After deliberately violating Medicaid rules in an effort to oust Planned Parenthood from the state's Women's Health Program (which set off a flurry of proposals and lawsuits), Texas lawmakers are moving along with their battle against abortion. This time around, as reported by The Texas Observer, Republican Rep. Bill Zedler is dancing the fine line between legality and HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) privacy violation by seeking to require extremely detailed information about abortion patients and abortion providers. more ›

Susan G. Komen for the Cure argues that the reason for cutting ties with Planned Parenthood is in response to a new rule that does not allow them to provide grants to associations under investigation... If this is true, then when will Komen part ways with Bank of America? more ›

Abortion opponents marked the 39th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade this past Saturday with a march on the Capitol. Many of the attendees had something to celebrate: namely, the recent decision by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals that Texas’ controversial mandatory sonogram law must be enforced even as it continues to be appealed. more ›

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled yesterday that Texas may not enforce its abortion sonogram law while the measure is still under appeal, according to the Texas Tribune. more ›

Ah, Texas.  Biggest and best in everything, right?  And with the passage of Senate Bill 7, an omnibus health care spending bill festooned with controversial amendments, Texas potentially achieves another "biggest":  we are now the biggest state to attempt defunding Planned Parenthood.  Which, depending on how you look at it, is either sucky for women, or great for fetuses. more ›

Despite a last minute request by disability rights advocates for language changes, House Bill 15, the controversial sonogram bill, now heads to Governor Rick Perry's desk for his signature. With some exceptions, the new law will impose a requirement that women seeking abortions in Texas receive a sonogram, have the opportunity to listen to the fetal heartbeat, receive counseling (including a detailed description of fetal development), and wait 24 hours before actually having the procedure. more ›

Well, fuck. You know, I am so tired of having to do this, but once again I am going to trot out my abortion story, which I have told many times before but which—in light of Dan Patrick’s and Rick Perry’s latest bullshit—bears telling yet again. Years ago I proposed those of us who’ve had abortions all get bumper stickers that say, ASK ME ABOUT MY ABORTION. Of course, if we did, our tires would be slashed, windshields shattered, and “Second Amendment remedies” applied. But the idea was that maybe if all these jackasses trying to outlaw abortion would stop and really listen, they might gain enough insight and compassion to BACK THE FUCK OFF. Before I revisit my own abortion—which, for the record, continues to count as one of the smartest choices I ever made in my life, so please don’t try to add me to some false statistic report about post-abortion regret— let’s take a look at Lila Rose, shall we? My heart swells with pity for this 20-something woman-hating, blind sheep who identifies herself as a revolutionary when, in fact, she is merely a puppet for so many conservative bullies (many, many of them men) who scream about too much government control and, at the same time, keep trying to legislate the female reproductive system. more ›

The Texas Legislature is still only dealing with issues that Gov. Perry has classified as "emergency" items (and no, unfortunately our state's troubled budget isn't one of them). One of these is State Senator Dan Patrick's bill SB16 which would require ultrasounds (whether medically necessary or not) to be performed before any abortion. The public hearing is taking place in Senate Chambers today at 9am; pro-choice advocates are asking people to show up this morning and comment or send an email to their State Senator. more ›

• One man, 400 I.D.s.
• Sex abuse scandals testing the Catholic Church.
• U.S. ally Saudi Arabia sets beheading date for 'sorcerer'.

• Health care bill victory: Obama's historic moment
• The Senate gets their turn... (hoo boy!)
• Health care reform a possible boon to health industry

In 1985, I starred in a movie produced, directed, and shot by my then horrible boyfriend. Okay, so it wasn’t a film, it was a video, but back then shooting on video was a big deal. It’s not like today, when you can use a tiny, reasonably priced iPhone to instantly capture motion. Oh no, this involved major effort and expense. For one, there was the rental of at-the-time cutting edge technology in the form of a nine hundred pound video camera and enormous tripod. For another, we had to time the thing just right, making sure his insanely prim parents wouldn’t arrive home and catch us in flagrante delicto. Yes, that’s right. Somewhere out there (unless—please baby Jesus, the tape has disintegrated) exists documentation of my naked 21 year-old ass in various compromising positions as the two of us managed to put both the rot and the ic(k) in our attempt at erotic. more ›

• New Zealand athlete finds a profitable way to pay for his Olympic debt.
• Now, even the camels are dying from drought.
• Perry complicates investigation into whether Texas executed an innocent man.

• Texas continues to ignore that whole "separation of church and state" thing.
• Ohio politician seems to think abortion should be decided by men.
• Obama: police who arrested Henry Louis Gates, Jr. "acted stupidly."

Obama: full speed ahead on health care overhaul. Taxing health care benefits "on the table" after all? Progressives still fighting to get single-payer in same room as table Obama's overseas charm offensive... could it work? Accused killer Roeder: Expect more anti-abortion violence Stephen Colbert dons cammies, takes his act to Baghdad Where the rich eat their cake: over $1000 apple crates When Republicans tweet... more ›

AMBER ALERT Time Warner breaks up with AOL. Sotomayor on the abortion fence? 'Cuz we totally need another war. Madoff scam keeps innocent people behind bars? Dog custody battle. Frozen mom found in fridge 20 years later. more ›

Pres. Obama seeks (again) "common ground" with antis Recession threatens child health, safety, education improvements What is it about the green ones? (Industry subtly intrigued by Obama climate plan) Gov. Perry's secession chatter scoring big points against Kay Bailey Uruguay lifts ban on gays in military, crops do not fail Oopsie of the day: Biden reveals location of secret bunker Tasteful, socially beneficial" sex theme park closes in China more ›

Like Republican VP nominee, Sarah Palin, I, too, am a hunter and a fisherwoman. In fact, I like to combine the two by shooting fish in a barrel. Which is why, though I know I’m way late to the over-saturated sport known as hurl-shit-at-the-unvetted-candidate-chosen-for-her-good-looks-lack-of-penis-and-radical-conservatism, I just can’t resist. Let’s examine the obvious, shameless marketing first. Apparently, to illustrate her point that no woman should ever be allowed to have an abortion (except in very extreme cases, which I will get back to in a minute) Palin came up with an elaborate plot not only to have five children, but to make sure one of them has Down Syndrome, just so she could point to her holier-than-the-rest-of-us self. Even Pappy and Babs Bush didn’t stoop so low as to play the Retard Card, despite the fact they, too, have a mentally disabled son, one who managed to land a job in the White House. more ›