties, constitutional rights to due process, or protection from unreasonable searches and seizures. State law enforcement authorities, starting with Attorney General Greg Zoeller, must stop irresponsibly attacking the rights of pregnant citizens and start trusting women enough to presume their innocence -- as required by the Constitution. Women are tired of being treated with suspicion, discriminated against, and having our access to health care tampered with by heavy-handed meddlers who are hell-bent on policing the reproduction and sexuality of strangers. AG Zoeller, stop calling on the state legislature to treat pregnancy as a potential crime, making Indiana a state where expectant mothers would become guilty until proven innocent. [1] As a senior law enforcement figure, you have a responsibility to uphold the Constitution and respect the rights of all citizens. Even when those citizens are pregnant. [1] - "A Chance to Teaspoon for the Hoosier State" by Shaker Harmony, Shakesville, September 11, 2013. http://www.shakesville.com/2013/09/a-chance-to-teaspoon-for-hoosier-state.html