Health Politics

Obama Administration Delays ACA Provision Until 2015

On Tuesday, the Obama Administration announced that they would delay the implementation of a key mandate from the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act until 2015. The provision, which states that all employers with more than 50 employees must provide insurance coverage to their employees or face a monetary penalty was originally supposed to take effect in 2014.

Politics Take Action

The Equal Rights Amendment Needs You – Now!

by Martha Burk, Money Editor, Ms. magazine; director, Corporate Accountability Project, National Council of Women’s Organizations This post originally appeared on the Huffington Post. The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right of the people to petition the government for a redress of grievances. If you think fact that after 225 years the […]

Politics

Know Your November Ballot: Undocumented Immigrants

In the weeks leading up to Election Day, we will be outlining state ballot initiatives and referenda of major significance to women. Since the spring of 2010, when Arizona enacted S.B. 1070 (the harshest immigration law in the country), lawmakers and immigrant rights advocates have worked both to weaken the controversial law and to ensure […]

Activism Politics

The Invisible 6 Million

Nearly 6 million people in the United States will not be allowed to vote in the upcoming presidential election for one reason. As the November election nears, voting rights have become an important topic of conversation. From photo ID requirements to early voting restrictions, the negative effects of barriers to voting are being foreseen, not […]

Health Politics Reproductive Rights

“Where Are the Women?”

by Ali Tweedt, FMF Intern Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney’s (D-NY) now-infamous words have gone viral paired with a picture of last Thursday’s all-male panel at the hearing on contraception coverage by religious institutions. The hearing, “Lines Crossed: Separation of Church and State. Has the Obama Administration Trampled on Freedom of Religion and Freedom of Conscience?” was […]

Politics

When Did Stopping Violence Against Women Become Political?

Last Thursday, I attended the Senate Judiciary Committee meeting when they voted to send the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2011 to the Senate floor for a vote.  Every Committee Democrat voted yes and every Republican voted no.  Most of the Republicans didn’t even show up to cast their no votes, but did so […]

Politics

Finally, Finally! FBI’s “Forcible Rape” Definition Is Officially History

  By Annie Shields Last month we reported that victory was in sight in our months-long Rape is Rape campaign. At a December Senate hearing, FBI Director Robert Mueller let slip that “sometime this spring” the agency would update its archaic definition of “forcible rape.” Mueller’s prediction gave us reason for optimism, but an official announcement today from […]

Politics

HERvotes Takes On the Jobs Crisis

This post originally appeared on the Ms. Blog Our first #HERvotes blog carnival was so successful, we’re doing it again! On August 25-26, to mark the anniversaries of the passage of the 19th amendment and the March on Washington, Ms. joined with 21 women’s organizations to collectively publish 77 blog posts with a single harmonious […]

Politics

HERVOTES: “Mancession” Gives Way to “He-covery”

As the “Mancession” gives way to the “He-covery”, women are calling for their fair share.  President Obama’s jobs bill offers a plan to get Americans back to work, allocating funds ranging from payroll tax cuts to those for school revitalization. The White House estimates that 280,000 teacher layoffs will be avoided.  Women represent 78% of […]