reproductive health & family planning
health action 2008
Bills in Brief
It took over a decade for health care reform to lose its Clinton-era-induced taboo status - but while health care policy is coming back in vogue, America will have to wait until 2009 before any major reforms become ripe for passage.
In the meantime, in 2007 Congress set out to pass a series of mini health care initiatives - which it may follow up on in 2008:
SCHIP. Congress head butted with Bush last year over expanding State Children's Health Insurance Program, which covers low income children who aren't low income enough to qualify for Medicaid. Congress, which wanted to double the scope of the act, lost. It may still give it a second go in '08. Meanwhile, the administration sent states a letter saying they had to tighten eligibility for SCHIP, only to have the GAO weigh in that the administration overstepped its legal boungs (GAO).
family & marriage
Facts
The sanctity of marriage is at the center of today's culture war in America. Social conservatives see marriage being attacked by a disintegration of family values and by the advent of gay marriage. Others claim that marriage is making a bit of a comeback and that gay-marriages, rather than harming the santity of marriage, reinforce it.
General
How many Americans are married:
- 120.2 million Americans are married (2000) (54% of population 15 years +) (Census).
Percent of couples that are unmarried. Unmarried couples that live together (NORC) make up:
- 1997: 7% of all couples; 4.1% of all families
- 1990: 5.1% of all couples; 3.1% of all families
- 1980: 3.1% of all couples; 2% of all families
Same sex couples
Number of unmarried same sex couples living together in the US (Census):
issue guide: Global Warming
Links
See also the skinny, background & facts, pro & con
Fairly nonpartisan sources
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