Issues

Against the backdrop of a contentious presidential campaign in which abortion and even contraception were front-burner issues supporters of reproductive health and rights were able to block high-profile attacks on access to abortion in states as diverse as Alabama, Idaho, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Virginia. 2012 Saw Second-Highest Number of Abortion Restrictions Ever January 2, 2013 Reproductive health and rights were once again the subject of extensive debate in state capitols in 2012. Over the course of the year, 42 states and the District o… more »

The Military Leadership Diversity Commission stated that DOD should take deliberate steps to open additional career fields and units involved in direct ground combat. Such a move would essentially limit or repeal, in its entirety, the 1994 DOD policy regarding women serving in combat units.Women’s right supporters contend that the exclusionary policy prevents women from gaining leadership positions. more »

A California law prohibits mental health providers from engaging in efforts to change the sexual orientation of patients under the age of 18. Illinois law enhances the penalties for manufacturing and selling bath salts. Oregon school districts must adopt a policy on teen dating violence. California law adds breastfeeding as a category of sexual discrimination in housing and employment.Illinois created the Toxin-Free Toddler Act banning manufacturers and wholesalers from selling children's food and beverage containers containing bisphenol A(BPA). more »

"The chained CPI grows more slowly than the traditional CPI does: by an average of 0.3 percentage points per year over the past decade. As a result, using that measure to index benefit programs and tax provisions would reduce federal spending (especially on Social Security and federal pensions) and increase revenues." more »