Texas clergy asks lawmakers to boost women's health funding -- particularly for birth control

Mar 6 2013

Elsewhere, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo links the fight for women's rights to his proposed abortion legislation, and Arkansas' governor vetoes a bill that would ban most abortions at 12 weeks, setting up another override fight in that state.

The Associated Press: Texas Clergy Call For More Women's Health Funding
More than 370 members of the clergy asked the Texas Legislature on Tuesday to boost funding for women's health programs. Leaders of Methodist, Buddhist, Presbyterian, Jewish, Baptist and Unitarian congregations lobbied lawmakers for more spending to help poor women, particularly with birth control. The Republican-controlled Legislature cut spending on health programs for poor women by $73 million - about two-thirds - in 2011. Experts predict that will led to an additional 23,760 pregnancies in 2014-15, all of which will fall under Medicaid, the health care program for the poor, and cost the state an additional $273 million (Tomlinson, 3/4).

The Associated Press/Wall Street Journal: Women's Group Works With Cuomo On Rights, Abortion
A new coalition lobbying for Gov. Andrew Cuomo's women's rights agenda said it supports his decision to link popular measures against workplace discrimination and human trafficking with a hotly debated abortion measure. It's a political gamble that faces strong opposition among Senate Republicans (3/4).

Reuters: Arkansas Governor Vetoes Bill Banning Most Abortions At 12 Weeks
Democratic Governor Mike Beebe on Monday vetoed legislation that would ban most abortions in Arkansas after 12 weeks of pregnancy, a restriction that would be the most severe in the nation. The bill's supporters say they plan to seek a vote on Tuesday to override Beebe's veto, which would require only a simple majority in Arkansas (Parker, 3/4).