Equal Pay for Women Rally In Red bank

There is a rally for Equal Pay for Women this Sunday 12pm outside Senator Jen Beck's office, 32 Monmouth St Red Bank. The Monmouth County Democratic Women's Caucus is organizing the rally.

Looking for answers for eroding Women’s Rights….

By Retha Onitiri, PMP
Chair Monmouth County Democratic Women’s Caucus

We’ve all heard the expression, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

Yet, the Republican-dominated U.S. House recently attempted to overturn the pragmatic Reproductive Health Non Discrimination Act (RHNDA), an amendment to the Human Rights Act of 1977, which was enacted to protect women in the District of Columbia from being fired for their choices to use birth control, in-vitro fertilization or abortion.

Last week’s House Committee vote on HJ Res-43 was a “resolution of disapproval”—and the first time in 23 years that members of Congress had gotten this far in the process of trying to overturn this local D.C. law. HJ Res-43 also applies to another “resolution of disapproval” on the Human Rights Amendment Act (HRAA) which protects LGBT student groups from discrimination at religiously affiliated schools. Most of us agree….this is a whole lot that “doesn’t need fixin’.”

Nancy Northup, president of the Center for Reproductive Rights, criticized the House for passing HJ Res-43 saying, “RHNDA is a common-sense bill passed unanimously by the D.C. City Council years ago to ensure that bosses cannot intrude upon decisions made in their employees’ exam rooms....just as politicians in Congress should not be intruding upon the District’s efforts to enact it.”

“Yielding to pressure by right-wing caucus members and outside groups who claim that RHNDA limits religious liberty suggests that GOP lawmakers are hypocritical for voting to overturn this law, given their party’s stance on reducing big government in favor of local control,” stated Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D—D.C.) She added that “the resumption of the war on women by Republicans, combined with the overturning of a local law by the House, will not be lost on the public.”

In addition to the overturn of RHNDA, which would result in more unplanned births, we cannot dismiss the fact that aggressive Republican budget cuts put low and middle income women in the crossfire of how to use their meager incomes to provide substantive healthcare, child care and education for those children.

Clearly, there is a great chasm in our country. We must ask WHY? If we are allowed to plan workdays, holidays and vacations but not allowed to plan Parenthood, we must ask WHY? If men and women cannot determine when and how many children they can afford, taking into account their personal resources, we must ask WHY? If a woman is required to answer to her employer in regard to her reproductive health decisions and a male employee is not, WHY? A doctor/patient relationship has always been protected, but women’s rights are now under siege, WHY?

Busy fixin’ women’s reproductive healthcare, our GOP lawmakers not only waste the time, energy and resources that brought them to Washington in the first place, but also impede the efforts of other elected officials from resolving some of the nation’s looming crises—income inequality, lack of job training programs, high college tuition debt, racial violence in our cities, immigration reform, inexcusable lack of good gun sense, global warming, to name a few. Could this distraction become so overpowering that real problems remain unfixable? Most of us agree…..there is a whole lot that
“does need fixin’.”

Let’s start by sending loud and clear messages to lawmakers who waste our taxpayer dollars. Tell them that finding solutions to the real problems, rather than using partisan tactics to deflect from them, will keep our nation strong. HOW?

Vote in every election and ask your neighbors to vote. Write a letter, even two lines will do! Make a phone call—voice your opinion. There is nothing that we, as American citizens, cannot accomplish when we have the collective will to do it. We owe it to our future generations.

Monmouth County Democratic Women’s Caucus Will Celebrate Women Making History

For Immediate Release:

The Monmouth County Democratic Women’s Caucus will celebrate Women Making History in New Jersey on Monday, March 24, 2014 at the Watermark, 800 Ocean Avenue, Asbury Park, NJ 07712. The event will highlight some of the contributions that women have made in contemporary society, and also recognize those individuals who have worked to build our nation from its first settlers to those who worked for Equality of Rights throughout U.S. history. Guest speakers are Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, LD-37, Executive VP Milly Silva, 1199 SEIU and Clinton Mayor Janice Kovach, Candidate CD-7.

“Last year’s event at the Watermark was very successful,” said Retha Onitiri, co-chair of MCDWC, “and we anticipate that attendance will double this year as membership continues to grow.” Although the caucus is celebrating women, we encourage all members to bring their significant other to enjoy our guest speakers, music, hors’doeurves and remarkable information about women who have made a big difference in our lives. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Advance tickets may be purchased online ($47) HERE or at the door ($55) or paid by check to:

MCDWC “Women Making History”; mail check to P. O. Box 444, Millstone Township, NJ 08510-0444. All contributions will be dedicated to the election of democratic women candidates in 2014. For more information, visit www.monmouthdemswomen.com or call Retha at (609) 903-3433.

Monmouth County Democratic Women’s Caucus calls on Governor Christie to demand the immediate resignation of Chairman Jose Arango

Below is a Joint Statement from the Monmouth County Democratic Women's Caucus Co-Chairs, Red Bank Councilwoman Kathy Horgan and Ms. Retha Onitri:

"Hudson County Republican Chairman Jose Arango’s disrespectful and demeaning statements about Milly Silva, the Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor, would be outrageous if they weren’t so stupid.

"Mr. Arango apparently has little respect for women and even less for himself in making such moronic assertions. His comment that Senator Barbara Buono’s choice of running mate is “like picking my secretary,” is an insult to every woman – or man – who has ever worked as a secretary and who could probably run the company better than the boss.

"Would Mr. Arango say the same thing about Governor Christie’s choice of a female Lieutenant Governor, Kim Guadagno? The Monmouth County Democratic Women’s Caucus calls on Governor Christie to demand the immediate resignation one of his advisers, Chairman Jose Arango."

MC Women's Caucus Sponsoring Economic Forum

Monmouth County Democratic Women’s Caucus to present “Women in History” Event in Asbury Park Tonight

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 4, 2013


ASBURY PARK – Monmouth County Democrats Women’s Caucus is holding a very special event tonight, “Women in History”, featuring guest speakers Democratic Candidate for Governor Barbara Buono, State Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, Assemblywoman Gabriela Mosquera and Clinton, NJ Mayor Janice Kovach, at the Watermark, 700 Ocean Avenue in Asbury Park, NJ.

The Monmouth County Democratic Women’s Caucus was established to help increase the political voice of Democratic women within every level of government. In just nine months, The Monmouth County Democratic Women’s Caucus has grown into a political force of over 100 members, holding regular monthly meetings, supporting Democratic women candidates throughout the county and volunteering in many county party events.

“Together, we are fighting against gender inequality and political oppression,” says co-chair Patricia Teffenhart-Maikos of Holmdel. “Anyone who discounts the strength and determination of the Monmouth County Democrats hasn’t met the Women’s Caucus. We are a group of passionate women dedicated to turning Monmouth County BLUE, one municipality – one election at a time.”

Co-Chair Retha Onitiri of Millstone adds, “Tonight, we celebrate our Democratic sisters who are truly history-making women in New Jersey."

Tonight’s fundraiser will begin at 6pm and the cost of admission is $30.00. All proceeds go to the Monmouth County Democratic Organization.

Monmouth County Democratic Women’s Caucus Event at the Watermark on March 4th

(click to enlarge)