In the KWNOW
               The E-Newsletter of Key West National Organization for Women

Key West NOW                      Vol. 11, No. 1                   Spring 2006

       Citizen Announces Our 10th Anniversary!
What a surprise to find KWNOW on page one of the Key West Citizen last Monday. Seems it was a slow feature day, and thanks to reporters Chris Tittel and Mandy Bolan (who wrote the very nice story), we got the nod. The timing was good, too – let’s discuss ways to celebrate all year long, beginning at the regular April meeting tomorrow, Friday the 21st, 6 till 7 p.m. at Shanna Key, Flagler at Bertha streets. (Even on St. Pat’s Day, we found Shanna Key a fine place for an early evening meeting, and the food’s excellent (remember Gary of Rooftop, and his wife, Beth, of Square One and the 1,500 mile march for – I think – muscular dystrophy?) It’s a casual, comfortable place and even the bathrooms look accessable.

Since tomorrow is the Symphony’s opening night for its last master concert of the season, and Shanna Key just steps from the high school, you’re welcome to join us for dinner before the 8 p.m. event. Tickets will likely be available at half-price just before the performance.
                  Actions, Actions, Actions!
KWNOW-ACLU Cooperation to Safeguard Teen’ Right to Choose?
At a recent local ACLU meeting, Providing Access for Teen Health (PATH) was introduced. PATH was formed to train lawyers to help teenagers obtain court approval for abortions without parental permission.  In support of PATH it was suggested seek publicity via a state ACLU speaker for a local bar association meeting, if such exists; Rosalind Brackenbury suggested that we might also work through WomanKind; it was also suggested that they work with NOW.
Anyone interested? Come to the meeting (above) or phone 295-9466.

A Senator Stands Up for Gay Marriage
I am in Washington, DC and reading the Washington Post I discovered a small article stating that Senator Russ Feingold is supporting Gay Marriage.
 
How cool is this? At a time when most of these fools stand up against a federal amendment but (secretly or not) support one in their own state, he is willing to go national with his views.                Shirley Herman of Florida NOW
 
 Office of Senator Russ Feingold | 202/224-5323. Please let him know we appreciate his position.

CodePink  Mother’s Day Peace March!  See pp. 7 & 8 below!

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Reintroduction of Freedom of Choice Act

The National Organization for Women applauds the reintroduction of the Freedom of Choice Act by Senator Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Representative Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.). In this hostile political climate, an act that codifies "women's right to choose to bear a child or terminate her pregnancy" is crucial to save women's lives.

This 33rd year of Roe v. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court decision that provided constitutional protection for abortion, has been a dire one for women rights. In January, the Senate confirmed a right-wing conservative, Samuel Alito, to replace Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, who in her 20-plus years on the Supreme Court was a consistent vote in favor of Roe. Now, with Alito on the bench, constitutional protection for women's reproductive decisions is looking increasingly bleak.

According to a report by the Alan Guttmacher Institute, legislators in 10 states have introduced measures in 2006 that would directly challenge Roe v. Wade by banning virtually all abortions. Under these circumstances, a federal law like the Freedom of Choice Act is necessary to protect women from zealous anti-women's rights politicians acting at the behest of religious and political extremists.

On behalf of NOW's more than half-million contributing members and women all over the world, I am proud to support the Freedom of Choice Act. FOCA has the potential to save women's lives, health, liberty and privacy, and it serves as a testament that, even in these dangerous times, women's fundamental right to reproductive justice must be of paramount concern.   
Statement of NOW President Kim Gandy

                 Membership Near Crisis
Membership, as of March, was down again --- from a long-ago high of over 50 to 25. This seems unusual, because when women’s rights are seriously threatened, as the right to reproductive freedom is now, feminists of all genders tend to join NOW to show support. Remember when you ask friends to join -- meetings are fun but not mandatory, and every membership supports equality in Paradise and beyond. To join, simply send your name, address, phone(s) and e-mail address with a check or money order for $35 (more if you can, less if you can’t) payable Key West NOW to us at P.O. Box 6324, Key West, FL 33041.

        Florida Legislative Updates
From Florida NOW lobbyist Karen Woodhall:

H87GENERAL BILL by Gottlieb; (CO-SPONSORS) Brandenburg; Bucher; Culp;
Student Safety/Violence Prevention; creates "Student Safety & Campus
Violence Prevention Act"; prohibits harassment, discrimination, &
violence during education programs & activities conducted by certain
educational institutions; requires each school district to adopt policy
prohibiting harassment, discrimination, & violence on school property,

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at a school program or activity, or on school bus; authorizes redress
under civil or criminal law; provides immunity & severability, etc.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon becoming law.
  08/22/05 HOUSE  Filed
  09/22/05 HOUSE  Referred to PreK-12 (EDC); Judiciary (JC); Education
                  Appropriations (FC); Education Council
  03/07/06 HOUSE  Introduced, referred to PreK-12 (EDC); Judiciary (JC);
                  Education Appropriations (FC); Education Council -HJ 00019
 
S204 CONCURRENT RESOLUTION by Margolis; (CO-INTRODUCERS) Smith; Rich;
Equal Rights for Men & Women; ratifies proposed amendment to
Constitution of United States re equal rights for men & women.
  09/16/05 SENATE Filed
  10/26/05 SENATE Referred to Judiciary; Rules and Calendar
  03/07/06 SENATE Introduced, referred to Judiciary; Rules and Calendar
                  -SJ 00055
 

H227 GENERAL BILL by Bilirakis; (CO-SPONSORS) Carroll; Farkas; Grant;
Personal Needs Allowance; increases monthly personal allowance for
certain eligible persons. Amends 409.904. APPROPRIATION: $6,012,240.
EFFECTIVE DATE: 07/01/2006.
  03/28/06 HOUSE  Favorable by Elder & Long-Term Care (HFC); YEAS  8  NAYS  0
                  -HJ 00301; Now in Fiscal Council -HJ 00301
  04/07/06 HOUSE  On Council agenda-- Fiscal Council, 04/11/06, 8:00 am, 212-K
  04/11/06 HOUSE  Favorable by- Fiscal Council; YEAS  20  NAYS  0; Placed on
                  Calendar
 

H241 GENERAL BILL by Vana; (CO-SPONSORS) Bucher; Kendrick; Machek; Porth;
Florida KidCare Program; provides for certain children who are
ineligible to participate in Florida KidCare program to be eligible for
Medikids program or Florida Healthy Kids program; requires that AHCA
begin enrollment under revised program criteria by specified date.
Amends 409.814. EFFECTIVE DATE: 07/01/2006.
  03/07/06 HOUSE  Introduced, referred to Health Care General (HFC); Health
                  Care Appropriations (FC); Fiscal Council; Health & Families
                  Council -HJ 00029; On Committee agenda-- Health Care General
                  (HFC), 02/22/06, 10:30 am, 306-H; Favorable with CS amendment
                  by Health Care General (HFC); YEAS  8  NAYS  0 -HJ 00144;
                  Pending review of CS under Rule 6.3(b); Now in Health Care
                  Appropriations (FC) -HJ 00144
  03/15/06 HOUSE  On Committee agenda-- Health Care Appropriations (FC),
                  03/17/06, 9:00 am, Morris Hall
  03/17/06 HOUSE  Favorable by Health Care Appropriations (FC); YEAS  15
                  NAYS  0 -HJ 00266; Now in Fiscal Council -HJ 00266

S250 GENERAL BILL/CS/CS by Justice Appropriations; Judiciary; Margolis;


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Human Trafficking; defines term "financial harm"; redefines term "forced
labor or services" to include circumstances involving use of fraud or
coercion against person, use of certain debt practices, & destruction,
concealing, or withholding of person's ID documents; expands definition
of term "criminal activity" to include offense of human & sex
trafficking for purposes of seeking civil remedies for criminal
offenses, etc. Amends FS. EFFECTIVE DATE: 10/01/2006.
  03/30/06 SENATE On Committee agenda-- Justice Appropriations, 04/04/06, 10:15
                  am, 37-S
  04/04/06 SENATE CS/CS by- Justice Appropriations; YEAS  4  NAYS  0 -SJ 00399;
                  CS read first time on 04/06/06 -SJ 00400
  04/06/06 SENATE Placed on Calendar, on second reading -SJ 00399

S348 GENERAL BILL by Margolis
Alimony & Support; provides that award of alimony may be reduced or
terminated upon specific written finding showing that conjugal
supportive relationship exists between obligee granted award of alimony
& person of opposite sex with whom obligee resides; provides
circumstances that court may consider when determining whether conjugal
supportive relationship exists between obligee & person of opposite sex
with whom obligee resides, etc. Amends 61.14. EFFECTIVE DATE:
07/01/2006.
  10/18/05 SENATE Filed
  11/10/05 SENATE Referred to Judiciary
  03/07/06 SENATE Introduced, referred to Judiciary -SJ 00065
H469 GENERAL BILL by Gannon; (CO-SPONSORS) Altman; Bucher; Bullard; M. Davis;
Human Trafficking; redefines term "forced labor or services" to include
labor obtained from person when person's identification documents are
destroyed, concealed, or withheld by another or obtained through fraud
or coercion; defines terms "financial harm" & "maintain"; prohibits
benefiting financially or receiving anything of value from participation
in venture that has subjected person to forced labor or services;
provides criminal penalties, etc. Amends FS. EFFECTIVE DATE:
10/01/2006.
  03/14/06 HOUSE  Now in Criminal Justice Appropriations (FC) -HJ 00194
  04/07/06 HOUSE  On Committee agenda-- Criminal Justice Appropriations (FC),
                  04/11/06, 9:30 am, 214-C
  04/11/06 HOUSE  Favorable with CS amendment by Criminal Justice
                  Appropriations (FC); YEAS  5  NAYS  0 --Preliminary
 

H535 GENERAL BILL by Bogdanoff; (CO-SPONSORS) Arza; Culp; M. Davis; McInvale;
School Safety/Bullying & Harassment; prohibits bullying & harassment
during education programs & activities, on school buses, or through use
of data or computer software accessed through computer systems of
certain educational institutions; requires each school district to adopt
policy prohibiting same; requires DOE approval of school district's
policy & compliance with reporting procedures as prerequisites to


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receipt of safe school funds, etc. Creates 1006.147. EFFECTIVE DATE:
Upon becoming law.
  03/28/06 HOUSE  Favorable by Juvenile Justice (JC); YEAS  4  NAYS  0
                  -HJ 00301; Now in Education Appropriations (FC) -HJ 00301
  04/07/06 HOUSE  On Committee agenda-- Education Appropriations (FC),
                  04/11/06, 9:30 am, 212-K
  04/11/06 HOUSE  Favorable by Education Appropriations (FC); YEAS  11
                  NAYS  2; Now in Education Council
 

H813 GENERAL BILL by Bucher; (CO-SPONSORS) Bendross-Mindingall; Bullard;
Fair Share Health Care Fund; creates said fund; provides duties of AHCA
& Chief Financial Officer; provides employer reporting guidelines;
provides reporting guidelines for secretary of AHCA; provides for
determining fair share health care payments by employers; provides for
employer payments into fund; provides criteria; provides civil penalties
for late reporting or nonpayment; provides for future review &
termination or re-creation of fund, etc. EFFECTIVE DATE: 01/01/2007.
  01/23/06 HOUSE  Filed
  02/10/06 HOUSE  Referred to Health Care Regulation (HFC); Insurance (CC);
                  Health Care Appropriations (FC); Health & Families Council
  03/07/06 HOUSE  Introduced, referred to Health Care Regulation (HFC);
                  Insurance (CC); Health Care Appropriations (FC); Health &
                  Families Council -HJ 00065

S930 GENERAL BILL by Jones (Similar H 0227)
Optional Medicaid Payments; increases monthly personal allowance for
certain eligible persons. Amends 409.904. EFFECTIVE DATE: 07/01/2006.
  03/10/06 SENATE On Committee agenda-- Health Care, 03/15/06, 1:00 pm, 412-K
  03/15/06 SENATE Favorable by Health Care; YEAS  9  NAYS  0 -SJ 00260
  03/16/06 SENATE Now in Health and Human Services Appropriations -SJ 00260
S972 GENERAL BILL by Rich (Identical H 0241)
Florida KidCare Program; provides for certain children who are
ineligible to participate in Florida KidCare program to be eligible for
Medikids program or Florida Healthy Kids program; requires that AHCA
begin enrollment under revised program criteria by specified date.
Amends 409.814. EFFECTIVE DATE: 07/01/2006.
  02/08/06 SENATE Favorable by Health Care; YEAS  8  NAYS  0
  02/09/06 SENATE Now in Health and Human Services Appropriations
  03/07/06 SENATE Introduced, referred to Health Care; Health and Human
                  Services Appropriations; Ways and Means -SJ 00099; On
                  Committee agenda-- Health Care, 02/08/06, 2:00 pm, 412-K;
                  Favorable by Health Care; YEAS  8  NAYS  0 -SJ 00192; Now in
                  Health and Human Services Appropriations -SJ 00192
 

H1365 GENERAL BILL by M. Davis; (CO-SPONSORS) Bucher; Harrell; Kendrick;
Florida KidCare Program; provides that eligibility for said program be


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at or below maximum income threshold rather than specified percentage of
federal poverty level; requires AHCA to seek approval from federal
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to use highest maximum income
threshold allowed by federal law or regulation, which is up to 300
percent of most recently stated federal poverty limit; provides
alternative eligibility standard, etc. EFFECTIVE DATE: 07/01/2006.
  04/04/06 HOUSE  Favorable with CS amendment by Future of Florida's Families
                  (HFC); YEAS  6  NAYS  0 -HJ 00406
  04/06/06 HOUSE  Pending review of CS under Rule 6.3(b); Now in Health Care
                  Appropriations (FC) -HJ 00406
  04/07/06 HOUSE  On Committee agenda-- Health Care Appropriations (FC),
                  04/11/06, 9:30 am, Morris Hall --Temporarily deferred

S1618 GENERAL BILL by Campbell (Identical H 0813)
Fair Share Health Care Fund; creates said fund; provides duties of AHCA
& Chief Financial Officer; provides employer reporting guidelines;
provides reporting guidelines for secretary of AHCA; provides for
determining fair share health care payments by employers; provides for
employer payments into fund; provides criteria; provides civil penalties
for late reporting or nonpayment; provides for future review &
termination or re-creation of fund, etc. EFFECTIVE DATE: 01/01/2007.
  01/25/06 SENATE Filed
  02/13/06 SENATE Referred to Health Care; Banking and Insurance; Commerce and
                  Consumer Services; Health and Human Services Appropriations;
                  Ways and Means
  03/07/06 SENATE Introduced, referred to Health Care; Banking and Insurance;
                  Commerce and Consumer Services; Health and Human Services
                  Appropriations; Ways and Means -SJ 00134
 
S2042 GENERAL BILL by Wilson (Compare H 0295, 1ST ENG/H 5007)THIS ISSUE IS IN THE BUDGET
Medicaid/Dental/Hearing/Visual Svcs.; authorizes AHCA to pay for certain
adult dental services beginning on specified date; authorizes agency to
pay for certain adult hearing & adult visual services. Amends 409.906.
EFFECTIVE DATE: 07/01/2006.
  02/14/06 SENATE Filed
  03/03/06 SENATE Referred to Health Care; Health and Human Services
                  Appropriations; Ways and Means
  03/07/06 SENATE Introduced, referred to Health Care; Health and Human
                  Services Appropriations; Ways and Means -SJ 00161
 
S2050 GENERAL BILL/CS by Health Care; Peaden; (CO-INTRODUCERS) Hill
Florida KidCare Program; provides that eligibility for said program be
at or below maximum income threshold rather than specified percentage of
federal poverty level; requires AHCA to seek approval from federal
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to use highest maximum income
threshold allowed by federal law or regulation, which is up to 300
percent of most recently stated federal poverty limit; provides
alternative eligibility standard, etc.Amends FS. EFFECTIVE DATE:
07/01/2006.
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03/30/06 SENATE On Committee agenda-- Health Care, 04/04/06, 3:15 pm, 412-K
  04/04/06 SENATE CS by Health Care; YEAS  10  NAYS  0 -SJ 00398; CS read first
                  time on 04/06/06 -SJ 00411
  04/06/06 SENATE Now in Health and Human Services Appropriations -SJ 00398

More Bill Information
S2482 GENERAL BILL by Alexander; (CO-INTRODUCERS) Hill
Unemployment Compensation; redefines term "base period" for purposes of
determining eligibility for benefits; provides alternative base period &
for its applicability & calculation. Amends 443.036. EFFECTIVE DATE:
10/01/2006.
  03/02/06 SENATE Filed
  03/22/06 SENATE Introduced, referred to Commerce and Consumer Services;
                  Transportation and Economic Development Appropriations

H8005 CONCURRENT RESOLUTION by Joyner; (CO-SPONSORS) Ausley; Barreiro;
Equal Rights for Men & Women; ratifies proposed amendment to
Constitution of United States re equal rights for men & women.
  10/19/05 HOUSE  Filed
  11/22/05 HOUSE  Referred to Judiciary (JC); Fiscal Council; Rules & Calendar
                  Council; Justice Council
  03/07/06 HOUSE  Introduced, referred to Judiciary (JC); Fiscal Council; Rules
                  & Calendar Council; Justice Council -HJ 00130

CodePink: Join Mother’s Day Peace March

On the heels of International Women’s Day and our dynamic Women Say No To War campaign, CODEPINK invites you to join us again in calling for peace and demanding an end to the war in Iraq.  With over two million signatures collected on our Urgent Call for Peace, let’s keep the momentum going!

Join us this Mother's Day weekend, May 13-14, in Washington DC as we gather for a 24-hour vigil outside the White House to call for peace in Iraq.  Come for the whole vigil (4pm Saturday to 4pm Sunday) or just for a few hours! We’ll sing, dance, drum, laugh, and cry - all the while discussing new ideas for ending the war and building peace. In the final two hours, from 2-4pm on Sunday, we’ll be joined by some amazing women, including Susan Sarandon, Cindy Sheehan, and courageous activists from Iraq and Iran.
 
For a schedule of events to help you plan your trip, and to let us know if you'll be in attendance, visit the Mothers' Day page on the CODEPINK website. If you can’t join us, you can create or join a Mother's Day activity in your own community. For ideas to help you plan an action, click here.  For further information, please email tiffany@codepinkalert.org or call (310) 827-4320. 

Let’s make this Mother’s Day a call to action!  Let’s come together to build the peaceful world we want for our children, our mothers, our global community.

See you in Washington DC!  . . . . .Medea Benjamin, CODEPINK: Women for Peace

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P.S. Whether or not you're able to join us in DC, please write a letter to Laura Bush and ask her how she, as a mother, can continue to support a war that is leaving scores of American and Iraqi mothers bereft. Send them to laurabush@codepinkalert.org, and in addition to delivering them en masse, we'll take the most compelling letters and turn them into a book entitled “Letters to Laura.”

For more information about CODEPINK, visit http://www.codepinkalert.org/.

In the KWNOW is e-published approximately monthly by the Key West chapter of NOW. A limited number of hard copies are produced for public relations purposes. If you have news of interest, please send it to the address above.