You may know that last weekend, incoming Speaker of the House, Thom Tillis, spent time at a prayer breakfast with the NC Right to Life.  Thom was quoted in an N&O article as saying to the attendees, “There’s nothing more important than what you’re doing here.”  That would be the work to limit women’s reproductive choices.

Given the state of our economy, unemployment, education, and the budget crisis, it is unbelievable that Rep. Tillis will make this issue a top priority.  I sent him an email to say so. ( You can too by clicking here)

Here’s an excerpt from my email, subject line FOCUS!:

I find your new social agenda to be HYPOCRITICAL. The day
after the election you were quoted as saying,
“We’re a centrist state. We’re a small government; we’re a
limited-government, free-market, stay-out of my-personal-life
electorate.”

I think reproductive health decisions qualify as a part of
one’s “personal life” and I would like you to “stay out” of mine.

Here’s part of his reply:

The measure we have suggested be taken up by the Legislature is to
better inform expectant mothers of the full range of choices beyond an
abortion and consequences/risks. 

If you disagree with the idea of fully informed consent then we may have
to agree to disagree but I wanted to be sure you at least understood the
context and intent of my remarks.

[Thom even let's me know that he "told the audience he would have to be brief because of another "important" commitment" as if this somehow lessened the fact that he is making restricting access a priority.]

My response:  surely you jest, Thom!

Legislators who based on ideology alone, develop scripts to “inform” women of the risks and consequences as anti-choice legislators see them are intruding into the doctor/patient relationship, plain and simple.  Your intention here is to create hoops for women to jump through who are already in unfortunate circumstances and you call that “saving lives.”  I will fight you all the way on this and NO, I will not agree to disagree here.

Join me and let’s fight this together.

One Response to “Focus Thom”