CHOICE-NET REPORT is a weekly update on reproductive rights issues distributed through Women's Wire, the WELL gopher, and other Internet channels. Please reprint, distribute and TAKE ACTION. Editor: Kathy Watkins, Administrative Director, California Abortion Rights Action League-North. email: dtv@well.sf.ca.us xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx THE CHOICE-NET REPORT For Week ending January 22, 1994 xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx "We understand that there's no such thing as health equality for women unless women have full reproductive coverage." -- Donna Shalala, Secretary of Health and Human Services REPUBLICANS SPLIT ON HEALTH CARE A group of young Republican activists led by former Dan Quayle aide Bill Kristol is pushing the idea of early enactment of a weak, no-reform health care plan. Kristol's group "Project for the Republican Future" claims that most Americans are satisfied with the present health system. Bob Dole is promoting early pseudo-reform as well. However, three separate groups of Senate Republicans oppose the gradualist approach, and have introduced comprehensive reform plans. WHO DECIDES? The Health Care package was submitted in its entirety to to THREE separate House committees, each of which will produce its own version of the bill. The House Rules Committee will then choose which pieces of which bills go to the House floor. The Senate sends Health Care to committees this week as Congress reconvenes. These powerful committees will determine the course of health care reform. Like all politicians, the members of these committees face intense pressure from major campaign contributors (insurance and pharmaceutical companies for example). Since EVERY SEAT IN THE HOUSE IS UP FOR RE-ELECTION THIS YEAR, campaign contributions are very much on the agenda. Call Project Vote Smart (1-800-622-7627) for information on who finances which campaigns. Make sure our legislators know we expect them to vote in the interest of the health of the American people, even if it means voting against the business interests of their campaign contributors. To balance the business lobby, we must make sure that Congress hears from us in large numbers. Call and write these committee members and demand that the full range of reproductive health care, including abortion, be included as basic services in any health care reform. To Write: The Honorable (First & Last Name) House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515 To Call: 202-225-3121 Legislative Status Office: 202-225-1772 (To find out hearing dates and bill status.) HOUSE COMMITTEES Rules Committee Chair -- Joe Moakley (MA) Rules Committee Members -- Democrats: Butler Derrick, (SC), Anthony Beilenson (CA), Martin Frost (TX), David Bonior (MI), Tony Hall (OH), Alan Wheat (MO) Bart Gordon (TN), Louise Slaughter (NY). Republicans: Gerald Solomon (NY), Jimmy Quillen (TN), David Dreier (CA), Porter Goss (FL) Energy and Commerce Chair -- John Dingell (MI) Health and Environment Subcommittee Chair -- Henry Waxman (CA) Health and Environment Subcommittee Members -- Democrats: Mike Synar (OK), Ron Wyden (OR), Ralph Hall (TX), Bill Richardson (NM), John Bryant (TX), J. Roy Rowland (GA), Edolphus Towns (NY), Gerry Studds (MA), Jim Slattery (KS), Jim Cooper (TN), Frank Pallone (NJ), Craig Washington (TX), Sherrod Brown (OH), Mike Kreidler (WA), John Dingell (MI). Republicans: Tom Bliley (VA), Michael Bilirakis (FL), Alex McMillan (NC), Dennis Hastert (FL), Fred Upton (MI), Bill Paxon (NY), Scott Klug (WI), Gary Franks (CT), James Greenwood (PA), Carlos Moorhead (CA). Ways and Means Committee Chair -- Dan Rostenkowski (IL) Health Subcommittee Chair -- Pete Stark (CA) Health Subcommittee Members -- Democrats: Sander Levin (MI), Benjamin Cardin (MD), Michael Andrews (TX), Jim McDermott (WA), Gerald Kleczka (WI), John Lewis (GA). Republicans: Bill Thomas (CA), Nancy Johnson (CT), Fred Grandy (IA), Jim McCrery (LA). Next week: The Senate Committees xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx STRANGE RUMOR OF THE WEEK Beltway insiders have heard that Clinton might put James Carville in charge of keeping reproductive health care advocates from pushing too hard for inclusion in the Health Care package. Many women who worked tirelessly to elect Clinton, and have a great deal of respect for Carville, are saddened and quite annoyed at the prospect. America might be much better served by turning Carville loose on Bob Dole. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx FOLLOW THE MONEY This week Pat Robertson, well-funded leader of the Christian Coalition, led his 700 club program through a 3-day telethon which yielded $6 million in pledges. Viewers were told that God is lifting his hand of protection off America as evidenced by the earthquakes in L.A. and the brutal weather in the East. The reason given for the loss of God's protection--legalized abortion. Viewers were urged to flood Congress with letters begging them to keep abortion out of health care reform. Meanwhile, five years after his unsuccessful run for president, Pat Robertson has been ordered to pay nearly $400,000 in fines for FEC violations during that campaign. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Information Sources: California Abortion Rights Action League-North, Alan Guttmacher Institute, Reproductive Freedom News, various Congresspersons, various newspapers, CNN, Associated Press and UPI. Editor: Kathy Watkins, Administrative Director, California Abortion Rights Action League-North. email: dtv@well.sf.ca.us .