The expressed opinions or views of this letter does not necessarily represent the opinion of the MiddletownMike blog:
As a District 4 constituent, I have contacted Congressman Chris Smith’s office on two issues that affect women in New Jersey. Statistics show that 52 women a month are killed due to domestic abuse in America (more than any other developed nation), but Smith, along with many other congressmen, has refused to support expanded national universal background checks that would help keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people. He has also voted against the Violence Against Women Act.
Smith’s voting record on women’s health care has resulted in the shuttering of accessible neighborhood health care clinics, necessitating expensive, long-distance travel for women who care for sick children, elderly parents or themselves. Turning the clock back on reproductive rights increases the suffering of women when access to a safe abortion is removed, especially in cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother.
Smith’s bill to block private insurance and flexible spending money from paying for birth control also affects a couple’s right to plan for their family’s future and again causes undue financial burden.
In this election season, we have an opportunity to choose a forward-thinking candidate who will stand firm to help women on these issues, as well as increase aid in areas such as education, income equality, child welfare and social justice. After 36 years, District 4 deserves a representative who is interested in tackling head on all the issues that pose a threat to our health and well-being.
Rosalind Ressner
Millstone Township
Showing posts with label women's issues. Show all posts
Showing posts with label women's issues. Show all posts
Monday, May 23, 2016
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
OP-ED: WE NEED TO CHANGE POLICY DIRECTION TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN WOMEN’S LIVES
The following Op-ed, written by Monmouth County Democrat Roz Ressner was posted yesterday on NJ Spotlight:
Women have listened closely to Congressman Chris Smith’s concerns; now it’s up to him to return the favor and listen to us
Women have listened to Congressman Chris Smith’s speeches on abortion issues. We take into consideration the convictions that propel him to enact healthcare legislation that impacts a woman’s most personal medical needs, but now ask that he listen to those voices he professes to care about. They are young teens and women -- married and single moms, those who are childless, those unable to conceive.
To a great extent, the ability to provide a safe, loving family environment is dependent upon quality of education and the financial stability provided to women. For most, bringing a child into the world is a joyous event, but oftentimes it is overshadowed by untenable situations -- low-paying jobs with little or no access to healthcare, too-short maternity leave, no flex time when children are sick. Fear of losing one’s job often results in children being left to fend for themselves or unsafe childcare. We can all agree that desperate women make desperate decisions.
Women have listened to Congressman Smith’s speech about HR7, misleadingly called “The No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act.” Its real premise is that funds derived from an employee’s health insurance plan or pretax personal flex-spending account cannot be used to purchase contraceptives -- this being tantamount to so-called “abortion services” or taxpayer dollars paying for government-funded abortions. It further penalizes employers whose insurance packages include reproductive health benefits.
It is a known fact that the pill helps to reduce the risk of ovarian and endometrial cancer and is used for other serious conditions related to women’s health. Unless one believes that the pill (or other forms of contraception) is solely used as a form of abortion or a prevention of pregnancy, then “The No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act” is truly a misnomer, allowing “fiction to win over fact.” Therefore, to deny insurance benefits forcing women to pay out-of- pocket for their medical expenses creates undue hardship to already strained budgets.
Congressman Smith has voted repeatedly for the Personhood Bill, which gives a fetus the same rights as an adult human, bans birth control, stem-cell research, and in-vitro fertilization. For thousands of women who require medical intervention, this bill would seriously threaten their ability to seek IVF treatment to become parents.
Congressman Smith rails against the sex-trafficking trade. Yet he did not vote for The Violence Against Women Act, even though hundreds of women are victims of rape, kidnapping, and forced prostitution every day. Women in trouble or who require affordable reproductive healthcare and screenings visit Planned Parenthood’s 700 health centers in the U.S. This provider offers educational programs that teach teens about the seriousness and great responsibility of parenthood. Yet these clinics are constantly under fire because 3 percent of their healthcare is for abortion services. Alas, there will always be abortions, safe, botched, or worse. Is there anything we can do to alter this landscape?
Yes, women have listened to Mr. Smith’s impassioned speeches, and although we respect his beliefs, they have caused a great divide. We ask now that his indefatigable energy be used to make a constructive difference; first, by promoting sex education -- proven successful in lowering the risk of teen pregnancy and reducing abortion rates -- and secondly, by enacting legislation that supports training, for higher-paying jobs, income equality, affordable housing, and childcare. Only then will women be able to make positive, empowered decisions. If asked, women will tell him that all of the above would be the answer to their prayers. Women have listened and now respectfully ask that he would do the same.
***********
Roz Ressner is the owner of Earth Friendly Organic Farm in Clarksburg. She serves as District 7 committeeperson in Millstone Township and as corresponding secretary for the Millstone Township Democratic Club.
Women have listened closely to Congressman Chris Smith’s concerns; now it’s up to him to return the favor and listen to us
Women have listened to Congressman Chris Smith’s speeches on abortion issues. We take into consideration the convictions that propel him to enact healthcare legislation that impacts a woman’s most personal medical needs, but now ask that he listen to those voices he professes to care about. They are young teens and women -- married and single moms, those who are childless, those unable to conceive.
To a great extent, the ability to provide a safe, loving family environment is dependent upon quality of education and the financial stability provided to women. For most, bringing a child into the world is a joyous event, but oftentimes it is overshadowed by untenable situations -- low-paying jobs with little or no access to healthcare, too-short maternity leave, no flex time when children are sick. Fear of losing one’s job often results in children being left to fend for themselves or unsafe childcare. We can all agree that desperate women make desperate decisions.Women have listened to Congressman Smith’s speech about HR7, misleadingly called “The No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act.” Its real premise is that funds derived from an employee’s health insurance plan or pretax personal flex-spending account cannot be used to purchase contraceptives -- this being tantamount to so-called “abortion services” or taxpayer dollars paying for government-funded abortions. It further penalizes employers whose insurance packages include reproductive health benefits.
It is a known fact that the pill helps to reduce the risk of ovarian and endometrial cancer and is used for other serious conditions related to women’s health. Unless one believes that the pill (or other forms of contraception) is solely used as a form of abortion or a prevention of pregnancy, then “The No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act” is truly a misnomer, allowing “fiction to win over fact.” Therefore, to deny insurance benefits forcing women to pay out-of- pocket for their medical expenses creates undue hardship to already strained budgets.
Congressman Smith has voted repeatedly for the Personhood Bill, which gives a fetus the same rights as an adult human, bans birth control, stem-cell research, and in-vitro fertilization. For thousands of women who require medical intervention, this bill would seriously threaten their ability to seek IVF treatment to become parents.
Congressman Smith rails against the sex-trafficking trade. Yet he did not vote for The Violence Against Women Act, even though hundreds of women are victims of rape, kidnapping, and forced prostitution every day. Women in trouble or who require affordable reproductive healthcare and screenings visit Planned Parenthood’s 700 health centers in the U.S. This provider offers educational programs that teach teens about the seriousness and great responsibility of parenthood. Yet these clinics are constantly under fire because 3 percent of their healthcare is for abortion services. Alas, there will always be abortions, safe, botched, or worse. Is there anything we can do to alter this landscape?
Yes, women have listened to Mr. Smith’s impassioned speeches, and although we respect his beliefs, they have caused a great divide. We ask now that his indefatigable energy be used to make a constructive difference; first, by promoting sex education -- proven successful in lowering the risk of teen pregnancy and reducing abortion rates -- and secondly, by enacting legislation that supports training, for higher-paying jobs, income equality, affordable housing, and childcare. Only then will women be able to make positive, empowered decisions. If asked, women will tell him that all of the above would be the answer to their prayers. Women have listened and now respectfully ask that he would do the same.
***********
Roz Ressner is the owner of Earth Friendly Organic Farm in Clarksburg. She serves as District 7 committeeperson in Millstone Township and as corresponding secretary for the Millstone Township Democratic Club.
Friday, August 29, 2014
Smith Called Out For His Extremism In The NYT
Seeing how Chris Smith is Middletown's other U.S. Congressman. He started representing our town in 2012 and thought I should pass along the following Letter to the Editor that appeared in the New York Times earlier in the week.
The more Middletown voters get to know Chris Smith, the more they are to dislike him:
The more Middletown voters get to know Chris Smith, the more they are to dislike him:
To the Editor:
Re “Quackery and Abortion Rights” (editorial, Aug. 21): Women in this country should not be fooled into thinking that efforts to restrict access to abortion and reproductive health services are a Texas problem or a “Southern” problem. In fact, there have been several moves to pass federal “personhood” bills by conservative House members.
Most recently, in the 112th Congress, H.R. 374 was proposed, which said that life begins at fertilization, making abortion virtually illegal, as well as virtually outlawing birth control pills, the IUD and the morning-after pill. Representatives Christopher Smith and Scott Garrett of New Jersey and Michael Grimm of New York were the bill’s co-sponsors.
If ever a midterm election were important on the issue of women’s reproductive rights, this November is it. If Republicans take the Senate as well as the House, access to women’s reproductive health services will not be just a Texas problem, but also a national one.
BONNIE CHALEK
Ridgewood, N.J., Aug. 21, 2014
Saturday, April 12, 2014
President Obama's Weekly Address 4/12/14: Ensuring Equal Pay for Equal Work
WASHINGTON, DC – In this week’s address, the President underscored the importance of ensuring equal pay for equal work and highlighted the steps his Administration has taken to expand opportunity and narrow the pay gap that exists between men and women. Just this week – on Equal Pay Day – the President took action to increase transparency and make it easier to recognize pay discrimination. Women make up half of America’s workforce, and are increasingly the primary-breadwinners in American families. Ensuring that women are paid fairly is a commonsense step to grow our economy. That is why the President again called on Republicans in Congress to support the Paycheck Fairness Act and stop blocking progress that would benefit women – because when women succeed, America succeeds.
Saturday, March 22, 2014
President Obama's Weekly Address 3/22/14: Rewarding Women's Hard Work and Increasing the Minimum Wage
WASHINGTON, DC— In this week’s address, President Obama highlighted the importance of making sure our economy rewards the hard work of every American – including America’s women. The President reiterated his call for Congress to ensure that women earn equal pay for equal work and increase the minimum wage to $10.10, which would give nearly 28 million Americans the raise they deserve. He underscored his belief that providing opportunity for working women and families is the right thing to do for our economy, because when women succeed, America succeeds.
Saturday, February 8, 2014
When Women Succeed, America Succeeds
The following is from Congressman Rush Holt's newsletter:
After decades of pioneering work by women in New Jersey and around the country, outright sexism has become uncommon in American workplaces. But more subtle, and equally pernicious, obstacles to women’s economic success remain. Women earn on average 77 cents for every dollar a man makes for the exact same work, a pay gap that starts the first year out of college and continues for the rest of a woman’s life. Two-thirds of all minimum-wage workers are women. Nearly half of full-time employees have no protections for paid family and medical leave.
These issues affect women most acutely, but they are not just “women’s issues.” After all, our economy cannot succeed if half of the population is left behind.
So how can New Jersey and our country do better? Last week I convened a forum at the State House in Trenton to consider that question. I was joined by Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, a longtime champion for women’s economic rights; Randi Weingarten, the outspoken president of the American Federation of Teachers; Analilia Mejia of the NJ Working Families Alliance; Hetty Rosenstein of the Communications Workers of America; Karen White of the Rutgers Center for Women and Work; Laurel Brennan, the Secretary-Treasurer of the NJ AFL-CIO; Ann Vardeman of New Jersey Citizen Action; and other New Jersey men and women with firsthand stories of a working world that still seems out of step with their realities.
New Jersey has made great strides on these issues, but as we spoke, it became clear that any further progress will start with three steps. First, America must guarantee sick leave to all workers. Second, we must ensure that employees can take time away from work to care for their families. And finally, we should increase the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour. Not only will these changes lift millions of women (and men) out of poverty, but they will strengthen the fabric of our economy by ensuring that workers can take care of themselves and their families.
We can do better – for women, for their families, and for our economy.
95,000
In just two weeks, New Jersey will lose access to $7.6 million in federal funding for health care outreach. According to a new report from New Jersey Policy Perspectives, the money could help 95,000 New Jerseyans gain health insurance. But the Christie Administration has, for ideological reasons, refused to claim the funds, despite my repeated efforts to convince the governor to act.
The money is there for the asking. Before the clock ticks further, New Jersey should use these funds available to us to extend health care to as many of our citizens as possible.
Working for You
Recently, a West Windsor woman contacted my office because her name had been misprinted on her passport. She had twice attempted to get the misspelling corrected, but each time she received a new passport with the same misprint – and she needed a valid passport for a fast-approaching international trip. On her behalf, I contacted the National Passport Center, which quickly reprinted the document with the correct spelling of her last name.
Have you encountered a similar problem with a passport center, the VA, Social Security, Medicare, or any other federal agency? If so, please call me at 1-87-RUSH-HOLT or by sending an e-mail. I’ll do all I can to address your problem.
Sincerely,
Rush Holt
Member of Congress
After decades of pioneering work by women in New Jersey and around the country, outright sexism has become uncommon in American workplaces. But more subtle, and equally pernicious, obstacles to women’s economic success remain. Women earn on average 77 cents for every dollar a man makes for the exact same work, a pay gap that starts the first year out of college and continues for the rest of a woman’s life. Two-thirds of all minimum-wage workers are women. Nearly half of full-time employees have no protections for paid family and medical leave.These issues affect women most acutely, but they are not just “women’s issues.” After all, our economy cannot succeed if half of the population is left behind.
So how can New Jersey and our country do better? Last week I convened a forum at the State House in Trenton to consider that question. I was joined by Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, a longtime champion for women’s economic rights; Randi Weingarten, the outspoken president of the American Federation of Teachers; Analilia Mejia of the NJ Working Families Alliance; Hetty Rosenstein of the Communications Workers of America; Karen White of the Rutgers Center for Women and Work; Laurel Brennan, the Secretary-Treasurer of the NJ AFL-CIO; Ann Vardeman of New Jersey Citizen Action; and other New Jersey men and women with firsthand stories of a working world that still seems out of step with their realities.
New Jersey has made great strides on these issues, but as we spoke, it became clear that any further progress will start with three steps. First, America must guarantee sick leave to all workers. Second, we must ensure that employees can take time away from work to care for their families. And finally, we should increase the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour. Not only will these changes lift millions of women (and men) out of poverty, but they will strengthen the fabric of our economy by ensuring that workers can take care of themselves and their families.
We can do better – for women, for their families, and for our economy.
95,000
In just two weeks, New Jersey will lose access to $7.6 million in federal funding for health care outreach. According to a new report from New Jersey Policy Perspectives, the money could help 95,000 New Jerseyans gain health insurance. But the Christie Administration has, for ideological reasons, refused to claim the funds, despite my repeated efforts to convince the governor to act.
The money is there for the asking. Before the clock ticks further, New Jersey should use these funds available to us to extend health care to as many of our citizens as possible.
Working for You
Recently, a West Windsor woman contacted my office because her name had been misprinted on her passport. She had twice attempted to get the misspelling corrected, but each time she received a new passport with the same misprint – and she needed a valid passport for a fast-approaching international trip. On her behalf, I contacted the National Passport Center, which quickly reprinted the document with the correct spelling of her last name.
Have you encountered a similar problem with a passport center, the VA, Social Security, Medicare, or any other federal agency? If so, please call me at 1-87-RUSH-HOLT or by sending an e-mail. I’ll do all I can to address your problem.
Sincerely,
Rush Holt
Member of Congress
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Mitt Romney's Condescending Views Toward Wome
Tuesday night, President Obama won the debate and laid out the clear choice in this election. Americans saw a strong, steady and decisive president with a vision and plan to move this country forward. And when Mitt Romney tried to mislead voters -- which was pretty often -- the President exposed the real Romney.
Romney was shifty when it came to women's issues. He gave an awkward and dishonest answer about his refusal to stand up for legislation that helps women fight back when they don't receive equal pay for equal work. While the President talked about women as breadwinners for American families, Romney talked about them as resumes in a "binder." Romney also didn't tell the truth about his plan to take away women's access to affordable contraception by repealing Obamacare, or his support of an extreme proposal to put employers in charge of whether female employees can get contraception through their insurance plan. Today, his campaign called the issue of birth control "peripheral" for most women. Um, ok.
(barackobama.com)
Romney was shifty when it came to women's issues. He gave an awkward and dishonest answer about his refusal to stand up for legislation that helps women fight back when they don't receive equal pay for equal work. While the President talked about women as breadwinners for American families, Romney talked about them as resumes in a "binder." Romney also didn't tell the truth about his plan to take away women's access to affordable contraception by repealing Obamacare, or his support of an extreme proposal to put employers in charge of whether female employees can get contraception through their insurance plan. Today, his campaign called the issue of birth control "peripheral" for most women. Um, ok.
(barackobama.com)
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