News from National Organization for Women-New York State

For more information contact: Marcia Pappas, 518-452-3944 or Alberta Roesser,585-755-8313

National Organization for Women-NYS Demands Passage of New Bill

Governor Spitzer's Reproductive Health and Privacy Protection Act

ALBANY, NY (08/21/2007; 1817)(readMedia)-- In collaboration with the Greater Rochester NOW Chapter, the National Organization for Women-NYS is launching a statewide campaign to persuade NYS Legislators to support a bill updating the State’s abortion laws.

On Tuesday, August 28, 2007 at 3 PM, NOW members will begin picketing the office of Senator Joseph Robach ( R ). NOW-NYS State President Marcia Pappas will appear at a press conference in front of the Senator’s office at 2300 West Ridge Road in Greece, NY to demand that the NYS Legislature pass the NY State Reproductive Health and Privacy Protection Act (RHPPA), introduced by Governor Spitzer earlier this year.

According to NOW-NYS State President, Marcia A. Pappas, “This bill will revise NY State’s outdated abortion law, originally enacted in 1970. Because Senator Robach is blocking passage of this important bill, NOW is targeting him with the message that it’s time for all legislators to be on board to protect women’s health.”

Women’s rights supporters are concerned by a recent US Supreme Court decision. That ruling gave politicians the power to make medical decisions for women; taking away a woman’s right to determine her own personal health care needs. NOW members and supporters fear that, because of the high Court’s conservative, fundamentalist makeup, Roe v. Wade will be completely overturned.

According to Alberta Roesser, President of Greater Rochester NOW, “Women are angry about this decision because it actually specifies that a woman’s health is no longer a consideration when imposing restrictions on abortion. Because federal lawmakers can no longer be counted on to protect women, many progressive states are pushing to enact legislation protecting a women’s right to a safe, legal abortion.”

The RHPPA bill would amend or repeal various statutes in the old law to ensure that NYS protects a woman’s right to choose the course of her pregnancy, and to use or refuse contraceptives. Further, the law would establish a fundamental, statutory right to privacy for women in making personal reproductive decisions.

The National Organization for Women is the largest women’s rights organization in the US comprised of over 500,000 contributing members. NOW New York State is comprised of over 40,000 contributing members and 22 chapters. The mission of NOW is to achieve true equality for women.