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Health and Human Services SecretaryNote: Thompson's appointment was confirmed on 1/24/01. Please visit Appointment Watch for updates and actions.
Tommy Thompson has a staunchly anti-woman record that includes an anti-choice position and a welfare reform program than penalizes poor, single women with children. As governor, Thompson signed legislation restricting access to abortion and family planning services, including a 24-hour mandatory waiting period, a parental consent law, and an abortion procedure ban criminalizing safe abortion procedures. Thompson is listed as a member of the conservative Council for National Policy, a secret right-wing society whose membership roster includes Gary Bauer, James Dobson, Elaine Donnelly, Jerry Falwell, Trent Lott, Edwin Meese, Ralph Reed, and Pat Robertson. As Secretary of Health and Human Services, Thompson would have influence over policies that affect women daily. His nomination must pass through the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions before the entire Senate votes to confirm or deny his appointment. Write to Senator Kennedy, Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions and urge him to oppose Thompson's nomination as Health and Human Services Secretary. View Confirmation Hearing Schedule Internet Resources: Attorney General | Labor | Interior | Health & Human Services |
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George
W. Bush has nominated Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson as Health
and Human Services Secretary, despite Thompson's extreme conservative
positions and anti-woman stance.
"When the good Lord was creating fathers, the story goes, he started with a tall frame. An angel nearby asked, 'If you're going to make children so close to the ground, why have you put fathers up so high? He won't be able to shoot a marble with kneeling, tuck a child into bed with bending, or ever kiss a child without a lot of stooping.' And God smiled and said, 'Yes, but if I make him child-size, who would children have to look up to?'"-Bush Health & Human Services nominee Tommy Thompson |