MEDIA ADVISORY, Jan. 25 /Christian Newswire/ -- The Center For Bio-Ethical Reform (CBR) today announces the immediate suspension of its anti-abortion billboard truck operations in the Oklahoma congressional district of Rep. Dan Boren, the Ohio congressional district of Rep. Steve Driehaus and the Pennsylvania congressional district of Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper. These decisions were made in response to assurances from all three Members of Congress that they will oppose any legislation, which departs from the abortion funding restrictions contained in the Stupak Amendment to the House health care reform bill.
On January 19, 2010, Rep. Boren told News 9, KWTV, Oklahoma City, that "He will not support a bill that would fund abortions with tax dollars" in a broadcast report headlined "'Truth Trucks' Use Shock and Awe to Gain Pro-Life Support." Jason Buckner, Rep. Boren's Chief of Staff, contacted CBR directly and stated that "Mr. Boren believes in the protection of all life and he personally opposes abortion. In his view, it is imperative that Congress do all it can to prevent taxpayer dollars from paying for abortions in any form or fashion."
On January 17, 2010, Rep. Steve Driehaus told Cincinnati.com (Enquirer, Community Press) that he "will oppose any version of health care reform legislation that doesn't clearly prohibit federal funds from being used to pay for abortions" in a story concerning CBR's billboard trucks, headlined "Driehaus stands firm on abortion fight."
On January 20, 2010, Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper's chief of staff, Tina M. Mengine, emailed CBR an assurance that Rep. Dahlkemper "is a proud co-sponsor of the Stupak amendment [banning public funds for abortion] and does not believe the Nelson amendment in the Senate bill is strong enough." Ms. Mengine expressed confidence that CBR "can move your trucks to another location without concern."
As a consequence, CBR also announces today the addition of the congressional districts of Rep. Tim Ryan, (D-OH) and Rep. Tom Perriello, (D-VA) to our Blue Dog pro-life billboard truck tour. We will suspend operations in these districts when Rep. Ryan and Rep. Perrillo pledge to oppose any abortion funding measure which departs from the terms of the Stupak Amendment for which they voted prior to final passage of the House health care reform bill.
Questions regarding this education project may be directed by email to Gregg Cunningham, Executive Director, at cbr@cbrinfo.org. Email replies will be provided in time to accommodate journalists writing on deadline or within twenty-four hours, whichever time is shorter. Phone interviews may be conducted by contacting Don Cooper, 949-206-0600, Fletcher Armstrong, 865-776-1312, Mark Harrington, 614-419- 9000, Bill Calvin, 816-918-9873, or Michael Schrimsher, 407-810-3515.
