More on the GOP Platform

GOP approves platform banning abortion, gay marriages

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- Republicans emphatically approved a toughly worded party platform at their national convention Tuesday that would ban all abortions and gay marriages, reshape Medicare into a voucher-like program and cut taxes...

The party states that "the unborn child has a fundamental individual right to life which cannot be infringed." It opposes using public revenues to promote or perform abortion or to fund organizations that perform or advocate abortions. It says the party will not fund or subsidize health care that includes abortion coverage...

The platform pledges to move both Medicare and Medicaid away from "the current unsustainable defined-benefit entitlement model to a fiscally sound defined-contribution model." It supports a Medicare transition to a premium-support model with an income-adjusted contribution toward a health plan of the enrollee's choice. Age eligibility in Medicare must be made more realistic in light of longer life spans.

Medicaid services for low income people would be transformed into a block grant program in which the states would be given the flexibility to determine the best programs for their residents...

It states that a Republican president on his first day in office would use his waiver authority to halt progress in carrying out the health care act pushed through by President Barack Obama and that Republican victories in November would guarantee that the act is never implemented. It proposes a Republican plan based on improving health care quality and lowering costs and a system that promotes the free market and gives consumers more choice...

It says Republicans renew their call for replacing family planning programs for teens "with abstinence education which teaches abstinence until marriage as the responsible and respected standard of behavior."

Six Ways The GOP Platform Is Bad News For Women's Bottom Lineby Bryce Covert (Forbes.com)

1. Repealing ObamaCare (ObamaCare creates gender equity, provides for access to contraception, among other things)

2. Controlling Your Fertility (disallows women to make decisions for selves)

3. “Reforming” Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security (Social Security is the only income for app. 1/3 of women over 65 - The GOP plan puts many women at risk)

4. More welfare reform (c. 90% adult beneficiaries of TANF are women)

5. Reducing government payrolls, including teachers

6. Single mothers = bad   (no help - just vilification)

See article for more details