logophile
Verbose
- Joined
- Aug 7, 2004
- Posts
- 7,368
For those of you who know what's been happening here in Wisconsin with midwifery, here's an update.
Against all odds, with no money and no lobbyists, in the face of every established medical organization in the state our bill to license direct entry midwives passed through both the Senate and the Assembly yesterday with overwhelming "aye" votes. The day was amazing and uplifting and inspiring.
We filled the galleries of both houses with homebirth families, moms and dads and toddlers and nursing babies. We had a strong showing of both English and Plain families, the Plain men sitting in solid silent rows, arms crossed, eyes focused, hats politely in laps. The entire capitol rang with children's laughter and the sound of little feet, and yet while in session, all the children sat quietly munching on snacks and coloring pictures to give their representatives. In both houses, the perfect behavior of our supporters was commented on glowingly.
Women and babies went to the offices of every senator and every assemblyman in the building and shook hands, looked them in the eye and said, "I'm your constituent and I want you to support AB 709 today, with no ammendments. Leave the bill as it stands and support my right to make decisions for my family." We pressed flesh, smiled, laughed, and cried with our elected officials yesterday as we made our case again and again. And when the vote came down in the senate first, we broke into cheers and applause with hugging and more crying. And even though that kind of display is not allowed in the gallery, the senators on the floor joined our cheers and remarked again and again that this is how politics should work.
All afternoon a few members of the assembly tried to kill our bill or have it tabled during caucus, and every time it got close, we pulled out our cell phones and called supporters who were waiting at home to tell them to turn up the heat. They answered the call again and again, dialing their phones and sending email after email to the capitol, making it clear that we were not going away. If we didn't pass it this year, we'd be back next year.
One of the more interesting aspects of the day is that yesterday was also the day that our legislature was voting to overturn a gubenatorial veto of a concealed/carry law. The lawmakers believed that would be the hotbutton issue of the day, but as it turned out, the hundreds of homebirthing families changed all that.
Our vote in the Assembly was done as a voice vote only, and the rousing and lusty call of "Aye" by more than three-quarters of the house brought tears to our eyes yet again.
What a day!
What a victory!
The governor has already promised to sign, so as soon as that's done, I'm officially legal to practice my craft here in my state. And that feels so so so good!
Against all odds, with no money and no lobbyists, in the face of every established medical organization in the state our bill to license direct entry midwives passed through both the Senate and the Assembly yesterday with overwhelming "aye" votes. The day was amazing and uplifting and inspiring.
We filled the galleries of both houses with homebirth families, moms and dads and toddlers and nursing babies. We had a strong showing of both English and Plain families, the Plain men sitting in solid silent rows, arms crossed, eyes focused, hats politely in laps. The entire capitol rang with children's laughter and the sound of little feet, and yet while in session, all the children sat quietly munching on snacks and coloring pictures to give their representatives. In both houses, the perfect behavior of our supporters was commented on glowingly.
Women and babies went to the offices of every senator and every assemblyman in the building and shook hands, looked them in the eye and said, "I'm your constituent and I want you to support AB 709 today, with no ammendments. Leave the bill as it stands and support my right to make decisions for my family." We pressed flesh, smiled, laughed, and cried with our elected officials yesterday as we made our case again and again. And when the vote came down in the senate first, we broke into cheers and applause with hugging and more crying. And even though that kind of display is not allowed in the gallery, the senators on the floor joined our cheers and remarked again and again that this is how politics should work.
All afternoon a few members of the assembly tried to kill our bill or have it tabled during caucus, and every time it got close, we pulled out our cell phones and called supporters who were waiting at home to tell them to turn up the heat. They answered the call again and again, dialing their phones and sending email after email to the capitol, making it clear that we were not going away. If we didn't pass it this year, we'd be back next year.
One of the more interesting aspects of the day is that yesterday was also the day that our legislature was voting to overturn a gubenatorial veto of a concealed/carry law. The lawmakers believed that would be the hotbutton issue of the day, but as it turned out, the hundreds of homebirthing families changed all that.
Our vote in the Assembly was done as a voice vote only, and the rousing and lusty call of "Aye" by more than three-quarters of the house brought tears to our eyes yet again.
What a day!
What a victory!
The governor has already promised to sign, so as soon as that's done, I'm officially legal to practice my craft here in my state. And that feels so so so good!
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I'm so happy for you and everyone who will benefit from your services in the future. 
