Reproductive health under fire: The battles over contraception coverage & abortion

Listen

A vote tally board in the Virginia State Senate displays the vote on a bill requiring an ultrasound before an abortion in Richmond, Va., on Tuesday. Virginia is one of several states considering legislation to require women seeking abortions to undergo ultrasound exams. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

Hour 1

Battles over the birth control and abortion are erupting all over the country and dominating headlines this campaign season. Last week Senate Democrats narrowly defeated a Republican-led challenge to President Obama’s contraception coverage policy, which requires health insurance plans to cover the cost of birth control. And some states are debating bills that require women to undergo an ultrasound when seeking an abortion. In Pennsylvania, Bill 1077 was introduced in the House, which requires pre-abortion ultrasounds. This hour we’ll talk to the lead sponsor of that bill, Pennsylvania Republican State Representative KATHY RAPP.  Then, we’ll discuss why in 2012 contraception, abortion, and women’s health have become such divisive issues. Our guests are MICHELLE GOLDBERG, a senior contributing writer for The Daily Beast/Newsweek, and MELINDA HENNEBERGER, political writer for The Washington Post.

Listen to the mp3

Listen:
[audio: 030512_100630.mp3]

WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal