EMERGENCY: Rick Perry is anti-women's healthcare

“Even as more than one-quarter of Texas women are uninsured, and women in Texas have the third highest rate of cervical cancer in the country, Governor Perry is determined to make a bad situation worse for women in the state of Texas. Texas would rather throw health care for hundreds of thousands of women overboard than allow Planned Parenthood to provide health care like breast and cervical cancer screenings, birth control, and STD prevention through public health programs.” - Cecile Richards

This is a way bigger deal than most people know about. Rick Perry is sabotaging the entire Medicaid Women's Health Program in Texas. We know everyone is tired of hearing about Planned Parenthood cuts and you might be thinking, "this always happens, but they're still up and running- why is this a big deal?"- but we can assure you that this is definitely the worst thing to happen to us all year- not just Planned Parenthood, but all women participating in the Women's Health Program.

Rick Perry cut funding for women's health services by two-thirds. You should be outraged if you are a woman or if you love someone who is- Rick Perry is preventing women from receiving LIFE SAVING cancer screenings and birth control. Oh yeah, also, no one can complain about abortion here because Medicaid Women's Health Program is a federal program- so it DOES NOT PROVIDE ABORTION. This has nothing to do with abortion. So, even if you're pro-life you should disagree with Perry's (illegal) decision.

Even more unfortunately, Planned Parenthood is not the only organization affected. What Rick Perry has done violates federal law. It's ILLEGAL. The federal government decided that if any state excludes Planned Parenthood (or any other qualifying provider), that state will be KICKED OUT of the Medicaid Program. 

Does anyone have any idea how big of a deal this is?? 130,000 Texas women will no longer have affordable healthcare.

At Planned Parenthood, we've been working as hard as we can to get back into this Medicaid Program, and we need all the help we can get. The original article about this violation of women's right to health and a petition against it are listed below:

Planned Parenthood Press Release

TAKE ACTION! Click here to sign the petition.

This petition can also be found on the Texas Voices for Reproductive Justice Facebook.

UT's Planned Parenthood Rally with Cecile Richards

On February 17, Cecile Richards, Planned Parenthood's President, came to the UT Campus to speak. The Planned Parenthood Birth Control Rally was hosted by Voices for Reproductive Justice, UT's University Democrats, Texas Freedom Network Student Chapter, and Law Students for Reproductive Justice.

Voices for Reproductive Justice was there to register students to vote and to help with petition signing.

Megan helping students register. VRJ Registered 21 students at this event!

Below are several links to news articles and videos about the Planned Parenthood Birth Control Rally.

KVUE News on Planned Parenthood Birth Control Rally 

Texas Tribune on Planned Parenthood Birth Control Rally

Burnt Orange Report on Planned Parenthood Birth Control Rally

Read the Horn on Planned Parenthood Birth Control Rally

Bringing Spring 2012 Up to Speed

UT's Voices for Reproductive Justice has been active while planning for a successful student group.

On January 19, 2012 Liz, Megan, Katy, and Sawyer became voter deputies for Travis County. 

On January 26, Liz, Megan, and Katy went to Austin City Hall to speak in favor of Item # 17: Approve an Ordinance repealing Chapter 10-9 of the City Code, relating to notices at limited service pregnancy centers, and Item # 45: Approve an ordinance amending the City Code to add Chapter 10-10, relating to limited service pregnancy centers. 

Please click on this link to see the debate: Testimony at City Hall Items 17 and 45

From left to right: Megan, Liz, and Katy speaking at City Hall

On February 7, Liz and Katy helped stuff Planned Parenthood Valentine's Day bags for the clinics, and for tabling on campus. Each bag included 6 condoms and 6 pieces of candy.

From left to right: Katy and Liz

Be My Safe-Sex Valentine!

On February 12, UT's Voices for Reproductive Justice was officially registered as a Student Organization.

On February 14, Valentine's Day, VRJ tabled on the West Mall. Students were able to pick up the condom goody bags, register to vote, and also sign up for VRJ's e-mail list.

From left to right: Liz and Megan