Last week, I released a video urging Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) to drop his pledge to continue the fight against contraception in the U.S. House of Representatives. On the same day an amendment offered by Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO) to allow employers to cut off preventive coverage for their employees was defeated in the U.S. Senate, Speaker Boehner told reporters, “I think it’s important to win this issue.”
Read a letter I sent to Speaker Boehner, calling on him to rescind his pledge to push forward with efforts to restrict women’s access to contraception after the Blunt amendment was defeated in the Senate. The letter was signed by all 12 Democratic women Senators. So far, we have received no response from Speaker Boehner. I have led the charge on Twitter, with the help of groups like NARAL and Planned Parenthood, asking Speaker Boehner to #DropThePledge. Now I need your help. Urge Speaker Boehner to stop the attacks on women and birth control.
“Patty Murray Releases Video Urging John Boehner to Drop Birth Control Fight”
– The Huffington Post
Addressing the Mental Wounds of War
Last week, I attended a Defense Appropriations Subcommittee hearing, and had the opportunity to press Army Secretary John McHugh on recent shortcomings in the Army’s efforts to properly diagnose and treat the invisible wounds of war. Specifically, I discussed the forensic psychiatry unit at Madigan Army Medical Center on Joint Base Lewis-McChord that is under investigation for changing mental health diagnoses based on the cost of providing care and benefits to servicemembers. The challenges of mental health care and PTSD are real and no one should be denying any service member care purely because of a question of cost. This is an issue I will continue to monitor closely, to ensure that our men and women in uniform are getting the care they deserve.
“40% of PTSD diagnoses at Madigan were reversed”
– The Seattle Times
“Sen. Patty Murray on help for PTSD sufferers: ‘We must seize this opportunity’”
– KOMO News
House Republicans Release Flawed Budget Plan
Last week, I was deeply disappointed when House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan unveiled the Republican budget, which cuts spending on programs middle class families rely on below the level Speaker Boehner and House Republicans agreed to in the bipartisan Budget Control Act last year. Their budget plan highlights the upside-down priorities of Republicans. At a time when older and middle-class Americans are struggling to get by, this budget would end the Medicare guarantee for seniors in order to guarantee even more tax cuts for the rich. This plan is not only out-of-touch with reality, it would be damaging to our fragile economic recovery.
The purpose of the bipartisan Budget Control Act was to move toward serious deficit reduction and provide some consistency to the federal budget so the American people wouldn’t be threatened with a government shutdown every few months. It was just one step, but it was an important one. If Republicans were serious about debt and deficit reduction, they would work with us to protect middle class families, invest in jobs and economic growth, and make sure the wealthiest Americans and biggest corporations were paying their fair share. But this budget shows that they are more concerned with appeasing their extreme base than actually working with us to reduce the deficit. Republicans need to join with Democrats to find a balanced, bipartisan approach, and I will continue to fight to tackle the deficit and debt in a way that doesn’t fall solely on the backs of seniors and the middle class.
“Democrats: Ryan budget a ‘breach of faith’, hurts women”
– The Washington Post
“Déjà vu: House GOP reignites the Medicare fight with its budget ”
– Talking Points Memo
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