Romney is too extreme for women in Iowa

By Catherine Glasson

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National Women's Health Week, observed May 13-19 this year, empowers and encourages women to make their health a priority. But when it comes to Mitt Romney, there is nothing empowering or encouraging for Iowa women concerning our health, our rights and our own decisions.

This week - and this November's election - reminds us that his extreme views on women's health stand in clear contrast to President Barack Obama, who knows that women's issues are America's issues. That's why I am proud to join the Women for Obama Iowa Steering Committee.

Because of President Obama, health insurance companies can no longer discriminate against women, charging us higher premiums than men. No longer can they deny us and our children insurance due to a pre-existing condition.

Nationwide, 2.5 million young adults can stay on their parents' insurance plan until they are 26 years old, a huge relief for a lot of moms. Nearly 433,000 Iowa women no longer have a lifetime limit on their health coverage in the event of catastrophic illness. And now, insurance companies have to include coverage without co-pay for critical preventive screenings for women, including cervical cancer screenings, mammograms, contraception and breastfeeding support. More than 229,000 Iowa women on Medicare are now receiving these services.

Romney would repeal each of those critical reforms - taking us back to the days when insurance companies played by their own set of rules. That's too extreme for Iowa women.

Obama has vowed to protect Title X family planning care to more than 66,000 Iowa women, two-thirds of whom receive care through Planned Parenthood clinics across the state. Romney has vowed to repeal all federal funding for Planned Parenthood, the largest provider of women's primary health care in the country. That's too extreme for Iowa women.

Romney is just another politician who wants to dictate to women and doctors about what should be a private medical decision. He advocates overturning Roe v. Wade (allowing states to makes their own abortion laws).

He also holds the out-of-touch view that lets a woman's employer severely restrict her access to any kind of health coverage, including contraception, prenatal care and mammograms - putting at risk the nearly 79 million women who rely on their employer for health care. It's simply too extreme for Iowa women.

Romney and Washington Republicans are wasting time attacking women's health and rights - and not focusing on creating jobs and getting our economy back on track.

Meanwhile, the president is standing up for women's health while also fighting for an economy built to last - where hard work pays off, responsibility is rewarded and everyone gets a fair shake and fair shot in life.

America doesn't need to relight old battles - about a woman's right to choose, getting rid of Planned Parenthood, or taking away access to affordable health care. But that's what's at stake this November.

Obama's record of empowering women and our standing up for our rights is undeniable. This November, women are going to tell Romney we won't stand for his extreme ideas.

Catherine Glasson, a nurse in Cedar Rapids, serves as the elected president of SEIU Iowa-Local 199 in Coralville, and as a member of the SEIU International executive board. Comments: Cathy.glasson@yahoo.com