LifeNews.com Pro-Life News Report
Friday, April 9, 2010
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Current Headlines
• Obama May Send Millions to Planned Parenthood Abortion Biz for HIV Testing
• Several States Looking at Banning Abortion Funding Under New Health Care Law
• FRC Buys 500K in Ads Against Pro-Life Democrats on Abortion, Health Care
• Southern Republican Leadership Conference Seen as 2012 Presidential Kickoff
• Latest Birth Stats Show U.S. Experiencing Underpopulation Due to Abortion
• Pro-Life Group Files Complaint in Iowa Against Telemed Abortion Drug Process
• Bart Stupak Says He Plans to Run, Still Faces Pro-Life, Pro-Abortion Opposition
• You Can Go Home Again, But Planned Parenthood May be Doing Abortions
• Abortion Advocate Wants CEDAW for Radical Transformation of American Law
• British Conservative Leader Wants Abortion Time Limit Cut, Pro-Life Group Wary
• Austin, Texas Second City to Force Pregnancy Centers to Post Non-Abortion Signs
• Pro-Life Group Victimized by Mail Fraud, Letter Sells "At Home Abortion Kit"
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Obama May Send Millions to Planned Parenthood Abortion Biz for HIV Testing
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- President Barack Obama may have found another way to thank the Planned Parenthood abortion business for supporting him in the 2008 presidential elections. The Obama administration has announced funding for a multi-million dollar HIV testing program that could direct big bucks to his pro-abortion ally.
Yesterday, Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards sent a Twitter update to her followers including an article with the announcement.
The Body, a blog that follows HIV issues, reported that the CDC announced a federal initiative to expand HIV testing and that the Obama administration will bankroll the expansion over the next three years with a total of $142.5 million -- an increase of $31.5 million over previous years.
Although the CDC says only state and local health departments may apply for the funding, the document announcing the funding indicates that, "Family planning and reproductive health clinics, College and university student health clinics, and STD clinics" qualify as end recipients.
"Health departments are best positioned to accomplish this goal, because of their ability to work with multiple healthcare facilities and target those that serve the program s primary target populations," the CDC funding document indicates.
As pro-life blogger Jill Stanek points out, that means health departments that receive the money from the multi-million dollar project can turn the funds over to Planned Parenthood and act as a conduit for more government funding of the abortion business. Full story at LifeNews.com
Several States Looking at Banning Abortion Funding Under New Health Care Law
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- President Barack Obama signed the new government-run health care bill into law less than three weeks ago. Yet, six states are already moving ahead -- and others are expected to join them -- in passing legislation to protect taxpayers from being forced to pay for abortions.
The health care law contains massive abortion funding and promotion, but states have the ability to opt out of some of it.
Under the new health care law, states will be in charge of their own health care exchanges that are available for individuals and small businesses starting in 2014. In those exchanges, state's can ensure tax dollars do no go towards plans or subsidies for plans that pay for abortions.
Lawmakers in Tennessee are voting today on a bill that has already cleared a legislative committee and would keep any insurance plans on the Tennessee exchange from offering abortion coverage at taxpayer expense.
Americans United for Life and other pro-life groups are assisting legislators in other states and dozens may ultimately wind up voting on similar provisions over the coming months and years.
Lawmakers in Oklahoma have introduced a similar bill and, in Mississippi, state Sen. Alan Nunnelee informed the Wall Street Journal he plans a similar bill later this month.
He said the federal language in the bill does not ban abortion funding and that state action is needed to prevent a portion of it. Full story at LifeNews.com
FRC Buys 500K in Ads Against Pro-Life Democrats on Abortion, Health Care
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The Family Research Council announced today it is spending $500,000 on radio ads in the districts of 20 members of Congress formerly regarded as pro-life Democrats. They are members of the House who joined Rep. Bart Stupak in voting for the pro-abortion health care bill.
The new FRC ads come on the heels of another hefty campaign sponsored by the Susan B. Anthony List in the districts of several members, including Stupak.
The new ads from FRC's political action committee debunk Stupak's argument that President Barack Obama's executive order will keep taxpayer dollars from funding abortions.
"Even the abortion industry agrees that the President's order has no legal standing - it's worthless," the ad says.
It continues, "The bill allows plans to receive taxpayer subsidies to cover elective abortions. And it funds school-based clinics with no restrictions on abortion referrals for young girls. Plus, it gives $11 billion to community health care centers that could pay for abortions." Full story at LifeNews.com
Southern Republican Leadership Conference Seen as 2012 Presidential Kickoff
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A politically influential Republican conference kicks off today and it is seen by political observers as an unofficial start to the 2012 presidential contest. Although some of the big names as potential GOP candidates to challenge pro-abortion President Barack Obama will be missing, others can shine.
The three day event won't have Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee.
While that makes it slightly less star packed, former Alaska governor Sarah Palin, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Indiana Rep. Mike Pence and Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour plan to address the crowd of thousands.
Other potential presidential candidates include former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum
Louisiana Republican Party chairman Roger Villere, told CNN the event is the jump start for the 2012 presidential cycle." Full story at LifeNews.com
Latest Birth Stats Show U.S. Experiencing Underpopulation Due to Abortion
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- With 52 million abortions and since 1973 and more than 1.2 million taking place every year one population expert says he is not surprised the United States is experiencing underpopulation problems. The latest stats from the CDC show the birth rate is under the replacement rate.
With the National Center for Health Statistics showing birth rate falling two percent in 2008, and below the replacement rate level of 2.1 children per woman, the U.S. doesn't have the overpopulation concerns some clam.
"The 2008 preliminary estimate of the total fertility rate (TFR) was 2,085.5 births per 1,000 women, 2 percent lower than the rate in 2007 (2,122.5), the report indicated.
The report said the number of births among teenagers also fell two percent.
Saying that children are "the only future" a country has, Steven Mosher, president of the Population Research Institute, talked about the new numbers with the Catholic News Agency.
Children are an expression of hope in the future. With the downturn in housing prices, and the upswing in the unemployment rate, it is not surprising that many couples decided to defer having children until the economic downturn had corrected itself. We will, I predict, see a bigger drop in the birthrate in 2009, when the unemployment rate closed in on 10 percent, 9.3 percent according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics," he said. Full story at LifeNews.com
Pro-Life Group Files Complaint in Iowa Against Telemed Abortion Drug Process
Des Moines, IA (LifeNews.com) -- A pro-life group has filed a complaint with the media board in Iowa about the new "telemed" process Planned Parenthood is using to dispense abortion drugs. The process has abortion practitioners instruct women on using the dangerous abortion drug by video conference instead of assisting them in person.
The practice involves the dangerous RU 486, or mifepristone, abortion drug that has killed at least 13 women worldwide and injured 1,100 in the U.S, alone as of 2006 FDA figures.
Last month, Operation Rescue released a report exposing the practice, which it says is putting women's health at risk and involves the potential bilking of insurance companies.
Today, Operation Rescue filed formal complaints with the Medical Board of Iowa asking for an investigation into the process and asking officials to stop allowing abortions without a licensed physician on site and discipline those involved.
Separate complaints were filed against abortion practitioner Susan Haskell and her employer, Planned Parenthood of the Heartland. Full story at LifeNews.com
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Bart Stupak Says He Plans to Run, Still Faces Pro-Life, Pro-Abortion Opposition
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Congressman Bart Stupak today walked back previous comments suggesting he would retire due to the enormous backlash he's faced as a result of providing the critical votes needed to pass the pro-abortion health care bill. Stupak now says it is very likely that he will seek re-election in his Michigan district. Stupak told the Detroit Free Press he has every intention of running again but won't make a final decision until after he has an obligatory discussion with his family.
Any decision, he said, would come after the April 15 deadline by which his opponents would submit financial statements to the FEC but before the May filing deadline.
Stupak faces strong opposition from both pro-life and pro-abortion candidates but he told the Free Press he loves his job and doesn't worry about the potential competition.
I don't worry about this stuff, he said, when asked about potential challengers. I have 18 years of goodwill built up. Full story at LifeNews.com
You Can Go Home Again, But Planned Parenthood May be Doing Abortions
by Maria Vitale
I thought it would be heartwarming to return to the neighborhood in which I grew up. I could relive the days of childhood, when I walked to the ice cream store and the movie theater, and sat beneath the little tree in the backyard reading books from the local library.
Much remains unchanged in that little corner of the world. The ice cream store, the theater, and the library are all still there, and the trees in bloom are just as lovely as they were in my youth. But part of the neighborhood has obviously declined, and one of the biggest blights in the area is the Planned Parenthood abortion center.
I remember my neighborhood being so welcoming of children. The local public elementary school would stage a lavish event called the Fun Frolic, where little girls competed in games for the chance to take home the Barbie dolls dressed in elaborate gowns crafted by the mothers of students.
In my kindergarten class, there were a boy who was dramatically visually impaired and another who used braces to walk our kindergarten teacher never allowed their disabilities to prevent them from fully participating in our class.
And now, women can routinely dispose of their children at the facility up the block. Full story at LifeNews.com
Abortion Advocate Wants CEDAW for Radical Transformation of American Law
New York, NY (LifeNews.com/CFAM) -- Last week in New York, Janet Benshoof, a panelist at an event commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Convention for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), declared CEDAW to be radical international law, which should be thought of as a tool for power. Benshoof, who is currently President of the Global Justice Center, founded the pro-abortion Center for Reproductive Law and Policy (since renamed the Center for Reproductive Rights).
She stated that were the United States (US) to ratify CEDAW, it would bring about a radical transformation of American law, which would include overturning any abortion restrictions in domestic laws or those covering foreign activities. Further, Benshoof asserted that CEDAW doesn't allow for any defense based on custom or religion, and that it applies to all private conduct.
Noting that there are now over 400 court decisions worldwide that have cited CEDAW, Benshoof was highly critical of Democratic Senators, the American Bar Association, Amnesty International, and other groups that have described CEDAW as being abortion neutral. Full story at LifeNews.com
British Conservative Leader Wants Abortion Time Limit Cut, Pro-Life Group Wary
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- The leader of the British Conservative party wants to cut the time limit on late-term abortions and make it so they can't be done after 20 weeks into pregnancy instead of the longer current limit. But, the pro-life group SPUC is wary about the proposal and says it may not truly stop abortions.
David Cameron supported a bill in the House of Commons to lower the abortion time limit and he told the Catholic Herald newspaper he may be willing to go further.
My own view is that we do need to review the abortion limit. I think that the way medical science and technology have developed in the past few decades does mean that an upper limit of 20 or 22 weeks would be sensible," he said.
Cameron, who is engaged in an election battle against pro-abortion Prime Minister Gordon Brown indicated conservative MPs would be allowed a conscience vote on such a bill.
Reacting to the comments, the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, warned pro-life advocates "not to fall for David Cameron's pitch on abortion time limits." Full story at LifeNews.com
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Austin, Texas Second City to Force Pregnancy Centers to Post Non-Abortion Signs
Austin, TX (LifeNews.com) -- The state capital of Texas is now the second city in the nation -- following Baltimore, Maryland -- to force pregnancy centers to post signs saying they don't do abortions. Abortion advocates promoted the measure because they are upset such centers provide women with abortion alternatives and pregnancy help.
The goal of the ordinance is to besmirch the work the centers do in helping women because they have taken clients away from abortion businesses.
City council member Bill Spelman proposed the idea and was assisted in promoting the new ordinance by member Laura Morrison, and Mayor Pro Tem Mike Martinez.
The city council voted unanimously 7-0 this morning to approve it and now the four or five pregnancy centers in town will be forced to post the signs.
The vote came despite testimony form pregnancy centers and their supporters -- who pointed out that the proposed law does not require abortion centers to inform women that they don't provide pregnancy assistance.
Under the terms of the ordinance, not posting a sign constitutes a Class C misdemeanor and centers would face fines of up to $450 each time they fail to post the signs. Full stories at LifeNews.com
ACTION: Contact the Austin City Council members and Mayor Pro Tem Martinez by going to http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/site/city_hall_portal.htm. Contact Mayor Lee Leffingwell at (512) 974-2250, fax (512) 974-2337, or send an email at http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/connect/email_leeleffingwell.htm
Pro-Life Group Victimized by Mail Fraud, Letter Sells "At Home Abortion Kit"
Chicago, IL (LifeNews.com) -- A veteran pro-life organization has been victimized by mail fraud as someone sent letters to pro-life groups selling a so-called "at home abortion kit." The letters contain a flyer for the abortion kit and a request to contact a phone number for more information -- with the number belonging to the Pro-Life Action League.
The flyer bears the name of a non-existent group called American Women's Health and a representative of PLAL is not happy about it.
"Rarely do our pro-abortion enemies do anything that really surprises me much. But last week was an exception -- such a big bizarre attack that it made Fox News Chicago yesterday," Eric Scheidler said in an email LifeNews.com received.
Last week, a pro-life group in Minnesota informed Scheidler it received a letter with the abortion kit information. The letters were mailed from in Carol Stream, Illinois -- not far from the PLAL headquarters in Chicago.
"Over the following days, we received many more such calls, some from folks who recognized the League number and realized it was nothing but a hoax," Scheidler said. Full stories at LifeNews.com
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