Anyone who watches the "West Wing," reads the newspaper or listens to the radio knows that the legislative branch is by far the most hilarious branch of government. It understands the language of humor with a fluency that most of us can only dream about; possessing the power of irony and the indispensable prowess of self-deprecation that leaves the judicial and executive branches sucking their side-splitting wind. This entire summer Congress worked vigorously to cement its position as the most humorous branch; their attempts to raise congressional salaries while refusing to raise the minimum wage was especially funny. Pumping up the rhetoric concerning the "War on Terror" was also a good one. Yet across America the laughs are beginning to die out as more and more Americans read one of Congress' most inappropriate routines yet, the "Child Custody Protection Act."

This latest piece of legislation is just one in a long line of bills that fit into a type of humor that can only be called dark. This bill makes it illegal for anyone other than parents to escort underage women across state lines in order to obtain abortions. This means that any young woman who wants to legally obtain an abortion must tell her parents and oftentimes risk more than just being grounded. Equally outrageous is the fact that the bill (now a law) prevents other relatives from helping in such a dire time of need. Grandparents, uncles and aunts are all trusted relatives that minors normally would be able to go to in almost any other situation where they didn't feel comfortable telling their parents, except this one. In an effort to salvage something from this piece of legislation, several Senate Democrats (who affectionately refer to the "Child Custody Protection Act" as the "Teen Endangerment Act") attempted to attach an amendment to the bill that would allocate funding to prevent the root causes of abortions among teenagers: unintended pregnancies. The amendment included more funding for comprehensive sex education in public schools, and would have punished "parents who commit incest" more harshly than before. Regardless of the merits of the amendment, and in a grand twist of irony, it was voted down by the Senate.

Despite these headlines, the debate surrounding the upcoming midterm elections continues to focus on the "War in Iraq" and the "War on Terror," a fact that Republicans appear to be counting on to win in the fall. In an America focused on war and the fear it causes, who has time to focus on abortion and women's rights? A recent poll by CNN revealed that most Americans believe the GOP does a better job when it comes to prosecuting the "War on Terror." But abortion is perhaps one of the most important issues this November. Pieces of legislation like the "Child Custody Protection Act" demonstrate how soundly Republicans can butcher a domestic issue, especially one as important as women's rights.

Women are starting to get angry and in the Senate where they make up 14 percent of the total votes, they are starting to look a little bit stronger in spite of those numbers. Hilary Clinton and several other senators refused to confirm Andrew von Eschenbach as the new Food and Drug Administration (FDA) chairman, unless the FDA approved the Morning after Pill for over-the-counter status. After years of waffling over a drug with side effects not nearly as dangerous as those that accompany child birth, women achieved a significant victory in the struggle for reproductive freedom. Additionally, several high-power abortion rights groups including the Center for Reproductive Rights, have deposed the former head of the FDA Dr. Lester Crawford. The depositions reveal that Crawford was ordered to reject the Morning-After Pill's approval status in order to appease the Bush Administration's constituents. Manipulating an independent agency, especially one that tests and approves medicine, for use as a political weapon is probably part of the reason why the administrations approval ratings are so low. Yet when people think of approval ratings their minds still race to the "War in Iraq."

Through the Bush Administration the American people have seen the Republican record on foreign policy. Their record at home is not as stunningly clear, and their record on abortion pits Republicans against the majority of women and the majority of America. A poll by ABC news shows that 57 percent of people in the United States support abortion. Yet, across the nation more and more states dominated by Republican legislatures have adopted laws like the "Child Custody Protection Act" (or the "Teen Endangerment Act," depending on your sense of humor). Numerous states have adopted what are called TRAP laws or targeted regulation of abortion providers. These laws create arbitrary regulations that abortion clinics must follow or face fines, inspections, or at worst, closure. These regulations include the width of clinic hallways, the types of drinking fountains in clinics, the number of employees and even the grass on clinic lawns. TRAP laws claim to protect women's health even though they do no such thing. Creating new tests that patients are required to take along with requiring extra employees and regulations prevents doctors from doing their jobs. Even though "staying the course" doesn't appear to be working for any other issue, apparently Republicans think it will for abortion and reproductive rights.

For a number of Republican senators it appears Americans from their states are tired of this disconnect. According to the New York Times, four states with incumbent Republican senators are now leaning Democratic. Such numbers are similar for the House of Representatives and the gubernatorial races across the country. When Republicans quash an amendment adding comprehensive sex education to our public schools, while simultaneuosly passing legislation to punish teens who do get unintentionally pregnant, it is clear that they are as addicted to the "course" as John Kerry was to "flip-flopping." Indeed, when the forth-coming November election results are final, there may be a new course to stay with a new cast of characters, and it may be women who show Republicans that their brand of humor really isn't funny anymore.

Dykens is a junior majoring in Law, Jurisprudence and Social Thought. He recently interned with Political Research Associates, a non-profit think tank in Somerville, Mass.