LifeNews.com Pro-Life News Report
Thursday, March 18, 2010
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Current Headlines
• Sunday Vote Eyed on Pro-Abortion Health Care Bill, Democrats Still Lack Votes
• House Paves Way for Slaughter Rule to Pass Pro-Abortion Health Care Without Vote
• Pro-Life Democrats: 12 Still Oppose Pro-Abortion Health Care Bill, Votes Lacking
• Catholic Bishops Launch Newspaper Ads Attacking Pro-Abortion Health Care Bill
• Pro-Life Advocates Dismiss Catholic Nuns' Letter Backing Pro-Abortion Health Care
• Republican Cao Opposes Pro-Abortion Health Care Bill, While Wilson Wavers
• Letter From Catholic Nuns For Pro-Abortion Bill Doesn't Represent 59K People
• Republican Party Chair: Pro-Life More Important Than Government Health Care
• Pro-Abortion Activist Challenges Pro-Life Bart Stupak in Democratic Primary
• Nebraska Bill to Ban Late-term Abortions Based on Fetal Pain Gets Panel's Okay
• Canada Euthanasia Advocate Launches Debate on Legalizing Assisted Suicide
• Colorado Personhood Backers Turn in Petitions for Second Abortion Amendment
--> ACTION: Contact your member of Congress to oppose the pro-abortion health care bill by going to http://www.House.gov and then tell every pro-life friend and family member to do the same. Urge opposition to the Senate bill, the companion measure and the Slaughter Rule.
Democrats Want Saturday Vote on Pro-Abortion Health Care Bill, Don't Have Votes
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Democrats still lack enough votes to pass the pro-abortion health care bill but they are eyeing a vote on Sunday. Meanwhile, some Democratic lawmakers are still announcing positions one way or the other and House Republicans say they will continue doing everything possible to block the bill.
Democratic leaders had been waiting for a Congressional Budget Office announcing the financial impact of the government-run health care bill before finalizing plans to proceed.
They received the report today saying the measure will cost just under $1 trillion.
Happy about those numbers, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said he expected the House to vote on Sunday.
First, the House Rules Committee will meet on Saturday to consider passing the Slaughter Rule -- the controversial procedural motion allowing the House to "deem" the pro-abortion health care bill passed without actually taking a vote on it.
But Republicans in the House and Senate promised to try to kill the bill in the House and cause enough disruption in the Senate to make House Democrats rethink passing the bill.
House Republican leader John Boehner said, I ve always believed we could beat this thing."
It s not too late, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell added. All we need is enough Democrats in the House of Representatives to do the right thing for the American people. Full story at LifeNews.com
--> ACTION: Contact your member of Congress to oppose the pro-abortion health care bill by going to http://www.House.gov and then tell every pro-life friend and family member to do the same. Urge opposition to the Senate bill, the companion measure and the Slaughter Rule.
House Paves Way for Slaughter Rule to Pass Pro-Abortion Health Care Without Vote
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The House voted 222-203 today against a bipartisan measure to stop Democrats from using the Slaughter Rule to approve the pro-abortion Senate health care bill without taking a vote. The move sets up a vote Sunday afternoon on the procedural motion that would "deem" the bill passed.
Some 28 Democrats joined every House Republican in supporting the GOP measure to stop the Slaughter Rule.
The vote concerns pro-life advocates because abortion activists need 216 votes to approve the motion for the Senate bill and they had six more than necessary to defeat the Republican motion.
However, most analysts believe Democrats don't yet have the votes to get the Slaughter Rule approved. After the vote, Speaker Nancy Pelosi dismissed as a nonissue using a procedural process to pass a bill instead of taking a vote on the bill itself.
Daniel Foster of the conservative National Review thinks Democrats will suffer publicly from using the controversial process to approve the much-maligned bill without a vote.
"I'll be honest. I had started to wonder whether this Slaughter Rule business was a bait-and-switch. I couldn't imagine that, with the pounding Democratic leadership have taken over the deem-and-pass strategy, there was any profit left in pushing it," he said. Full story at LifeNews.com
Pro-Life Democrats: 12 Still Oppose Pro-Abortion Health Care Bill, Votes Lacking
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Two of the leading pro-life Democrats against the Senate health care bill because of its pro-abortion provisions say their 12-member coalition that puts opposing funding before advocating health care is still solid. Their remarks comes as two longtime pro-life Democrats say they will back the bill.
Congressman Bart Stupak of Michigan is the leader of the Stupak 12, and he says the group is still airtight and none have committed to supporting the Senate bill during an expected vote this weekend.
He told Fox News yesterday that he met with the 12 members on Tuesday and none of them have peeled off to support President Barack Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
"K Street thinks they know who is on the list. They don't. There are some surprises on there," he said.
Illinois Democratic Congressman Daniel Lipinski backed up Stupak's contention that the group of 12 pro-life Democrats is solid.
"My vote is now no based on the fact the Senate bill funds abortion through community health centers and also gives federal subsidies for people to purchase insurance that can cover abortion. Both of those are in direct contradiction of the Hyde Amendment, which is right now the status quo," he told Fox News last night about his own vote. Full story at LifeNews.com
Catholic Bishops Launch Newspaper Ads Attacking Pro-Abortion Health Care Bill
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The nation's Catholic bishops have launched a slew of newspaper ads criticizing the pro-abortion Senate health care bill. Their renewed effort to defeat the legislation and its abortion funding and promotion comes as dissident Catholic groups are confusing House members into supporting the bill.
"Health care reform is about saving lives, not destroying them," the ad featuring a doctor and pregnant woman says.
Deirdre McQuade of the Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops tells LifeNews.com the ads are appearing today in the Washington Post, Politico, The Hill, Roll Call, CQ and Congress Daily AM -- all read by members of Congress.
"For over 30 years, the Hyde Amendment and other longstanding and widely supported laws have prevented federal funding of elective abortions," the ad says. "Yet the Senate health care reform bill violates this policy and fails to protect the life, dignity and conscience of all."
"It will appropriate billions of dollars in new funds not covered by the Hyde Amendment, and subsidize health plans that make their enrollees pay for elective abortions," the ad continues. "Americans would be forced to subsidize other people s abortions through their taxes and health insurance premiums." Full story at LifeNews.com
Pro-Life Advocates Dismiss Catholic Nuns' Letter Backing Pro-Abortion Health Care
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The letter signed by 59 Catholic nuns sent to members of Congress yesterday endorsing the pro-abortion Senate health care bill has been dismissed by several pro-life advocates and organizations saying it doesn't represent an authentic Catholic or pro-life position.
The letter says that "despite false claims to the contrary, the Senate bill will not provide taxpayer funding for elective abortions."
The letter says the legislation also will help support pregnant women and "this is the real pro-life stance."
Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, the president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), has already refuted that claim with his own letter opposing the bill.
Congressman Bart Stupak also responded to the letter and refuted it. "When I'm drafting right to life language, I don't call up the nuns," he said, adding that he relies on truly pro-life groups like "leading bishops, Focus on the Family, and The National Right to Life Committee."
From a more Catholic angle, Father Frank Pavone of Priests for Life tells LifeNews.com that the Catholic nuns have forgotten that pro-life concerns are at the heart of the pursuit of social justice. He also questioned the authenticity of the Catholic thinking behind the letter.
First of all, contrary to its claim, this statement does not represent 59,000 nuns; it represents the approximately 59 nuns who signed it," he said. "Secondly, while the bishops analysis of the health care bill relies on the expertise of legal analysts, it is not clear what expert analysis these signers have relied on." Full story at LifeNews.com
Republican Cao Opposes Pro-Abortion Health Care Bill, While Wilson Wavers
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Rep. Anh "Joseph" Cao was the lone Republican to support the House health care bill and he was listed as a firm no on the Senate measure because of its massive abortion funding. President Barack Obama hoped to twist his arm, but he says he will oppose the bill.
WDSU indicated late Thursday that Cao said the Senate bill is "much weaker than the version we passed through the House" on stopping abortion funding.
He said he could only vote for the bill if the abortion funding were removed, which Democrats have refused to do.
He said he has been flooded with calls and emails but will vote his conscience.
"We have people knocking at our doors, we have groups coming in, lobbying," he said. "It comes down to me and my own conscience and that's what I have to deal with."
"We do need some kind of health care reform to assist many people in the district," he said. "But again, my decision to support the health care bill cannot contradict my conscience." Full story at LifeNews.com
Letter From Catholic Nuns For Pro-Abortion Bill Doesn't Represent 59K People
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A letter form a group of several dozen dissident Catholic nuns whose position in favor of the pro-abortion Senate health care bill is coming under further scrutiny. Now, the nation's Catholic bishops say the media wrongly represented the letter as speaking for 59,000 nuns.
The letter, which has already come under fire from pro-life Catholic groups, has been responsible for shifting some pro-life Democrats to the undecided column on the bill or leaning towards voting for it.
Sister Mary Ann Walsh, the director of media relations for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, emailed LifeNews.com with a rebuttal.
"A recent letter from Network, a social justice lobby of sisters, grossly overstated whom they represent in a letter to Congress that was also released to media," she writes. "Network s letter, about health care reform, was signed by a few dozen people, and despite what Network said, they do not come anywhere near representing 59,000 American sisters."
"The letter had 55 signatories, some individuals, some groups of three to five persons. One endorser signed twice," she noted. "There are 793 religious communities in the United States. The math is clear. Network is far off the mark." Full story at LifeNews.com
Republican Party Chair: Pro-Life More Important Than Government Health Care
by Michael Steele
President Ronald Reagan once said I've noticed that everyone who is for abortion is already born. Long before Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Reid and President Obama started trying to reverse Federal abortion policy, they all managed to make it safely out of their own mothers wombs. Lucky for them.
I'm grateful that half a century ago, a certain young, scared and pregnant woman didn't walk into an Orwellian-named community health center funded by a Democrat healthcare scheme. If she had, I might not have made it out alive.
Instead, she walked into St. Ann s Infant and Maternity Home, and we both received the medical and spiritual care that we needed. St. Ann s made the connection between me and Maebell, the selfless, hardworking mom who adopted me and, later, my sister.
In the name of health, pro-abortion Democrats intend to turn community health centers many of which are simply Planned Parenthood clinics - into taxpayer-sponsored abortion mills, funded with $11 billion appropriated outside of the usual protections banning federal funding of abortion. Full story at LifeNews.com
Pro-Abortion Activist Challenges Pro-Life Bart Stupak in Democratic Primary
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A Michigan pro-abortion activist who is upset that Bart Stupak has stood strong against abortion funding in the Senate health care bill is putting together a credible primary election challenge against the pro-life Democrat. Connie Saltonstall has already received pro-abortion support for the race.
Saltonstall is making abortion the sole reason for her candidacy for Michigan's 1st District of Congress.
"I believe that [Stupak] has a right to his personal, religious views, but to deprive his constituents of needed health care reform because of those views is reprehensible," she said of him opposing forcing taxpayers to fund abortions.
Saltonstall ran for state representative in 2008 and was a Charlevoix County commissioner in 2006. Full story at LifeNews.com
Nebraska Bill to Ban Late-term Abortions Based on Fetal Pain Gets Panel's Okay
Lincoln, NE (LifeNews.com) -- A Nebraska bill that could set a national precedent for banning late-term abortions based on the concept of fetal pain has received committee approval. The Judicial Committee approved LB 1103 on a 5-3 vote and it would ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy when an unborn child can feel pain.
The ban on partial-birth abortions brought home the pro-life message that abortion kills an unborn child and was responsible for shifting public opinion on abortion squarely into the pro-life category.
Now, Nebraska could pave the way for the next kind of abortion ban that could pique national interest.
Speaker of the Legislature Mike Flood introduced the bill in response to statements made by late-term abortion practitioner LeRoy Carhart that he would be doing late second and third trimester abortions at his Bellevue, Nebraska, abortion center.
"Post-viability abortions are more about money than about anything else. We have seen late-term fees charged, based on gestational age from $5,000-20,000 per abortion. It is a very lucrative business," said Operation Rescue president Troy Newman.
Fetal pain is not a new concept and the leading national expert on the topic confirms unborn children definitely have the capacity to feel intense pain during an abortion. 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. |
Canada Euthanasia Advocate Launches Debate on Legalizing Assisted Suicide
Ottawa, Canada (LifeNews.com) -- Bloc Québécois MP Francine Lalonde launched the debate on Bill C-384 this week, her measure to legalize euthanasia and assisted suicide in Canada. The first-hour of debate took place on Tuesday again after Lalonde introduced her bill previously this time last year.
It had its first-hour of debate on October 2, 2009 and it was scheduled for its second-hour of debate for November 16, 2009.
Although she mentioned her fight with cancer the first time around, Lalonde did not do so this time.
"Helping someone to die gently and without pain, can we call this murder? Many would say 'no.' And that's what I say," said Lalonde this week, according to the Toronto Star.
"People who are going through a painful terminal phase, we should not refuse them the right to die with dignity," she added, saying her bill would allow terminally ill patients the right to "decide for themselves the time of death." Full story at LifeNews.com
Colorado Personhood Backers Turn in Petitions for Second Abortion Amendment
Denver, CO (LifeNews.com) -- Backers of the personhood amendment in Colorado turned in what appeared to be enough signatures today to ensure the amendment will appear on the November ballot again. Though the first effort failed by nearly a 3-1 margin as other pro-life groups pointed out concerns, supporters are trying again.
The amendment defines unborn children as persons starting at conception and would draw an almost immediate legal challenge from pro-abortion groups.
Earlier this month, the Colorado Secretary of State evaluated the signatures backers of the personhood amendment submitted to get the proposal on the 2010 ballot.
Personhood Colorado leaders submitted only 79,817 petition signatures last month and the total was just 3,770 signatures more than the 76,047 required, or 5 percent above the limit.The Colorado Secretary of State said 15,690 of the 79,648 signatures submitted by the group were invalid and gave the group 15 days to submit more.
Today, the group reports turning in 46,671 this afternoon and also said they are threatening to sue the Secretary of State for making them go back and collect more. Full story at LifeNews.com
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