Obama Administration Won't Rule Out Abortion Funding in National Health Care Bill
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A top Obama administration official said in an interview on Sunday that he is not ruling out taxpayer funding or coverage for abortions in a national health care restructuring bill. The the Obama administration is considering funding abortions is prompting major abortion battles in the House and Senate. Peter Orszag, the head of the Office of Budget and Management, talked with Fox News Sunday about abortion funding. The Obama budget chief would not rule out funding abortions but said he doesn't have an answer right now about whether abortion funding will or won't be included. "I think that that will wind up being part of the debate. I am not prepared to say explicitly that right now. It's obviously a controversial issue, and it's one of the questions that is playing out in this debate," Orszag said. "I'm not prepared to rule it out." Congress is currently considering a handful of health care reform bills that will eventually be combined into one package that will be sent to Obama for his signature. The bills currently set up the decision-making for inclusion of abortion with the Obama administration. On June 19, the House Committees on Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, and Education and Labor announced that a new Obama-run Advisory Committee will decide which services will be covered. Sen. Judd Gregg, a New Hampshire Republican urged the Obama administration not to fund abortions in the government health care package and said doing so could hurt the debate to reform the health care system. "No matter what your views are on abortion, you shouldn't ask people to use their tax dollars if they think that abortion is taking a life -- to use their tax dollars for those purpose -- for that purpose," he said. Full story at LifeNews.comHyde Amendment Not Sufficient to Stop Abortion Funding in Health Care Measures
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Hundreds of thousands of Americans literally owe their lives to the Hyde amendment, budget language in Congress that has significantly reduced abortions by stopping federal taxpayer funding for them. However, the amendment doesn't have the power to stop abortion funding in health care. During the health care restructuring debate in Congress, pro-life groups have been pulling out all the stops to ensure it doesn't cover abortions. With President Barack Obama's top budget chief making it clear abortions could be paid for or insurance coverage mandated under the government health care legislation, those pro-life groups and their allies in Congress are working overtime. What they won't have at their disposal to stop the pro-abortion Obama health care plan from moving forward is the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits Medicaid from funding abortions, according to analysis from Douglas Johnson of the National Right to Life Committee. The tri-committee House health care bill that is the main legislation, HR 3200, authorizes additional Medicaid/CHIP funding, which Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates to be $438 billion over the next ten years. However, the bill also authorizes the purchase of what the CBO estimates to be $773 billion over the next ten years in health care premiums and cost-sharing costs for individuals and families whose income is too high to qualify for Medicaid/CHIP. "H.R. 3200 contains no limitation whatever to prevent the use of any of these funds to pay for elective abortion and to pay for insurance coverage of elective abortion," Johnson explains in analysis provided to LifeNews.com. Full story at LifeNews.com
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Hundreds of thousands of Americans literally owe their lives to the Hyde amendment, budget language in Congress that has significantly reduced abortions by stopping federal taxpayer funding for them. However, the amendment doesn't have the power to stop abortion funding in health care. During the health care restructuring debate in Congress, pro-life groups have been pulling out all the stops to ensure it doesn't cover abortions. With President Barack Obama's top budget chief making it clear abortions could be paid for or insurance coverage mandated under the government health care legislation, those pro-life groups and their allies in Congress are working overtime. What they won't have at their disposal to stop the pro-abortion Obama health care plan from moving forward is the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits Medicaid from funding abortions, according to analysis from Douglas Johnson of the National Right to Life Committee. The tri-committee House health care bill that is the main legislation, HR 3200, authorizes additional Medicaid/CHIP funding, which Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates to be $438 billion over the next ten years. However, the bill also authorizes the purchase of what the CBO estimates to be $773 billion over the next ten years in health care premiums and cost-sharing costs for individuals and families whose income is too high to qualify for Medicaid/CHIP. "H.R. 3200 contains no limitation whatever to prevent the use of any of these funds to pay for elective abortion and to pay for insurance coverage of elective abortion," Johnson explains in analysis provided to LifeNews.com. Full story at LifeNews.comACTION: Contact members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and urge strong support for the Pitts amendment to exclude abortion from the health care bill, HR 3200. Call 202-224-3121 or go to http://www.House.gov for specific contact information.
 Medical professionals are on the frontlines of the battle on life issues. From abortion to assisted suicide, we are challenged in the workplace to defend our beliefs and risk our employment. The National Association of Pro-life Nurses has been here for nurses since the beginning. Join with us to protect those voices. |
Obama Surgeon General Pick Regina Benjamin May Back Abortion, But She Won't Tell
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- More confirmation is coming in that Regina Benjamin, the Alabama physician President Barack Obama selected to be his Surgeon General, backs abortion. But, no one may know her position for certain because Obama officials say she won't comment until after she is confirmed. Last Monday, LifeNews.com was the first media outlet to report on Benjamin's abortion position. The news story highlighted how she backed an American Medical Association proposal for future doctors to get more abortion education -- which the AMA later admitted was a position calling for actual training in doing abortions. Then, the White House confirmed that Benjamin's views on "reproductive health," typically a code word for abortion, mirror Obama's pro-abortion views. Now, the Washington Post, in a weekend story, is reporting that the White House won't follow up on its original comments and confirm that Benjamin backs abortion, but the newspaper makes it appear off-the-record sources confirm it. "The White House declined to say whether Benjamin supports a woman's right to an abortion, but sources close to her selection say she does," the Post reported Saturday. While the evidence is mounting that Benjamin does support legalized abortions, the public, and members of the Senate who will vote to confirm her, may not know until she answers the question during her hearings or after she is confirmed. Rebecca Adelman, a spokeswoman for the Department of Health and Human Services, has said that Benjamin can't answer the question until after her confirmation and is prohibited from speaking publicly. Full story at LifeNews.comNew Poll Shows Obama Dropping on Health Care as Abortion May be Included
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A new poll shows President Barack Obama is losing ground with the American people on his ability to handle the issue of health care reform. The poll results come on the same day a top Obama official refuses to say whether Americans will be forced to pay millions of dollars for abortions under current legislation. A Washington Post poll shows Obama' disapproval rating has climbed 11 percent in the last three months and his approval ratings are down ten points. For the first time, the survey shows Obama's ratings on health care under 50 percent. Now, 49 percent approve of the way he is handling health care while 46 percent disapprove. Just 29 percent strongly approve of his health care performance while 35 percent strongly disapprove. Obama's health care numbers are down eight percent from April while his disapproval rating on the controversial issue is up 15 percent. Another 44 percent of Americans now say they don't trust Obama to handle health care and that number may rise after his budget chief said abortions may be included in the final package Obama signs. Full story at LifeNews.com
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The House of Representatives this week is starting debate on a bill that reflects President Barack Obama's budget priorities. Despite his campaign rhetoric, the measure, which conforms to Obama's budget request, contains $10 million more for an abortion business and less for stem cell research. On Wednesday or Thursday of this week, the House will consider the Labor, Health, and Human Services funding bill for fiscal year 2010. The legislation contains several pro-life provisions that limit taxpayer funding of abortions such as the Hyde amendment, conscience protections for health care workers, and language preventing the destruction of human embryos for research. But it also contains two spending items that are diametrically opposed to Obama's speechifying on the campaign trail. The measure, at Obama's request, contains nearly $12 million for the National Cord Blood Inventory. But that is $3 million less than was authorized originally authorized by Congress during the Bush administration in contracts for stem cell banks that store umbilical cord blood to maintain a national registry. Meanwhile, the Obama administration requested $317 million in increased spending for the Title X family planning program, which is controversial because it funds the Planned Parenthood abortion business. Obama asked for a $10 million increase in the program over the fiscal year 2009 levels even though Planned Parenthood's own figures show it doing more abortions than last year and more than ever before. Full story at LifeNews.comBarack Obama Tied With Mitt Romney in New Poll, in Close Race With Sarah Palin
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A new Rasmussen poll finds pro-abortion President Barack Obama would be tied with former Gov. Mitt Romney in a potential presidential election matchup. The survey also shows Gov. Sarah Palin just six percentage points behind Obama in a possible 2012 presidential race preview. If the next election were held today, the Rasmussen survey, released today, shows Obama and the former Massachusetts governor tied at 45 percent apiece. Another 7 percent would prefer someone other than Obama and Romney, who ran as a pro-life candidate in the 2008 Republican primary again eventual nominee John McCain, and 3 percent are undecided. Against Palin, the pro-life advocate who is stepping down as governor of Alaska, Obama would receive 48 percent to her 42 percent. The same 7 percent want another candidate and 3 percent are undecided. The difference in the hypothetical 2012 matchups results from the views of independent voters not affiliated with either Democrats or Republicans. When Romney is the Republican nominee, he beats Obama among unaffiliated voters 48% to 41%. But when Palin is the GOP candidate, unaffiliated voters prefer Obama by a 47% to 41% margin. Full story at LifeNews.com
Fake Pro-Life Abortion Bill Expected in Congress, Ups Planned Parenthood Funds
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A former leader for one of the nation's largest pro-abortion groups and a congressman who abandoned his pro-life views to such a large extent that a pro-life group kicked him off its advisory board are introducing a new bill that will be touted as pro-life legislation. However, the Reducing the Need for Abortions Initiative, expected to be introduced in the House of Representatives this week, is a bailout for the abortion industry. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, a Connecticut Democrat who is a former NARAL staffer, and Rep. Tim Ryan, an Ohio Democrat whom Democrats for Life of America recently kicked off its board, are behind the bill. The legislation is nothing new as Ryan and DeLauro took a Democrats for Life initiative and changed it so much that it sent millions of dollars to Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion business. The bill is strong on rhetoric, but its particulars are so bad that Rep. Chris Smith, a New Jersey Republican who heads the pro-life caucus of lawmakers in the House, told the Copely News Service in 2006 that the measure would "lead to more abortions, not less" and said pro-life lawmakers won't support it. He found it hypocritical that federal funds would go to abortion centers where "in one room, they talk contraception, and in the other room, they kill your baby.” Full story at LifeNews.com
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A top member of the Senate who is pushing the bill for government restructuring of health care through the chamber is defending the inclusion of abortion in it. Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut says covering abortions respects the religious views of Americans. As LifeNews.com reported last week, the Senate HELP Committee, that Dodd is leading while pro-abortion Sen. Ted Kennedy is out for health reason, approved a bill that would promote abortion. The panel's vote to adopt the contentious measure came after all of the committee's Democrats, minus Sen. Bob Casey, defeated four separate amendments to make the bill abortion neutral. Douglas Johnson, the legislative director for the National Right to Life Committee, told LifeNews.com that "Kennedy's bill, which all 13 committee Democrats voted for, would result in the greatest expansion of abortion since Roe v. Wade." Now, Dodd is telling CNS News that that's alright with him. “I think we handled the issue well," he told the conservative news service when asked about abortion's inclusion in the Kennedy health care package. “We like the idea that people have choices and, indeed, the law of the land permits people to make those choices, and we respect that, and we are going to pursue that,” Dodd said. “Again, we do not want to discriminate when people have--they have convictions, moral convictions and religious convictions." Full story at LifeNews.comSwitzerland Prosecutor Wants to Slow Down Suicide Tourism, Effort Likely Futile
Zurich, Switzerland (LifeNews.com) -- Local prosecutors in Zurich wants to slow down the number of people who head to Switzerland to kill themselves at the controversial Dignitas "clinics." However, one bioethicist says the only way to stop the pro-euthanasia group from preying on the elderly and disabled is to ban suicide tourism altogether. With more than 100 Britons heading to Zurich to take their lives, local residents are starting a backlash against the practice. They say Dignitas founder Ludwig Minelli has embarrassed the nation and turned it into the world's suicide capital. Leading the way are state prosecutors who are putting new rules in place making it harder for residents of foreign countries to kill themselves in Swiss facilities. Under the new guidelines that prosecutors have worked out with the local pro-euthanasia group Exit, people who want to kill themselves would be required to undergo several months of counseling beforehand. Also, physicians who prescribe the deadly cocktail of drugs used in the suicides would be required to meet with the person twice before doing so. Full story at LifeNews.com
New Zealand Pro-Life Group Gets Day in Court To Stop Disputed Abortions
Wellington, New Zealand (LifeNews.com) -- A New Zealand pro-life group got its day in court on its lawsuit to stop the Abortion Supervisory Committee from allowing abortions for unlawful reasons. New Zealand Right to Life sued saying ASC is allowing abortions on alleged mental health grounds that are not necessary for women's health. The Abortion Supervisory Committee is contesting a June 2008 ruling from High Court Judge Forrest Miller saying that there was “reason to doubt the lawfulness of many abortions authorized by certifying consultants." The committee appealed the ruling and filed papers with the appeals court saying there is no evidence to justify Judge Miller's conclusion. The Court of Appeal said the case was outside its jurisdiction and the parties must return to the High Court for a declaration on the powers of the ASC as intended by Parliament. Justice Miller questioned the need yesterday to make any orders. He said Parliament supervised the committee and it had to look at how the committee operated. He reserved his decision. Full story at LifeNews.com
Zurich, Switzerland (LifeNews.com) -- Local prosecutors in Zurich wants to slow down the number of people who head to Switzerland to kill themselves at the controversial Dignitas "clinics." However, one bioethicist says the only way to stop the pro-euthanasia group from preying on the elderly and disabled is to ban suicide tourism altogether. With more than 100 Britons heading to Zurich to take their lives, local residents are starting a backlash against the practice. They say Dignitas founder Ludwig Minelli has embarrassed the nation and turned it into the world's suicide capital. Leading the way are state prosecutors who are putting new rules in place making it harder for residents of foreign countries to kill themselves in Swiss facilities. Under the new guidelines that prosecutors have worked out with the local pro-euthanasia group Exit, people who want to kill themselves would be required to undergo several months of counseling beforehand. Also, physicians who prescribe the deadly cocktail of drugs used in the suicides would be required to meet with the person twice before doing so. Full story at LifeNews.comNew Zealand Pro-Life Group Gets Day in Court To Stop Disputed Abortions
Wellington, New Zealand (LifeNews.com) -- A New Zealand pro-life group got its day in court on its lawsuit to stop the Abortion Supervisory Committee from allowing abortions for unlawful reasons. New Zealand Right to Life sued saying ASC is allowing abortions on alleged mental health grounds that are not necessary for women's health. The Abortion Supervisory Committee is contesting a June 2008 ruling from High Court Judge Forrest Miller saying that there was “reason to doubt the lawfulness of many abortions authorized by certifying consultants." The committee appealed the ruling and filed papers with the appeals court saying there is no evidence to justify Judge Miller's conclusion. The Court of Appeal said the case was outside its jurisdiction and the parties must return to the High Court for a declaration on the powers of the ASC as intended by Parliament. Justice Miller questioned the need yesterday to make any orders. He said Parliament supervised the committee and it had to look at how the committee operated. He reserved his decision. Full story at LifeNews.comSpain Pro-Life Advocates Upset Barcelona Medical College Reinstates Carlos Morin
Barcelona, Spain (LifeNews.com) -- Pro-life advocates in Spain are upset that Carlos Morin, who ran several abortion centers that did illegal abortions and violated various laws, has been reinstated. Barcelona Medical College reinstated Morin, who has been dubbed the "abortion mogul" by detractors. The decision comes one year after Morin and staff at his abortion businesses were accused of doing illegal late-term abortions on babies at up to eight months into pregnancy. Morin and his abortion centers were also accused of illegally disposing of the remains of the babies after grinding them up in industrial strength food processors. He ultimately spent two months in prison and was released in early 2008 pending the outcome of his trial. The terms of his release do not allow him to practice medicine or go to his abortion centers. "No order has been given against him to limit this exercise," a COMB representative told Forum Libertas. "Everything is pending until the judge dictates something...only the judge can make decisions." Full story at LifeNews.com
Barcelona, Spain (LifeNews.com) -- Pro-life advocates in Spain are upset that Carlos Morin, who ran several abortion centers that did illegal abortions and violated various laws, has been reinstated. Barcelona Medical College reinstated Morin, who has been dubbed the "abortion mogul" by detractors. The decision comes one year after Morin and staff at his abortion businesses were accused of doing illegal late-term abortions on babies at up to eight months into pregnancy. Morin and his abortion centers were also accused of illegally disposing of the remains of the babies after grinding them up in industrial strength food processors. He ultimately spent two months in prison and was released in early 2008 pending the outcome of his trial. The terms of his release do not allow him to practice medicine or go to his abortion centers. "No order has been given against him to limit this exercise," a COMB representative told Forum Libertas. "Everything is pending until the judge dictates something...only the judge can make decisions." Full story at LifeNews.comEncourage Friends to Sign Up for Free Pro-Life News From LifeNews.com
