White House Call In Days!
Pro-Choice H*ya
Hey Everybody!!
So recently there's been a lot going on surrounding the no co-pay on birth control that is supposed to kick in for everyone this January. Currently there is a movement by the Catholic Bishops to allow Catholic organizations, not just Churches but also universities like Georgetown, to refuse to cover the co-pay for women covered on their health insurance. While this may not seem like that big a deal, it means hundreds of thousands of women will continue to have to pay co pays because of the religious beliefs of the school they attend or organization they work for (see the NYTimes article below, it's a good one).
At Georgetown we're in a very unique position to make a difference in this movement as HFC is one of the only pro-choice organizations at a Catholic University and it'd be great if we, as a group, could get involved. I've included the highlights of the email Planned Parenthood Federation of America sent about how to take action in the next few days, and it'd be great if everybody could at least do the call-in day to the White House today or tomorrow!! Please let me know if you do make the call (c'mon guys, you can even text them and they'll call you back - see instructions below) so we can keep a grand tally. Also if anyone wants more information on how to get more involved just get in touch!
WHAT TO DO:
1. Send the PPFA action alert on the refusal clause to your friends, family members, and co-workers and encourage them to take action and sign the letter asking President Obama to stand strong and resist calls to restrict access to contraception. Send this: https://secure.ppaction.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=13879&s_src=refusal_1111_c3_e1_student to everyone you know!
2. On Facebook, post this editorial that was just in the New York Times about this attack on birth control and get your friends to do the same! http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/06/opinion/sunday/a-new-battle-over-contraception.html?_r=1
3. CALL IN DAY!!!
On Wednesday, November 16, and Thursday, November 17, Planned Parenthood youth groups from all across the country will be tabling, talking to friends, or otherwise engaging their youth community and having them call the White House to express their concern over the refusal clause.
You can table in a busy area and ask students to make a quick call as they pass by, ask a teacher to let you talk to your class on the issue and have them make calls, or ask around in your dormitory — whatever works for you and your community!
Contacting the White House is easy! Text BCREFUSAL to 69866 to be connected directly to the White House Switchboard. And don’t worry, we’ll give you quick talking points right before the call goes through.
Calls will only take a few seconds! A sample call could sound like:
“Hi, my name is Charlie Cook and I attend the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I ask that President Obama stand strong against any refusal clauses to the Affordable Care Act that would deny millions of students access to birth control without co-pay. College students need access to affordable birth control to stay healthy, graduate, and plan our families. We should not impose certain religious beliefs on women’s lives simply because they attend a faith-based higher education institution or because of where they work. Thank you.”
Please
use the talking points below and craft a personal message. Remember
not to read from the bullet points but incorporate them into your
message. The key is to make the message your own!
Key Talking Points:
· Coverage of birth control with no co-pays is one of the most popular benefits of the Affordable Care Act. At a time when many college students are struggling with increasing tuition and college fees, expanding access to affordable birth control will be a tremendous benefit.
· Access to birth control with no co-pays will help me dramatically perform better in school by improving my health and the health of my friends. Improved access will help me achieve better results in college and allow me to graduate on time.
· When I graduate, my first job should offer health insurance that also includes access to birth control with no co-pays.
· Women in college, regardless if they go to a religiously affiliated school or a non-faith-based university, should have access to birth control with no co-pays. We should not impose certain religious beliefs on women’s lives simply because they attend a faith-based higher education institution or because of where they work.
Please note that you should not text or call until Wednesday, November 16 and Thursday, November 17. We want to make sure that we demonstrate our collective power!
Thanks Everyone!!
Ashley