Anti-abortion forces were thwarted by the Minnesota Senate yesterday in their efforts to defy a 1995 Minnesota Supreme Court decision granting access to a full range of reproductive health options to low-income women. The Senate removed all funding for Health and Human Services thus removing the amendment promoted by right-wing activists.

Kansas Attorney General Phil Kline continues his crusade to publicize patient records from abortion clinics in what is, appropriately and legally called, an "inquisition.” According to John Hanna of the Associated Press, the normally closed hearings have been spilling out into media leaks. The AG has proven less than camera shy as he continues his multi-front attack on women’s rights.

A federal judge has ruled for free speech and against censorship by the Bush Administration with regard to prostitution and HIV prevention work – but only for U.S. organizations. The administration can still force international groups that receive U.S. funds to take a pledge opposing prostitution. If only the Administration could be as clear with government officials and lobbyists about prostitution.

Steve Pearlstein in today’s Washington Post writes about Congress and its biannual attempts to fix a broken health insurance system. He rightly points out flaws in purely partisan arguments on both sides, but it is important to note the very real threats changes to insurance pose to basic coverage like contraception and access to reproductive health services – on which the vast majority of America families rely for family planning. There will be a news conference today at 11:00 am with several Senators discussing these issues in Upper Senate Park, Delaware and Constitution, NE.

The Centers for Disease Control are floating a trial condom filled with hot air – advocating mandatory testing for HIV for everyone 16-64, making it as routine as cholesterol. Problem is – HIV is not routine. The laudable goal – identify 250,000 Americans infected but unaware of their status. The obvious problems – no counseling, no opportunity for prevention discussions that often go with counseling, reduced sensitivity to the very life changing diagnosis that HIV conversion represents.

“They're saying it's not necessary to sit down with someone and talk about the disease and the implications of a diagnosis beforehand. I think that's wrong. That's the time when you want to be educating people and talking about prevention,” said Ann Fisher of the AIDS Legal Counsel of Chicago in today’s Chicago Tribune.

The New York Times today notes the death of Lawrence Lader, father of the pro-choice movement. He was 86.