LifeNews.com Pro-Life News Report
Saturday, March 13, 2010
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Current Headlines
• Battle to Stop Pro-Abortion Health Care Bill Begins Monday, Vote Next Week
• Democrats Will Keep Abortion Funding in Health Care, All Republicans Oppose Bill
• Bart Stupak: Nancy Pelosi Lacks Votes for Pro-Abortion Health Care in House
• Gallup Polls Finding Younger Americans More Strongly Pro-Life on Abortion
• Some Pro-Life Democrats Flinch on Pro-Abortion Health Care, Pelosi Pushes On
• Stupak: Democrat Chair Says Party Wants to Force Americans to Fund Abortions
• Jury Finds Michigan Man Guilty Who Shot Pro-Life Advocate Over Abortion Signs
• Georgia Committee Passes Pro-Life Bill Targeting Racist and Sexist Abortions
• Illinois Pro-Lifers Appearing in Court to Defend Parental Notification on Abortion
• Virginia Legislature Honors Work of Pregnancy Centers Instead of Hurting Them
• California Planned Parenthood Fundraiser Draws Support From Big Names
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Battle to Stop Pro-Abortion Health Care Bill Begins Monday, Vote Next Week
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The pro-life community has been subjected to a roller coaster week with chaos and confusion on the monumental battle to stop the pro-abortion health care bill. Now, it appears Democrats have solidified their plan on moving forward -- with the battle beginning Monday and a final vote late next week.
That gives pro-life groups just one week to turn out millions of calls and emails to members of the House urging them to vote no on the Senate pro-abortion health care bill and any companion measures.
As Douglas Johnson of the National Right to Life Committee tells LifeNews.com, "What is needed is for the Washington office and district offices of every House Democrat to be flooded from calls from his or her constituents, saying in no uncertain terms, 'Kill the Senate health bill, or we will remember in November.'"
Democrats have examined virtually every possible method of railroading the government-run health care bill through Congress and they appear to have finalized a plan to pass it and leave the abortion funding and promotion in place.
In the haze of the confusion on Capital Hill, some details can be confirmed.
Democratic leaders have confirmed repeatedly on Thursday and Friday that they will not strike a deal with pro-life Democrats, led by Rep. Bart Stupak, to stop abortion funding. They have gone as far as saying they specifically want to force Americans to pay for abortions.
Instead, they will move forward with a plan LifeNews.com outlined on Thursday that has a "shell" or reconciliation bill moving through the committee process.
That will have the House Budget Committee starting things off with consideration of a companion bill, that will not remove the abortion funding or abortion promotion from the Senate bill, on Monday. Full story at LifeNews.com
Democrats Will Keep Abortion Funding in Health Care, All Republicans Oppose Bill
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- One of the top Democrats in the House confirmed today that congressional leaders have no plans to pursue any changes to the abortion funding found in the Senate health care bill the House will attempt to pass. Meanwhile, the top House Republicans says no GOP members plan to vote for the bill.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said the reconciliation process Democrats plan to use to push the Senate bill will not allow for any changes in abortion funding or promotion.
"It is clear that that matter cannot be dealt with per se in the reconciliation bill. We'll have to deal with it pretty much as is it at this point in time," Hoyer said, according to Politico.
Hoyer also made it appear that future talked of outside-the-box ideas on how to cut out the abortion funding won't happen.
We have not discussed a third way, Hoyer told reporters about any discussions with top pro-life Democrat Bart Stupak. I've talked to Mr. Stupak, but I made it clear I wasn't negotiating."
As House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and one of her top lieutenants have said, Hoyer suggested enough pro-life Democrats will go along with the abortion funding and promotion to pass the bill. Full story at LifeNews.com
Bart Stupak: Nancy Pelosi Lacks Votes for Pro-Abortion Health Care in House
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her top Democratic lieutenants are pushing the Senate pro-abortion health care bill. However, a top pro-life Democrat and political observers say she doesn't have the votes to get the abortion-funding measure through the House.
As LifeNews.com reported yesterday, Democrats are crafting their final plan to push the Senate bill and they say they have the votes even without the help of pro-life Democrats who are firmly against the bill or still undecided.
But Rep. Bart Stupak, the top pro-life Democrat in the House, told Fox News last night that Pelosi lacks the votes she needs for passage.
No, I don't think so, Stupak said about whether Pelosi reached her magic number.
"I don't see how they're going to get the votes to pass healthcare, no matter what procedure they use, if they want to do it by March 18th," Stupak said. "I don't see it."
This was proposed today at the caucus and many members spoke up and said no. It s not good enough," Stupak added.
"We're not going to pass a bill -- first of all, members don't like the Senate bill. Especially with the special deals in it. Why would we vote for it, send it to the President so he can sign it and it becomes law, then the special deals are law, and then trust that they're going to fix it later? It s not just me. Many members said they don't agree with that process," Stupak said. Full story at LifeNews.com
Gallup Polls Finding Younger Americans More Strongly Pro-Life on Abortion
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The Gallup polling agency released an analysis today of its polling data going back to 1975 and it found that younger Americans are currently more strongly pro-life than middle-aged Americans. The polling results give the pro-life movement hope that public opinion will continue moving in the pro-life direction.
Looking at a combination of its polls from 2005-2009, just 24 percent of Americans between the ages of 18-29 support keeping abortion legal for any reason throughout pregnancy.
That's less than the 26 percent of 50-64 year-olds who support all legal abortions and less than the 28 percent of 30-49 year-olds who support it. As has been the case since Roe, the oldest Americans above 65 are the most pro-life with only about 16 percent saying they support all abortions.
Looking at it another way in the 2005-2009 polls, 23 percent of 18-29 year-olds say all abortions should be illegal compared with 17 percent of those 30-49 and those 50-64. The number is even higher than those 65+, 21 percent of whom want all abortions illegal.
"As a result, 18- to 29-year-olds are now roughly tied with seniors as the most likely of all age groups to hold this position on abortion -- although all four groups are fairly close in their views. This is a sharp change from the late 1970s, when seniors were substantially more likely than younger age groups to want abortion to be illegal," Gallup noted. Full story at LifeNews.com
Some Pro-Life Democrats Flinch on Pro-Abortion Health Care, Pelosi Pushes On
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Some pro-life Democrats appear to be weakening on their stance on the pro-abortion Senate health care bill. This comes as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and top Democrats push ahead with their plan to pass the legislation and its abortion funding without making any changes to it.
Four pro-life Democrats who are among those pro-life groups are hoping will stand strong by voting against the pro-abortion health care bill appear to be weakening.
They are likely members of the Stupak dozen, considered to be 12 Democrats who voted for the House version of the bill who would likely vote against the Senate measure because it funds and promotes abortion.
Rep. Bart Stupak of Michigan is the de facto leader of the pro-life Democrats and has not named them, but some members thought to be a part of his coalition are issuing comments that are causing concerns for pro-life groups.
Rep. Charlie Wilson, an Ohio Democrat, said Thursday, according to a Congressional Quarterly report, that he is willing to consider voting for the Senate bill. He reportedly indicated that while he prefers stronger language banning abortion funding, not changing the funding will not make it so he can't vote for the measure.
Earlier this week, Rep. Dale Kildee of Michigan told Roll Call he could support the Senate bill, but pro-life groups later said he had not made such a commitment. CQ indicates he is still willing to consider supporting the Senate bill even without stopping abortion funding.
Meanwhile, Rep. Marcy Kaptur of Ohio is another pro-life Democrat who is wavering. Full story at LifeNews.com
Stupak: Democrat Chair Says Party Wants to Force Americans to Fund Abortions
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Democrats in Congress have shut down any attempt of cutting the massive abortion funding and promotion found in the Senate health care bill.
Highlighting how his party colleagues have shut down his attempt to stop it, Rep. Bart Stupak says in a new interview that a key chairman said Democrats want to force Americans to fund abortions.
In an interview with Marquette, Michigan radio station WKQS' Mark & Walk morning show, Stupak described a conversation he had with Rep. Henry Waxman. Waxman is one of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's top lieutenants and one of the main lawmakers responsible for crafting the final language of the government-run health care bill.
Stupak described how he gave him language to ban abortion funding with the hopes that it would be included so he and several other pro-life Democrats could possibly support the health care bill.
"I gave him the language. He came back a little while later and said, 'But we want to pay for abortions.' I said, 'Mr. Chairman, that's -- we disagree. We don't do it now, we're not going to start,'" Stupak related. "'But we think should,'" Stupak said Waxman told him, according to a Fox News writeup of the interview.
Stupak continued: "I said, 'Well, I'm sorry but the House has spoken. We had that debate. We won 240-190. You forced the vote, a vote we won fair and square and we're not gonna, this is what it is. If you want to move health care keep current law.'" Full story at LifeNews.com
Jury Finds Michigan Man Guilty Who Shot Pro-Life Advocate Over Abortion Signs
Owosso, MI (LifeNews.com) -- A jury yesterday found guilty the man who shot pro-life advocate James Pouillon because he was upset with the graphic abortion signs he used when protesting abortion outside a local high school. Harlan Drake killed Pouillon and a local businessman in a separate killing after a family feud.
A Shiawassee County jury convicted Drake on two counts of first-degree murder in the September 2009 shootings.
Jurors rejected claims from defense attorneys that Drake was mentally ill at the time of the killings and should be declared not guilty by reason of insanity.
Drake, 34, faces life in prison without parole as a result of the shootings and each count carries a sentence of life in prison without parole since the state of Michigan does not have the death penalty. The jury deliberated for four hours before returning their verdicts.
Drake indicated that he had no remorse for the killings, but understood he deserved to be punished for them.
Operation Rescue president Troy Newman, who knew Pouillon, told LifeNews.com that "Justice has been done."
"We are relieved that Mr. Drake's behavior will not be excused because he had a sad story to tell, and that he will be locked away for the rest of his life," Newman said. Full story at LifeNews.com
Georgia Committee Passes Pro-Life Bill Targeting Racist and Sexist Abortions
Atlanta, GA (LifeNews.com) -- A Georgia state House committee approved a bill on Wednesday that would ban abortions done specifically because the child is African-American. HB 1155 would also make it a crime to attempt to coerce a woman to have an abortion based on the race or sex of the unborn child.
It would also prevent abortion practitioners from knowingly doing race-based or gender-based abortions.
On Wednesday, the House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee passed the bill out of committee on a 7-6 vote.
After a number of attempts to amend the legislation failed, the committee was asked to vote on a motion to table the bill. The committee was evenly split on the vote enabling Chairman Rich Golick to vote in our favor and thereby defeating the motion.
"Hundreds of hours have been put into the crafting of this legislation, using some of the top pro-life attorneys around the country and within the state," Mike Griffin, the legislative director of Georgia Right to Life, told LifeNews.com.
"There is no doubt that this bill will protect women from coercion, from gender selection and race based abortions, while ensuring that it mirrors other non-discrimination laws in this state," he said. Full story at LifeNews.com
Illinois Pro-Lifers Appearing in Court to Defend Parental Notification on Abortion
Springfield, IL (LifeNews.com) -- A pro-life legal group will appear in court on Monday to defend the Illinois parental notification law, that has never been enforced, from attack by the ACLU. Attorneys from the Thomas More Society will appear in Cook County court again seeking to intervene in the latest pro-abortion lawsuit.
In Hope Clinic, et al., v. Brent Adams et al., Thomas More Society attorneys are representing Illinois State's Attorneys Stu Umholtz, Ed Deters, and Ray Cavanaugh.
They maintain that because there is no right to abortion in the Illinois Constitution, the ACLU's latest challenge to parental notice is baseless.
The Attorney General, representing various Illinois officials who are named as defendants, has moved to dismiss the case on other grounds.
"Because the ACLU has already lost in federal court, its lawyers must prove in state court that the Illinois Constitution of 1970 guaranteed a right to abortion that was even stronger than the federal abortion right upheld in Roe v. Wade, handed down in 1973," Thomas Brejcha, the Thomas More Society president, explained.
"This is an utter falsehood plainly belied by the historical record. Yet, instead of defending the Illinois Constitution, whose Framers clearly left the issue of abortion to the legislature, the Attorney General has tossed the Constitution aside and conceded to the ACLU on this key issue," he added. Full story at LifeNews.com
Virginia Legislature Honors Work of Pregnancy Centers Instead of Hurting Them
Richmond, VA (LifeNews.com) -- The Virginia legislature could have chosen to go down the road NARAL wanted with a bill that would single them out for telling women the truth about abortion risks and alternatives. Instead, they approved a resolution a coalition of pro-life groups sponsors honoring their work.
At the beginning of the session, abortion advocates launched an attack on these faith-based charities.
The attacks consisted of an erroneous and biased report and discriminatory and unnecessary regulatory legislation. Less than two months later, not only had the hostile legislation been thrown out by its own sponsors, the entire legislature passed a resolution praising the work of Virginia pregnancy centers.
Just one week after the legislation against pregnancy centers was introduced, it was dismissed in both House and Senate subcommittees after legislators heard testimony from pregnancy centers directors, former center clients, medical staff, Care Net, the Family Foundation and Virginia Catholic Conference.
A few weeks later, pregnancy centers held a day at the state capitol where staff and volunteers came to further educate legislators about their organizations' work. Full story at LifeNews.com
| Looking for a pro-life speaker for your next banquet, conference or convention? LifeNews.com editor Steven Ertelt is a low-cost speaker who can entertain and educate your audience as well as help you with a fundraising pitch if necessary. He can also speak on any pro-life topic. For more information, email news@LifeNews.com. |
California Planned Parenthood Fundraiser Draws Support From Big Names
by Bryan Kemper
Tomorrow, Planned Parenthood's 31st Annual Food Fare will take place at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in Santa Monica California. The annual event started in 1979 with a demonstration by Julia Child. Attendees are paying big money to attend this fundraiser for the largest child killing organization in the world. Two of the Item donors to this blood money fund raiser were Children s Discovery Museum of the Desert and Dance for Kids. It just saddens me that businesses that cater to children help raise money for the killing of innocent babies. Do they not realize they are helping to kill off the very children who could be their customers in just a few years?
I was also disappointed to see some of my favorite restaurants on the list of donors to one of the deadliest and most racists organizations in history. I loved the fish tacos at Cheesecake Factory, but I have no intention of ever eating there again.
Pinks Hot Dogs and Tommy s World Famous Hamburgers were places I would often visit when I go to Los Angeles; thank God In & Out Burger is NOT donating to this event. Every year at the March for Life my best friend and I go eat at Fogo de Chao Steak House for his birthday; I guess I will have to find another place to celebrate next year. Full story at LifeNews.com
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