Families in Snohomish County are struggling more than ever to make ends meet and we are in the midst of a national health care crisis. Now, the Bush administration wants to deny our families access to affordable, quality health care that has long been a safety net supported by federal money.

As described in Tuesday’s article, “Bush wants broader health-care refusals,” the Bush administration is deliberately confusing many types of birth control with abortion, corrupting the honest dialogue between doctor and patient and allowing providers to withhold critical care and information from their patients. That means that vital sexual health information could be left unsaid, and prescriptions for basic birth control left unwritten. This rule puts the Bush administration’s ideology above my health, your health and the health of those who need help the most. And yet this is called a “right of conscience” rule? Perhaps “lack of conscience” would be a better name.

Pam Normand

Arlington