|
|
If you supported President Obama for his campaign promise to “Change”
with regard to the issues NCJW supports, you should not be disappointed
in what changes have occurred during his brief tenure. NCJW President
Nancy Ratzan has been to the White House twice for signing events. The
Lily Ledbetter Bill and the lifting of the ban on Stem Cell research are
two major issues lobbied for by NCJW are 2 of the recent successes.
On Tuesday as part of the Omnibus spending package, a $20 million increase
for the Violence Against Women Act was approved. I was in Washington,
D. C. on February 24 lobbying for this act along with some of my counterparts
from around the country. I am proud to say that I was able to personally
thank Sen. Alexander for his sponsorship for this legislation and encourage
Sen. Corker to follow his colleague from Tennessee in supporting this
matter. Also, the omnibus spending bill restores access to contraception
for low income and college women. In January, 2007 the practice of drug
companies supplying contraceptives at a reduced price to community and
college clinics was virtually eliminated through an “inadvertent
legislative error”. NCJW and coalition members have worked hard
the past two years to restore the practice of affordable birth control
in these clinics. Now with the FY2010 budget being criticized, there will
be the need to continue to push for future funding for these types of
measures.
After years of ending my visits to D.C. with the feeling of frustration,
I left this year with this feeling of hope. That hope stopped when I stepped
onto “Capital Hill” here in Nashville. In my most recent “Ten
Minutes for Tennessee” column in the NCJW Bulletin, I stated the
change in leadership in the Tennessee General Assembly would impact the
NCJW agenda. What I did not know was just how badly the rights of women
in this state would be impacted by those who would normally be on our
side.
On Wednesday I spent 4 hours at the Legislative Plaza listening to a host
of men and a couple of women, talk about why the state needs a constitutional
amendment outlawing abortion in this state. These individuals were both
Republicans and Democrats. The Senate Judiciary committee voted 6 to 2
to pass SJR 0127 requiring the issue be placed on the ballot as a constitutional
amendment. The House Health and Human Resources committee held a hearing
regarding HJR61 which has allowances for mother’s health, rape and
incest, and HJR 61, 68, 88 – all which outlaw abortion with no exceptions.
It was clear that both sides of the aisle have intent to get this issue
before the voters. Should all this come to fruition, the end result will
mean the Tennessee General Assembly will have the power in which to pass
laws that control access to abortion if abortion is allowed at all. Although
this all hinges on what the Supreme Court will do with Roe vs. Wade –
which continues to teeter on the balance beam of the court – giving
power to the Tennessee General Assembly over the rights of a woman’s
reproductive freedom is scary beyond words. This year there are 68 gun
bills being considered by this legislative body. Can you imagine what
they would do with the power to control women having children?
Although the representatives from the urban Republican areas of the state
are sponsors of 3 of these measures, the two Democrat sponsors are from
rural areas. The rural areas are where the house lost the Democratic majority.
Abortion was a hot issue in the rural house races and some Democrats ran
as anti-choice in the past election. As I encourage you to contact our
local representatives with your opinion, I also ask that you reach out
to those you know in the rural areas of Tennessee to do the same. I have
family in Cookeville where Henry Fincher, the prime sponsor of HJR61 is
the representative. My e-mail detailing the pros and cons of his resolution
has been sent along with the request to contact Mr. Fincher. I have also
requested they continue the dialogue, either by e-mail or in person. Not
only do our state’s rural areas have the greatest risk for unplanned
pregnancies, related complications and funding, but this is also where
issue is losing support.
It appears things are changing in D.C. for the better, but in Tennessee,
I fear we are changing for the worse.
As always, feel free to contact me for more information on legislative
and public policy issues.
La Quita Martin
Tennessee Public Affairs Chair
qmartinspa@att.net
|
Contact
your Tennessee Congressional Representatives
|
Legislative
Switchboard: (800) 449-8366, then the last 5 digits of the Nashville phone
number
GOVERNOR
Phil Bredeson (D)
1202 State Office Building
Nashville, TN 37243
(615) 741-2001
170 N. Main St.
Memphis, TN 38103
(901) 529-7480
Address:
The Honorable Phil Bredeson, Governor of Tennessee
Salutation: Dear Governor Bredeson
SENATORS
Kyle,
James F., Jr. (D-28)
9A Legislative Plaza, Nashville, TN 37243
(615) 741-4167/FAX (615) 253-0221
sen.jim.kyle@capitol.tn.gov
Ford,
Ophelia N. (D-29)
6A Legislative Plaza, Nashville, TN 37243
(615)741-1767
sen.ophelia.ford@capitol.tn.gov
Marrero,
Beverly (D-30)
11A Legislative Plaza, Nashville, TN 37243
(615) 741-9128
sen.beverly.marrero@capitol.tn.gov
Stanley,
Paul (R-31)
302 War Memorial Bldg., Nashville, TN 37243
(615) 741-3036
sen.paul.stanley@capitol.tn.gov
Norris,
Mark (R-32)
303 War Memorial Bldg., Nashville, TN 37243
(615) 741-1967/FAX (615) 741-7200
sen.mark.norris@capitol.tn.gov
Tate,
Reginald (D-33)
2 Legislative Plaza
(615) 741-2509/FAX (615) 741-9349
sen.reginald.tate@capitol.tn.gov
REPRESENTATIVES
Kelsey,
Brian K. (R-83)
203 War Memorial Bldg., Nashville, TN 37243
(615) 741-4415
rep.brian.kelsey@capitol.tn.gov
Towns,
Joe , Jr. (D-84)
36 Legislative Plaza, Nashville, TN 37243
(615) 741-2189
rep.joe.towns@capitol.tn.gov
Turner,
Larry (D-85)
208 War Memorial Bldg., Nashville, TN 37243
(615) 741-6954
rep.larry.turner@capitol.tn.gov
Cooper,
Barbara (D-86)
38 Legislative Plaza, Nashville, TN 37243
(615) 741-4295
rep.barbara.cooper@capitol.tn.gov
Camper,
Karen D. (D-87)
38 Legislative Plaza, Nashville, TN 37243
(615) 741-1898
rep.karen.camper@capitol.tn.gov
Miller,
Larry J. (D-88)
20 Legislative Plaza, Nashville, TN 37243
(615) 741-4453
rep.larry.miller@capitol.tn.gov
Richardson,
Jeanne (D-89)
26 Legislative Plaza, Nashville, TN 37243
(615) 741-2010
rep.jeanne.richardson@capitol.tn.gov
DeBerry,
John J., Jr. (D-90) 26 LP
26 Legislative Plaza, Nashville, TN 37243
(615) 741-2239
rep.john.deberry@capitol.tn.gov
DeBerry,
Lois M. (D-91)
15 Legislative Plaza, Nashville, TN 37243
(615) 741-3830
rep.lois.deberry@capitol.tn.gov
Hardaway,
G. A. (D-92) 38 LP
109 War Memorial Bldg., Nashville, TN 37243
(615) 741-5625
rep.ga.hardaway@capitol.tn.gov
Kernell,
Mike (D-93) 38 LP
38 Legislative Plaza, Nashville, TN 37243
(615) 741-3726
rep.mike.kernell@capitol.tn.gov
Todd,
Curry (R-95)
204 War Memorial Bldg., Nashville, TN 37243
(615) 741-1866
rep.curry.todd@capitol.tn.gov
McManus,
Steve (R-96)
212 War Memorial Bldg., Nashville, TN 37243
(615) 741-1920
rep.steve.mcmanus@capitol.tn.gov
Coley,
Jim (R-97)
207 War Memorial Bldg., Nashville, TN 37243
(615) 741-8201
rep.jim.coley@capitol.tn.gov
Jones,
Ulysses , Jr. (D-98)
35 Legislative Plaza, Nashville, TN 37243
(615) 741-4575
rep.ulysses.jones@capitol.tn.gov
Lollar,
Ron (R-99)
209 War Memorial Bldg., Nashville, TN 37243
(615) 741-7084
rep.ron.lollar@capitol.tn.gov
Address:
The Honorable; Salutation: Dear Mr. or Mrs.
|
Contact
your National Congressional Representatives
|
White
House Comment Line: (202) 456-1111
Capital Switchboard: (202) 456-1414
Capital FAX Number: (202) 456-2461
http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
Email: comments@whitehouse.gov
President: Barack Obama (D)
The White House Office
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20500
(202) 456-1414
Address: The President; Salutation: Dear Mr. President
Vice President:
Joseph Biden (D)
Office of the Vice President
Old Executive Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20501
(202) 456-2326
Address:
The Vice President; Salutation: Dear Mr. Vice President
U.S. SENATORS
Bob Corker
(R)
100 Peabody Place, Suite 1125
Memphis, TN 38103 (901) 683-1910; FAX (901) 575-3528
185 Dirkson Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
(202) 224-3344/FAX#: 228-0566
Web Form: Use the link below to communicate with Senator Corker via the
web:
http://corker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactInformation.ContactMe
Lamar
Alexander (R)
167 North Main St., Ste. 1068
Memphis, TN 38103 (901) 544-4224; FAX (901) 544-4227
455 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
(202) 224-4944/FAX#: 228-3398
Web Form: Use the link below to communicate with Senator Alexander via
the web:
http://alexander.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Home
Address:
The Honorable; Salutation: Dear Senator
U.S. REPRESENTATIVES
District
7
Marsha Blackburn (R)
7975 Stage Hill Blvd. Suite 1
Memphis, TN 38133 (901) 382-5811; FAX (901) 373-8215
217 Cannon Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-4207
(202) 225-2811; FAX (202) 225-3004
District
8
John Tanner (D)
8120 Hwy 51 N., Suite 3
Millington, TN 38053
(901) 873-5690; FAX (901) 873-5692
1226 Longworth Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-4208
(202) 225-4714; FAX (202) 225-1765
District
9
Steve Cohen (D)
167 N. Main St., Suite 369
Memphis, TN 38103
(901) 544-4131; FAX (901) 544-4329
1005 Longworth Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
(202) 225-3265; FAX (202) 225-5663
Address:
The Honorable;
Salutation: Dear Representative |
