My representative in Austin, TX, Congressman Lloyd Doggett, stood with Planned Parenthood and voted against the bill. I made sure to express my appreciation to Rep. Doggett by sending a letter to his office. Today I received this reply:

March 2, 2011

Dear Emily:

Knowing of our shared interest in protecting women’s reproductive rights, I write to you regarding the Republicans’ outrageous attacks on Planned Parenthood and other health centers that provide abortion care and many preventive medical services upon which low-income women and their families depend. As you may know, the House, over my objection, recently passed a Continuing Resolution proposed by the Republicans that would strip funding from reproductive health programs. An amendment was even adopted that would strip funding specifically from Planned Parenthood. As a longtime supporter of Planned Parenthood, I vigorously opposed this bill and this amendment.

In 2009 alone, the Planned Parenthood centers in Texas provided 263,059 patients with screenings for cancer and diabetes, flu vaccinations, contraception, adoption referrals and much, much more. By proposing to zero out funding for such medical centers, Republicans have turned life-saving care into a political football.

As a member of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus and consistent with my 100% pro-choice voting record (as evaluated by Planned Parenthood and Pro-Choice America), I strongly support reproductive rights. Below, you can read a letter I recently sent to Speaker Boehner in defense of Planned Parenthood and the care it provides. As you may be aware, the new Republican majority has made undermining choice one of their priorities. I cannot overstate the need for you, your family, and your friends, who share our commitment to women’s rights, to lift your voices in support of progress.

I would also appreciate your thoughts on other issues that may be considered in Congress. If you have not already, please take a moment to visit my website at http://doggett.house.gov/ where you can complete a survey online.

To better ensure that your priorities are my priorities, it is important that I hear from you and that you have the opportunity to receive updates about developments in Washington. I hope that you will take this opportunity to sign up for the latest updates from my office, visit my Facebook page, follow me on Twitter, or send me an e-mail at Lloyd.Doggett@mail.house.gov. By signing up for “Lloyd’s List,” you are authorizing me to send regular e-mail updates from my office to your e-mail account. Help me work for you by signing up today.

Please keep me advised of any federal matters on which I may be of assistance.

Also included in the message was an open letter to Speaker of the House John Boehner:

Dear Speaker Boehner:

We are writing to strongly oppose efforts designed to undermine women’s access to basic, preventive health care and the women’s health providers they rely on in their communities. In particular, we are deeply concerned about the impact that H.R. 217, the “Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act” would have on American women and their families.

H.R. 217 is squarely aimed at Planned Parenthood health centers, which serve 3 million Americans every year—providing life-saving cancer screenings, routine gynecological examinations, contraceptive services, immunizations, and STI testing and treatment. For more than 90 years, Planned Parenthood’s doctors and nurses have served as a critical source of health care in communities throughout the United States. One in five American women has received care from a Planned Parenthood health center at some point in her life, making it one of the largest women’s health care providers in the country.

We are concerned that some members of Congress are pursuing an agenda that would undercut women’s access to health care.

H.R. 217 poses a significant threat to women’s health. It would prohibit women’s health centers from receiving Title X family planning funds if they separately provide abortion care with private funds. Given that the law already requires women’s health centers to demonstrate that Title X funds are not used for abortion, this legislation is clearly intended to prevent Planned Parenthood and other women’s health centers from receiving this critical funding stream.

American women will suffer if this legislation becomes law, as Planned Parenthood currently serves 36 percent of Americans who receive health care through the Title X program. Simply put, H.R. 217 would cut millions of American women off from their source of primary care.

Now is the time to be working on the issues that Americans care most about: creating jobs and improving the economy. We strongly encourage you ensure the House of Representatives is focused on these issues, rather than legislation that takes health care away from American women.

Sincerely,
Lloyd Doggett

We live in a time where women are shamed for being sexually active, and where it is getting more and more difficult for women to get the knowledge and resources needed to prevent unwanted pregnancy and avoid STDs and other serious illnesses. Planned Parenthood is an invaluable resource for women across the country, and they do much more than just provide contraceptives for women. PP is a place to learn, to be informed, to stay healthy, to be safe, and to have a better understanding of the choices we have as women. This isn’t just an issue of reproductive rights; it’s an issue of women’s health.

It’s time to stand up and be heard, and to support an organization as important and needed as Planned Parenthood. Find out if your representative voted for or against this bill. If they voted for it, let them know why they made a mistake. If they voted against it, thank them for standing up for women’s health and reproductive rights.

I mean, it is catchy, but … Weezer? At least T-Pain made sense. Whatever.

Star Trek Generations

I’ll forgo bullet points so that I can just rant for a minute. The movie started out like the rest of the Star Trek films up until this point, which was awesome, because I like the Star Trek films. But then it turned into a prolonged episode of TNG, which was really boring. And then Kirk ended his Trek tenure in the worst way EVER. I know everyone and their grandmother has complained about it, but that’s not stopping me. I mean, really. The only thing I’ll give them is that they stuck with what he said in Undiscovered Country. That he’d die alone. And he did, considering that McCoy and Spock weren’t there. Also, neither of them were in the film at all, and were only briefly mentioned.

A brief point about my reaction to this film. Did I cry for Kirk? No. Did I cry for the Enterprise? No. Did I cry when Data found Spot? Yes. Like a little baby. So there you have it.

I also decided that I was going to stop re-watching the Trek films at this point. It really was the final send-off for the original cast, even if it was a disappointing send-off. So for the next three days I will highlight my favorite episodes. Tomorrow will be #3, the next day #2, and I’ll end with #1, my favorite and arguably the best episode of the original Star Trek series. Because I know how much you all want to know.

As a heads-up, there is a strong possibility that my judgment will be swayed by episodes parodied by Futurama. Just saying.

Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country

Thoughts:
- Spock was so interestingly out of character in this movie. Interestingly because Nimoy helped write the story and produce to the film.
- Kim Cattrall? Hilarious!
- For such a mighty race, I find it quite entertaining that Klingons have bright pink blood.
- I got really confused by Colonel Worf. They only call him Worf, so naturally I thought of the Worf we all know and love from TNG and Voyager. This Worf is even played by Michael Dorn, although the ridges in his forehead are different. Apparently he is supposed to be Worf’s grandfather. I kept thinking during the film, “this was released in 2001, after TNG had been on tv for four years. Wouldn’t this be confusing?” I guess it’s okay to have this film overlap TNG, even though it’s supposed to have happened well before Picard took over the Enterprise-D. I’d look into that further if … I cared that much. Which I kind of don’t. Maybe that makes me a bad Trekkie?
- I’m glad they dropped the whole Uhura/Scotty thing. I was not a fan.

Star Trek V: The Final Frontier

I really only have two things I want to say about this film.
1- People seem to really hate the tongue-and-cheek jokes of this film. I, for one, find them refreshing. The film knows not to take itself of the franchise too seriously. At this point why wouldn’t you point out there age or some of the oddities of their lifestyle? They’re the cowboys of outspace, and cowboy films and cowboys are comfortable with poking fun at their lives. Why should Star Trek be any different?
2- Everyone always seems to think that Kirk is a womanizer or whatever. But take a look at this film. It was co-written by Shatner and directed by Shatner. There was no love interest for Kirk, even remotely. I realize that Shatner =/= Kirk, but for the man that played the part for so long, wouldn’t you think he’d include that angle if he thought it was important to Kirk’s character? I do think, though, that Kirk is mostly interested in his friendship/relationship with Spock and McCoy, and I think the focus on those feelings is more in line with Kirk’s character than any romantic fling.