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Members of Congress Call For Removal of Keroack    [

    Heroes and Zeros of 2006
    By Peter Rothberg
    The Nation

    Wednesday 03 January 2007

    With an abortion ban in South Dakota, a pitched battle over the FDA's approval of the "morning-after" pill for over-the-counter sales, continued struggles over anti-choice Bush Administration judicial appointees and a tumultuous election season, 2006 was a busy year for defenders of reproductive rights in America. One of the most active groups working in defense of Roe v. Wade, NARAL Pro-Choice America, is asking for nominations for the pro-choice Heroes and Zeros of this chaotic year.

    The comp is fierce for the dubious honor of Zero of 2006 with South Dakota Governor Mike Rounds, Colorado Governor Bill Owens and Eric Keroack, Bush's reactionary nominee to head the Department of Health and Human Services, all running strong. Fortunately, there are more than enough Heroes of 2006 to choose from, including Montana Attorney General Mike McGrath and the entire NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts, which played a critical role in forcing Wal-Mart to end its discriminatory policy against stocking emergency contraception, aka, Plan B and the "morning-after" pill.

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    Members of Congress Call For Removal of Keroack
    Feminist Daily News Wire

    Tuesday 02 January 2007

    A group of 110 members of Congress, including three Republicans, sent a letter to President Bush at the end of December calling for the removal of Eric Keroack from his position as assistant secretary of the Office of Population Affairs at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). In this position, Dr. Keroack, previously the medical director for a group of anti-choice, anti-contraceptive crisis pregnancy centers, will advise the Secretary of HHS on issues relating to reproductive health and adolescent pregnancy. Keroack will also administer Title X funds, which provide family planning services to low-income women.

    The Congressional letter, led by Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-NY), called the appointment of Keroack "a horrendous mistake for the safety of women's health in the United States." "If the Administration wanted to continue delivering setback after setback to the success of family planning, they could not have been clearer in their choice of Dr. Eric Keroack to head Population Affairs," said Rep. Crowley.