"Protect Abortion Access"

Planned Parenthood Affiliates of Michigan is trying to combat a bill that is working its way through the Michigan legislature. This is their text describing the legislation, with my comments interspersed:

"House Bill 4446 and Senate Bill 307 require that a woman receive an ultrasound, the opportunity to view the active ultrasound image, and a physical picture of the ultrasound image of the fetus prior to an abortion. HB 4446 (Substitute H–1) passed the House with immediate effect on May 24, 2005 and passed the Senate with immediate effect on December 7, 2005. The substitute removed the mandated ultrasound requirement. The bill now returns to the House.
These bills are just one more attempt by anti-choice hardliners [According to dictionary.com, "hardliner" means someone who is firm or uncompromising about a policy or position. That would make Planned Parenthood Affiliates of Michigan hardliners, too. So if the word does not distinguish between the two sides, why use it except to be petty and pejorative? BD] to limit access to medically, [sic.] safe, legal abortions. This legislation does not seek to provide women with more information to make informed decisions. [Au contraire: this information is extremely relevant to making an informed decision about a life-changing invasive procedure. Which is worse: limiting access to abortion, or limiting access to such information? BD] Instead it is redundant and politically driven [I'm pretty sure all legislation is politically driven. And not just legislation: any campaign to oppose a particular legislation is by definition politically driven as well. BD], and does not have the best interest of women in mind. [Who will best know what is in a woman's best interest: Planned Parenthood Affiliates of Michigan or the woman herself after she has been given all the relevant facts? BD]

Contact members of the Michigan House to oppose passage of HB 4446 and SB 307. Urge your Representative to support increased funding for family planning services, expanded contraceptive coverage for all women, and comprehensive abstinence-plus education as methods for reducing the number of abortions in Michigan [Talk about politically driven--now Planned Parenthood Affiliates of Michigan is concerned about reducing the number of abortions in Michigan! BD]."