LifeNews.com Pro-Life News Report
Friday, March 12, 2010
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Current Headlines
• Possible Plan to Push Pro-Abortion Health Care Bill Has First Vote Monday
• Democrats: We Have Votes for Health Care Bill Without Fixing Abortion Funding
• Senate Parliamentarian: Democrats Can't Use Reconciliation for Pro-Abortion Bill
• Democrats May Use Slaughter Rule to Pass Pro-Abortion HCR Bill Without Vote
• Pro-Life Organizations Up Efforts to Kill Pro-Abortion Senate Health Care Bill
• Abortion Practitioner Quits, Business Cuts Hours as 40 Days for Life Continuese
• Polls Show Voters in Pennsylvania, Arkansas Don't Want Abortion in Health Care
• NARAL Endorses Pro-Abortion Candidates for House, Senate Races in 2010
• Girl Scouts OK Pro-Abortion Planned Parenthood Sex Guide at United Nations Mtg
• Competing Views on Abortion-Maternal Mortality Clash at Beijing+15 Meeting
• Planned Parenthood to Hold Large Fundraising Gala to Open Houston Abortion Biz
• Idaho House Committee OKs Bill for Conscience Rights for Pro-Life Medical Staff
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Possible Plan to Push Pro-Abortion Health Care Bill Would Have First Vote Monday
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Congressional Democrats have spent weeks trying to figure out how to get a pro-abortion health care bill through the House and Senate. A potential plan to do that would have a House committee voting as soon as Monday on a companion bill to accompany the Senate legislation.
Under the possible plan, as pro-life Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin spells out in an interview with American Spectator, the companion bill helps get the Senate measure through.
The Senate bill contains non-abortion provisions that Democrats must change in order to get enough votes for it in the House.
To do that, Democrats would craft a "shell" bill that will go to the House Budget Committee and be approved as soon as late Monday. The House Rules Committee will then take the bill and add a Rule for debate to it that disallows any amendments from Republicans or pro-life Democrats to fix the abortion funding and other pro-abortion problems with the bill.
The Rules Committee would also strip out any language in the shell bill and add the non-abortion changes to it designed to win enough votes to get it and the pro-abortion Senate measure passed on the House floor.
The Senate would then the "shell" bill and its changes through the reconciliation process, even though the Senate parliamentarian ruled reconciliation isn't in order. With the Senate measure already passed, the "shell" bill would likely qualify for reconciliation and be able to receive a majority vote instead of coming under the filibuster Republicans have used.
"They don't have the votes right now, but they're creating the vehicle so that they can airdrop in whatever changes they want," Ryan told the American Spectator. Full story at LifeNews.com
Democrats: We Have Votes for Health Care Bill Without Fixing Abortion Funding
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Top House Democrats who are intimately involved in the discussions over the Senate health care bill and its provisions funding and promoting abortion claims Democrats have enough votes in the House to pass the Senate bill without changing the pro-abortion language.
"We have a pretty good idea of where we are going," House Speker Nancy Pelosi said after a morning meeting with the entire Democratic caucus.
"We have to, member-by-member, address the concerns that they raise," Pelosi said. "We have enough to move forward."
Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman said today that Democratic leaders are attempting to secure 216 votes for the Senate bill without doing anything to alter the abortion funding. According to an AP report, Waxman now says "many of the pro-life members are going to support passage of the health care bill."
His comments come as two of the top pro-life Democrats sounded pessimistic tones about their ability to alter the abortion funding in the bill either through reconciliation or a sidebar bill.
On his way to a meeting with the House Democratic caucus, top pro-life Rep. Bart Stupak was asked if he would fight for a guarantee of no abortion funding.
There is no guarantees in this town, Stupak said, according to the Daily Caller. We continue discussions, he said. I can't predict if it s going to be worked out. Full story at LifeNews.com
Senate Parliamentarian: Democrats Can't Use Reconciliation for Pro-Abortion Bill
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- In what may be a blow to Democrats and their effort to push the pro-abortion health care bill through Congress, the Senate parliamentarian has ruled that Senate Democrats can't use the controversial reconciliation process to make the changes needed to get enough votes for the Senate bill in the House.
But that hasn't stopped Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid from notifying Republicans that he plans to use the process anyway.
The Senate Parliamentarian issued a ruling saying President Barack Obama must sign the pro-abortion health care bill first because Congress can use reconciliation to make changes to it as federal law.
One idea Democrats had been exploring to ensure enough votes for the abortion funding bill is to have both chambers pass a reconciliation bill first so recalcitrant Democrats in the House who may otherwise vote no will be persuaded to support the Senate bill.
Despite the ruling, Reid sent a letter to Minority Leader Mitch McConnell saying he will attempt to use the reconciliation process to get changes made to the Senate bill.
"We plan to use the regular budget reconciliation process," the letter says. Full story at LifeNews.com
Democrats May Use Slaughter Rule to Pass Pro-Abortion Health Care Without Vote
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- As Democratic leaders in Congress plot their next move on how to get the pro-abortion Senate health care bill through the House, a new strategy has developed apart from the reconciliation plan that has pro-life advocates concerned they could pass the bill without taking a vote on it.
House Rules Chairwoman Louise Slaughter has developed an idea she has not yet presented to Speaker Nancy Pelosi but is one that received considerable attention from political observers yesterday.
When the House considers any legislation on the floor, it first adopts a Rule for debate that sets the parameters for debate, amendments and other procedures.
The problem Democrats have in the House is that pro-life Democrats are joining with Republicans to hold up the Senate bill because it contains massive abortion funding and other pro-abortion problems.
To get around that, Slaughter has mentioned proposing a Rule that would "deem" the Senate bill having already passed the House without an actual vote by members of the House.
The Rule would apply to the reconciliation package that makes the changes Democrats need to secure enough votes.
Under the Slaughter Rule, a majority would be needed to approve it and the idea behind adopting it is to give Democrats in tough re-election campaigns the ability to say they didn't vote for what is an unpopular pro-abortion health care bill. Instead, they can say they merely voted on a procedural rule. Full story at LifeNews.com
Pro-Life Organizations Up Efforts to Kill Pro-Abortion Senate Health Care Bill
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Leading pro-life organizations are ramping up their efforts to kill the pro-abortion Senate health care bill in the House. While Democratic leaders have yet to finalize the strategy on how to pass it, pro-life groups aren't waiting and are focusing on generating calls and emails to anyone who might vote no.
We are working around the clock to stop this pro-abortion health care plan in its tracks," Charmaine Yoest of Americans United for Life told LifeNews.com today.
Much of the effort is focusing on encouraging pro-life Democrats to hold fast to their position by opposing the Senate bill.
"The Americans United for Life Action team is organizing a Team Life mobilization of grassroots activists across the country, engaging Congressional leaders and staff, and providing every possible support to pro-life Democrats as they fight for Life in the face of tremendous pressure," Yoest said.
AUL's efforts, which mirror those of other pro-life groups, include advertising campaigns, lobbying via social media networks, and urging pro-life advocates to call and email Congress.
Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council is also moving pro-life people to action and he tells LifeNews.com time is of the essence because Democrats will likely push a bill soon. Full story at LifeNews.com
Abortion Practitioner Quits, Business Cuts Hours as 40 Days for Life Continues
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The latest 40 Days for Life campaign continues to rack up amazing success stories as hundreds of unborn children have already been saved from abortions. Now, national coordinator David Bereit informs LifeNews.com that an abortion practitioner has retired and an abortion business has cut its hours.
Bereit receive an email from Kathy in Columbia, Missouri who could barely contain her glee.
"We have wonderful news!" she shared. "The abortionist who did surgical abortions in Columbia at Planned Parenthood has resigned. This is awesome news." "But we still have to pray for the conversion of the doctor who gives the RU-486 abortion pill on Thursdays," Kathy continued.
Bereit talks about the significance of the decision. "Columbia is right in the middle of Missouri -- and now more than a two-hour drive to the nearest available surgical abortions in St. Louis and Kansas City," Bereit said.
Meanwhile, Mary Ann in Great Falls, Montana just sent her 40 Days for Life team an email with an all-capitals subject line praising God for the news she discovered. "Planned Parenthood here has decreased its 'clinic' hours to Monday, Wednesday and Friday," explained Mary Ann. "This is a big change as they used to be open all day Monday through Friday and every other Saturday." Full story at LifeNews.com
Polls Show Voters in Pennsylvania, Arkansas Don't Want Abortion in Health Care
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- New polling data from Congressional districts in Pennsylvania and Arkansas shows voters there don't want abortion funding in any health care bill. The pro-life women's group Susan B. Anthony List released the new polling results as a followup to polls in other states including Ohio and Indiana.
The polling tracked voters in the Arkansas district of Mike Ross and the Pennsylvania districts of Kathy Dahlkemper (PA-3) and Mike Doyle (PA-14).
In all three districts, strong majorities of voters wanted Congress to either start from scratch on a new bill, not pass a health care bill this year or make major changes to the existing bill.
Just 15 percent in Arkansas, 20 percent in PA-3 and 32 percent in PA-14 support the current pro-abortion health care bill with minor changes. Some 72 percent in Arkansas and 79 and 65 percent in the respective districts oppose funding abortions while just 29 percent said they favor abortion funding in Doyle's district, 13 percent in Dahlkemper's and 8 percent in Ross'.
And when it comes to the health care bill, 84 percent in Arkansas, 78 percent in PA-3 and 63 percent in PA-14 said they don't want abortion funding in the bill. Full story at LifeNews.com
NARAL Endorses Pro-Abortion Candidates for House, Senate Races in 2010
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- NARAL, one of the leading abortion advocacy groups, has issued new endorsements for pro-abortion candidates seeking House and Senate seats this November. The endorsements provide pro-life voters with an easy list of candidates to oppose in the upcoming 2010 midterm elections.
Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL's political action committee, made the endorsement announcement today.
NARAL is backing two candidates for U. S. Senate races: pro-abortion incumbent Sen. Russ Feingold, a Wisconsin Democrat, and pro-abortion state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias in his bid for an open seat in Illinois.
NARAL also endorsed two House incumbents: Rep. Rick Boucher in Virginia's 9th District and Rep. Patrick Murphy in Pennsylvania's 8th District.
In addition, the pro-abortion group endorsed state Sen. Ted Deutch for Florida's 19th district, where he seeks to keep in the pro-abortion column the open seat vacated by Rep. Robert Wexler. Full story at LifeNews.com
Girl Scouts OK Pro-Abortion Planned Parenthood Sex Guide at United Nations Mtg 
New York, NY (LifeNews.com/CFAM) -- The World Association of Girl Scouts and Girl Guides hosted a no-adults-welcome panel at the United Nations this week where Planned Parenthood was allowed to distribute a brochure entitled Healthy, Happy and Hot. The event was part of the annual United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) which concludes this week.
The brochure, aimed at young people living with HIV, contains explicit and graphic details on sex, as well as the promotion of casual sex in many forms. The brochure claims, Many people think sex is just about vaginal or anal intercourse But, there are lots of different ways to have sex and lots of different types of sex. There is no right or wrong way to have sex. Just have fun, explore and be yourself!
The brochure goes on to encourage young people to Improve your sex life by getting to know your own body. Play with yourself! Masturbation is a great way to find out more about your body and what you find sexually stimulating. Mix things up by using different kinds of touch from very soft to hard. Talk about or act out your fantasies. Talk dirty to them. Full story at LifeNews.com
Competing Views on Abortion-Maternal Mortality Clash at Beijing+15 Meeting
New York, NY (LifeNews.com/CFAM) -- Almost more than any topic, maternal morality has been the focus of this year s meeting of the United Nations (UN) Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), which commemorates the fifteenth anniversary of the Beijing women's conference.
While all agree on the need to improve maternal health and reduce maternal mortality, two main competing views on how best to do so have emerged with one camp emphasizing abortion.
Stressing the importance for governments to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015, government delegations and UN officials have lamented the lack of progress on MDG 5, to improve maternal health.
At the opening of the conference, Deputy Secretary-General Rachel Mayanja stated that there has been limited progress on reproductive health and that maternal mortality remains unacceptably high. Mayanja emphasized that almost all these deaths could be prevented. Full story at LifeNews.com
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Planned Parenthood to Hold Large Fundraising Gala to Open Houston Abortion Biz
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Planned Parenthood of Houston has planned a large fundraising gala on April 30 to mark the grand opening of its massive new abortion facility. The is the same abortion business that saw thousands of pro-life advocates participate in a rally protesting its planned opening.
The new "super center" abortion facility is equipped to abortions that officials say will be done on babies through 19 weeks into pregnancy.
The invitation to the event bills it as "historic" to mark both the 75th anniversary of the Texas Planned Parenthood and the opening of the new 78,000 square-foot facility.
Lou Engle, founder of The Call to Conscience, the group that sponsored the huge January rally, talked with CNS News about the fundraising event.
Planned Parenthood is absolutely right when it claims in its dinner invitation that this is a historic event - it is, he said. Its massive abortion facility on Gulf Freeway in Houston is truly unprecedented and will lead to countless innocent deaths and make late-term abortions more convenient. Full story at LifeNews.com
Idaho House Committee OKs Bill for Conscience Rights for Pro-Life Medical Staff
Boise, ID (LifeNews.com) -- The House State Affairs Committee voted today along party lines in favor of a bill that would create statutory protections for health care professionals in specific areas of medical practice. The committee voted for the bill to protect pro-life advocates after two days of emotional testimony.
The bill that the Senate approved 21-13 now moves to the full House floor after the 13-5 vote for it from Republicans.
The committee voted for Rep. Crane's motion to send the bill to the floor with a "do-pass" recommendation. Democrats Higgins and King made substitute motions to kill and/or amend the legislation. Those motions failed both failed 4-14.
The measure makes it so pro-life health care workers don't have to fear for their jobs if they decide they don't want to dispense drugs that could be used to cause abortions or kill patients at the end of their life. Full story at LifeNews.com
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