We'd heard about Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson's plan to propose an amendment "as identical to Stupak as it can be," and today Nelson did just that. The measure, which would deny millions of women access to abortion services, was introduced this afternoon, and debate was underway even before it was formally proposed.
Senator Claire McCaskill (MO) spoke out against the bill's House counterpart in an appearance on CBS this morning, saying it "goes too far" and prohibits the use of "private money in a private market for any kind of health services related to abortions." McCaskill also outlined her belief that senators will reject Nelson's measure, a view Senator Debbie Stabenow (MI) also shared with supporters today.
On the Senate floor, Senator Barbara Boxer (CA) took the lead in voicing opposition to the amendment, passionately explaining the danger of potential new restrictions on women's rights.
Watch Boxer in action here:
Also speaking out against the amendment was freshman Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (NY), who worked to explain exactly what the proposed health care legislation would do -- and how the Nelson amendment would go beyond current legislation to restrict women's rights.
A vote on the amendment is expected to take place Tuesday.
Only days after former John McCain campaign advisor and Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina jumped in to the race against EMILY's List Sen. Barbara Boxer (CA), Boxer has been making headlines of her own.
After several days of hearings in the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee, the climate bill Boxer introduced earlier this fall was passed in an 11-1 vote. If signed into law, the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act will create green jobs, set goals to reduce carbon pollution, and reassert America as a world leader in the fight against climate change.
Fiorina, who announced her decision in an op-ed piece in the Orange County Register earlier this week, has been contemplating challenging Boxer for months. Her Senate run should make for an interesting contest, considering her record. She's been on a handful of worst CEO lists, and she drew heat for taking a massive $21 million severance package after leaving HP. If this is any indication about what she'd bring to the Senate, that's plenty of cause for concern. Fortunately, Barbara is running a strong re-election campaign -- and she'll have us there with her every step of the way.
At EMILY's List, we believe that electing women to office is critical for creating a more representative, progressive democracy. And with women at the table, our issues are a top priority.
This week, that couldn't have been clearer.
EMILY's List women of the Senate took center stage this week, speaking about the essential ways in which health care reform will benefit the country's women. From the House floor to Larry King Live, these women senators spoke out for women across America, describing the obstacles to care many women face.
Here's a great video, highlighting moments from their speeches on the Senate floor.
Here are just a few quotes you won't want to miss, including Sen. Amy Klobuchar's personal health care story after the birth of her daughter.
“I was up all night in labor, up all day trying to figure out what was wrong with her, and they literally kicked me out of the hospital... My husband wheeled me out in a wheelchair because at that point in our country’s history, they had a rule. It was called drive-by births, that when a mom gave birth she had to get kicked out of the hospital in 24 hours.”
--Sen. Amy Klobuchar (MN)
“[I]n all but 12 states, insurance companies are allowed to charge women more than they charge men for coverage. The great irony here is that mothers, the people who care for us when we’re sick, are penalized under our current system.”
--Sen. Kay Hagan (NC)
“For the women in these plans, or who are attempting to get insurance, no amount of money can buy maternity care that they need.”
--Sen. Debbie Stabenow (MI)
“Only 14 states in America require insurance companies to cover maternity care. Imagine, in a country that puts family values first, only 14 states."
--Sen. Barbara Boxer (CA)
"It's shocking to think that, in today's America, over half of this country could be discriminated against."
--Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (NY)
“It’s time to end the insurance discrimination that women face.”
--Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (NH)
Carly Fiorina, former "victory chair" of John McCain's presidential campaign and CEO (fired) of Hewlett-Packard, did not bother to vote in any elections during the eight years she lived in New Jersey. The state elections division finally dropped her off the voter rolls for inactivity.
Before that, Fiorina lived in Maryland - where she apparently did not even bother to register, let alone vote.
Since registering to vote in California in 2000, Fiorina has voted in five of 18 elections.
Now she's planning to run for the U.S. Senate against Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer.
Apparently, CEO Carly can't be bothered to cast a ballot like a regular person - she wants to skip right to the top and be one of 100 to cast votes in the U.S. Senate.
Today, Senators Barbara Boxer (CA), Kirsten Gillibrand (NY), and Amy Klobuchar (MN) offered their support for Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor, highlighting the importance of having another woman's voice on the highest court in the land.
“[Sotomayor’s nomination is] important because we want our [government] institutions in this country…to reflect the diversity of our country, and the majority of the people in this country are women and we need to be represented. It doesn’t mean women are better but we are equal,” Senator Barbara Boxer (CA) said.
Over the past couple of months Sotomayor has met with many of our women senators, including Klobuchar, Boxer, Gillibrand, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (CA), Sen. Claire McCaskill (MO), Sen. Barbara Mikulski (MD), and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (NH).
Check out photos from her meetings with some of the senators that EMILY's List helped elect.
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