Dear John,
Elections might not be on your radar right now, given that it’s not a presidential or midterm election year, but they should be. This November, Ohio voters will decide whether to amend their state’s constitution to include the right for individuals to make their own reproductive healthcare decisions—including abortion.
Reproductive, women’s and civil rights organizations are urging voters to vote yes on Issue 1, the Right to Make Reproductive Decisions Including Abortion Initiative, which would add the following language in the state’s constitution: “Every individual has a right to make and carry out one’s own reproductive decisions, including but not limited to decisions on: contraception, fertility treatment, continuing one’s own pregnancy, miscarriage care, and abortion.”
If passed, the amendment would block a six-week abortion ban that has no exceptions for rape or incest from taking effect. The ban, passed by the Republican-dominated state legislature and signed by Gov. Mike DeWine in 2019, is currently on hold pending a legal challenge. The Issue 1 amendment will restore Roe-era protections in Ohio. If you’re in Ohio, or have friends or family there, note that early voting has already begun—click here to learn more about how and when you can vote.
National headlines are focused on the Republican majority’s inability to select a House speaker, increasing fears that a paralyzed Congress cannot avert a costly government shutdown when government funds run out November 17. But what the press is not covering, is that on Sept. 30, federal childcare stabilization grant funding expired—a loss that could result in 3.2 million children losing childcare.
Next week, President Biden is expected to send two funding requests to Congress—one focused on national security that includes aid for Israel and Ukraine, and another that focuses on domestic issues, including childcare. The latter is expected to face pushback from Republicans.
Feminists in Congress have advocated for the child care funding’s inclusion, following the childcare stabilization grant funding’s expiration. “Child care funding is incredibly important for kids, families and providers, and I’m glad to hear reports that the White House will be including it in its supplemental request,” said Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.), to Politico. “This is an issue that can’t be left on the cutting room floor.”
“The President has made clear he will submit a separate request on critical, bipartisan domestic funding priorities—like addressing the child care crisis affecting our economy and millions of families, nutrition assistance for women and kids, and delivering additional relief to communities recovering from disaster—which I will review once submitted and act on, as well,” said Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) in a statement. “Because as we address vital national security priorities, I absolutely intend to make a forceful case for the domestic priorities working families across America and Washington state are counting on—and I will be working alongside my colleagues to ensure we do.”
“We have a national security obligation and we also have a domestic security obligation, and both of them are imperative,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), to Politico, noting that she planned to advocate for child care’s inclusion. But right now, we face a majority in the House that fundamentally does not value care work.
Finally, as with the rest of the world this week, our attention is focused on the escalating violence in Israel and Gaza, following the indescribably vicious attack by Hamas terrorists inside Israel on October 7. Thousands of Palestinians and Israelis have already been killed, with thousands more injured, largely in Gaza.
And when bearing witness to war is more important than ever, journalists in the region are paying the ultimate price. Since October 7th, 21 journalists have been killed, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists—including at least three women, with eight more journalists injured including two women, and three journalists reported missing or detained. Among those killed are 17 Palestinian, three Israeli, and one Lebanese journalist. The impact of these losses, and of the thousands of civilian deaths as a result of the war, cannot be overstated.
Onward,
