Many things have happened in the Legislative arena since my last Monday Minute.  First of all, it appears that the Private Accounts proposal for Social Security is losing steam and other approaches are being considered.  Please be aware of the other considerations as they may slip by us and be harmful to women’s security. There is no need to solve the problem this year. 

            We need to contact our congress people urging them to contact the Secretary of Education Spellings asking that the major change to Title IX be withdrawn.   This was done under the guise of a policy “Clarification” that threatens to reverse the decades of progress women and girls have made in sports.  This new policy was issued without any public notice or input.  This allows schools to rely on email surveys alone to determine whether to add more sports opportunities for women and girls, placing the burden on them to prove that they are interested and deserve more opportunities.  It drastically changes prior Department policies in ways that are extremely detrimental to girls.

            Women lost a battle in the appointment of nominees for the courts.  Three of those who are anti-women, anti-civil rights, and anti- work force were appointed over the protest of many senators.  The fact that all segments of the government are controlled by a single party makes it difficult to fight some of these actions that we see as harmful to women and minorities. 

            Also ask your congress people to support the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) reauthorization and its expansions.  It is up for reauthorization in September 2005. 

            There is an opportunity to sign a petition to Congress on line for the Retirement Security for Life Act (H.R. 819/S. 381). This bill was lobbied on during the 2005 Policy and Action Conference.  It would provide tax incentives for people to invest a portion of their individual retirement savings into annuities, which would guarantee a steady paycheck throughout the course of their retirement. Go to: www.paycheckforlife.org/takeaction/petition.html

            At the state level the Republican controlled house has passed a budget that appears to be a partisan budget instead of working to help Michigan climb out of the financial basement that it is in.  It cuts money drastically from people who use Medicare (the poor women, children, and those who are disabled).  Rep. Scott Hummel, who is my Representative, said no tax increases, but yet he proposes charging those on Medicaid fees for access to medical care.  As Governor Granholm stated they are not only acting irresponsibly fiscally, but morally. 

            Governor Granholm has proposed a job-creation bond for $2 billion over a 10 year period.  A Senate subcommittee halved that proposal.  Watch what is happening here. 

            Also in the works is a minimum wage law for Michigan that sounds reasonable.  There are many legislative issues to keep an eye on. Let your desires be known.

REMINDER: The University of Life will take place in Lansing on August 5 – 7.  The facilitator and participant forms and registration information are on the Michigan BPW website under the event registration link.