New York Pro-Life Leaders Urge Strong Opposition to Reproductive Bill in Legislature
Albany, NY (LifeNews.com) -- A trio of pro-life leaders in New York have written an editorial urging strong opposition to the Reproductive Health and Privacy Protection Act, an overtly pro-abortion measure pending in the state legislature. They say the bill would significantly expand unlimited abortions in New York. As they did during the last legislative session, pro-life organizations have strongly opposed the Reproductive Health and Privacy Protection Act because it would enshrine abortion in state law and overturn virtually every pro-life limit. The measure would also force Catholic and other pro-life hospitals to change their policies and do abortions upon request. Kathleen Gallagher, the director of pro-life activities for the New York State Catholic Conference, Dawn Iacono, the director of pro-life activities for the Diocese of Buffalo, and Anne Downey of the New York affiliate of Concerned Women for America have teamed up for a new op-ed piece in the Buffalo News. They take issue with an ACLU representative who claimed fliers the groups are distributing with information about the bill are inaccurate. The materials 'contained accurate information, not scare tactics,' they say.
"What is scary is the so-called Reproductive Health Act. The bill was introduced by former Gov. Eliot Spitzer at the request of the extreme abortion-rights activists who helped elect him," they explain. "The bill, which is similar to the much-criticized federal Freedom of Choice Act, would usher in abortion rights far beyond those approved in Roe v. Wade and subsequent U. S. Supreme Court cases, at the expense of women and others," they add. Full story at LifeNews.com.
Virginia Pro-Life Advocates Target Bill to Stop Embryonic Stem Cell Research Funds
Richmond, VA (LifeNews.com) -- A pro-life group in Virginia is working to stop a bill in the state legislature from spending taxpayer funds to promote embryonic stem cell research. That's the science that involves the destruction of days-old unborn children and the Family Foundation doesn't want public funds used for it. In 2004 the General Assembly created the Biotechnology Commercialization Loan Fund with the pro-life caveat that none of the money could be loaned for the controversial science. Then, in 2005, the legislature created the Joint Commission Stem Cell Research study to examine the use of adult stem cell research and the implications of not relying on embryonic stem cells. Also that year, the Christopher Reeve Stem Cell Research Fund was authorized and pro-life advocates were able to get an amendment approved in the legislation disapproving embryonic stem cell research funding. Now, Sen. Mark Herring, a Democrat, has sponsored Senate Bill 1338, which is on the floor of the Senate awaiting a vote. Victoria Cobb, president of the Family Foundation, tells LifeNews.com that an amendment will be offered to remove the potential for funding embryonic stem cell research. Full story at LifeNews.com
Wisconsin Pro-Life Advocates Submit Thousands of Petitions Against Abortion Plan
Madison, WI (LifeNews.com) -- In an unprecedented move, several pro-life groups teamed up for a press conference on Tuesday where they submitted more than 20,000 petitions opposing a new plan by University of Wisconsin officials to begin doing abortions. The plan has UW doctors doing abortions at the Madison Surgery Center. The groups don't want to see UW Hospitals and Clinics, the UW Medical Foundation and Meriter Hospital opening up a second-trimester abortion facility. They said the fallout of such a decision would have thousands of pro-life Wisconsin residents boycotting the hospitals and others being referred elsewhere by doctors who oppose the hospitals' involvement in the procedure. Dr. William Evans, a heart surgeon and clinic opponent who practices at Meriter Hospital, noted the potential backlash at the press conference. "The collateral damage from this is worse than anyone expects," he said, according to the Madison newspaper. He released a copy of a letter signed by himself and 12 other doctors who oppose the move to create the abortion center and who will actively oppose it if it is created. "Today, this group of doctors declares we can be silent no more," he said. "Our vocation, our mandate, is to protect human life." Full story at LifeNews.com
Pittsburgh's Limits on Pro-Life Free Speech Get Federal Appeals Court Hearing
Pittsburgh, PA (LifeNews.com) -- A federal appeals court held a hearing today on a local ordinance in Pittsburgh that limits abortion protests there and that pro-life attorney says that unfairly hinders free speech rights. The debate revolves around a 2005 law that restricted access to public areas surrounding abortion businesses. The measure prohibits pro-life advocates from coming within 15 feet of the door of any health care facility, which would include abortion centers. Within 100 feet of the entrance, pro-life advocates must stay a distance of eight feet away from anyone heading to the abortion facility. Mary Kathryn Brown, a resident of Pittsburgh who is pro-life, has filed suit against the law with the help of the Alliance Defense Fund. She regularly counsels women against having abortions. Brown, a nurse from Indiana Township, says the law infringes on her constitutional rights, including her right to free speech. Brown has never trespassed or blocked individuals from entering or leaving abortion facilities. In March 2006, ADF filed a lawsuit on her behalf seeking to overturn the measure. During a hearing, ADF senior legal counsel David Cortman asked U.S. District Judge Nora Barry Fischer to allow an injunction solely for Brown while the case proceeds to overturn the law. He said the law is vague and has been applied unfairly. Full story at LifeNews.com
President Barack Obama's Pro-Abortion Record: A Pro-Life Compilation
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The following is a compilation of bill signings, speeches, appointments and other actions that President Barack Obama has engaged in that have promoted abortion before and during his presidency. While Obama has promised to reduce abortions and some of his supporters believe that will happen, this long list proves his only agenda is promoting more abortions.
Post-Election / Pre-Inauguration
November 5, 2008 - Obama selects pro-abortion Rep. Rahm Emanuel as his White House Chief of Staff. Emanuel has a 0% pro-life voting record according to National Right to Life.
November 19, 2008 - Obama picks pro-abortion former Sen. Tom Daschle as his Health and Human Services Secretary. Daschle has a long pro-abortion voting record according to National Right to Life.
November 20, 2008 - Obama chooses former NARAL legal director Dawn Johnsen to serve as a member of his Department of Justice Review Team. Later, he finalizes her appointment as the Assistant Attorney General for the Office of the Legal Counsel in the Obama administration.
November 24, 2008 - Obama appoints Ellen Moran, the former director of the pro-abortion group Emily's List as his White House communications director. Emily's List only supported candidates who favored taxpayer funded abortions and opposed a partial-birth abortion ban.
November 24, 2008 - Obama puts former Emily's List board member Melody Barnes in place as his director of the Domestic Policy Council.
November 30, 2008 - Obama named pro-abortion Sen. Hillary Clinton as the Secretary of State. Clinton has an unblemished pro-abortion voting record and has supported making unlimited abortions an international right.
December 10, 2008 - Obama selects pro-abortion former Clinton administration official Jeanne Lambrew to become the deputy director of the White House Office of Health Reform. Planned Parenthood is "excited" about the selection.
December 10, 2008 - Obama transition team publishes memo from dozens of pro-abortion groups listing their laundry list of pro-abortions actions they want him to take.
Pro-Abortion Presidential Record - 2009
January 5, 2009 - Obama picks pro-abortion Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine as the chairman of the Democratic Party.
January 6, 2009 - Obama chooses Thomas Perrelli, the lawyer who represented Terri Schiavo’s husband Michael in his efforts to kill his disabled wife, as the third highest attorney in the Justice Department.
January 22, 2009 - Releases statement restating support for Roe v. Wade decision that allowed virtually unlimited abortions and has resulted in at least 50 million abortions since 1973.
January 23, 2009 - Forces taxpayers to fund pro-abortion groups that either promote or perform abortions in other nations. Decison to overturn Mexico City Policy sends part of $457 million to pro-abortion organizations.
January 26, 2009 - Obama nominee for Deputy Secretary of State, James B. Steinberg, tells members of the Senate that taxpayers should be forced to fund abortions. Nominee erroneously says limits on abortion funding are unconstitutional.
