daily va legislature watchdogging

[keryx]

The Well Time Period is doing my VA Legislature homework for me this session. I love how the internet just drops these little things in my lap these days.

The latest? A bill making it a felony to give a minor birth control if you think the sex they're using it for is a statutory violation.

But. We have duty-to-report laws in place already for doctors and such who encounter kids having sex with much older people. The birth control prohibition seems to counter the intent of those laws - to protect the freaking kid, including protecting them from an unwanted pregnancy and the eeevils of teen parenting and abortion the Republican delegates are so gosh-darned worried about. What is with that?

If you'd like to know, why not call or write District 13 Delegate Robert Marshall? He did write the thing, after all, and I'd like to know why. Bonus points if you're in his district! Much as you may like to, try not to title your email "HB 1807: are you stupid or what?".

I get the feeling the VA Legislature - or at least its conservative gay marriage and reproductive rights quashing majority - is going to rue the day Del. Cosgrove blamed the blogging community for his sloppy bill-writing.

By the way, Marshall? Is also on board with the whole homophobic Marriage Amendment thing. So feel free to mention that when you write him, too!

[Cross-posted to watchdog_va, which ya'll Virginians and concerned friends should join, even if it's not done yet.]

Comments

[missmeridian.livejournal.com]

hey - should we start a watchdogging community? i have dozens more bills to add to my lists - and need to come up with some efficient tracking system.

[keryx.livejournal.com]

That's not a bad idea, actually. Go for it!

[cyprinella]

Ugh! I hate that jackass! He's my district and I got a call the other night that was a phone survey. It included questions like "Are you pro-life?" "Are you a man?" "Do you believe that only the marriage between a man and a woman should be legally recognized?" I answered with terse nos and one hell no. My boyfriend was very concerned at how angry I was getting until I explained what it was.

This was also the same jackass that sent out this pamphlet that was all hysterical about how UVA gives out the morning after pill and doesnt track how many!!?OMGANDITGIVESYOULOTSOFPROGESTORONEOMGOMGOMG!!!oneoneone.

Ahem. I highly despise him.

[missmeridian.livejournal.com]

ok - what shall we name it?

watchdog_va
watch_va_legis
va_legis_watch
???

[keryx.livejournal.com]

I like the first. But whatever sounds good to you. We should join some of our local communities and give it some PR, too.

[keryx.livejournal.com]

Well, now I feel like my email was waaaaay too nice to him. Vent your anger in an email or call, please!

I suspect he and Cosgrove are cronies, too. They've cosponsored a bunch of stuff. Eeevil legislators!

[missmeridian.livejournal.com]

ok - i'll start it... i'll keep you posted.

[cyprinella]

It very much wouldn't surprise me. They have the same tone of slime.

I think I shall use my copious amount of free time this morning (ah the wonders of turning in notice) to come up with some sort of scathing letter.

[missmeridian.livejournal.com]

hmm. can you make an icon/image for the userinfo page?

[keryx.livejournal.com]

Not right this second, but this weekend maybe.

[missmeridian.livejournal.com]

could you cross-post this to watchdog_va? thanks!