LifeNews.com Pro-Life News Report
Saturday, July 17, 2010
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Current Headlines
• Obama Admin Authorized Abortion Funding in Third State Under Health Care Law
• Lead Republican on Judiciary Committee Suggests Kagan Misled on Abortion
• Pro-Life Groups Demand Law Stopping Abortion Funding in Health Care Plan
• Planned Parenthood Gives Award to Pro-Abortion "Catholic" Speaker Nancy Pelosi
• Poll for 2012 Election Finds Obama Trailing, Tying Potential Pro-Life Candidates
• New Poll: Evangelical Christians, Churchgoing Americans More Likely Pro-Life
• Pro-Life Group Sponsoring Petition Opposing Pro-Abortion Kenya Constitution
• Arizona Right to Life Supports Governor Jan Brewer, Congressional Candidates
• New Hampshire Senate Candidate Kelly Ayotte Gets Pro-Life Group's Okay
• Delaware Senate Candidate Christine O'Donnell Gets Pro-Life Endorsement
• Mississippi Personhood Campaign Files Response to Lawsuit Against Amendment
• Pro-Life News: Pennsylvania, Notre Dame, Abortion, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Duggar
Obama Admin Authorized Abortion Funding in Third State Under Health Care Law
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Add Maryland to the list of states, including Pennsylvania and New Mexico, where the Obama administration authorized federal taxpayer funding of abortions under high risk insurance programs created under the new national health care plan President Barack Obama signed.
The National Right to Life Committee, which blew the lid off of the abortion funding programs in the other two states, informed LifeNews.com today that Obama officials authorized funding in a third state.
"It looks like you can add Maryland to the list of states that were on the way to providing federally funded abortion coverage in the new federal Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP), at least until NRLC blew the whistle on the issue earlier this week," NRLC legislative director Douglas Johnson told LifeNews.com today.
Johnson refers to a July 7 press release in which Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley announced the creation of the Maryland Health Insurance Plan (MHIP), administering a new program in the state.
"MHIP currently operates a state high risk pool program and has the experience and expertise necessary to establish and operate the federal high risk pool program," the statement says.
It refers to a FAQ that asks and answers: "What benefits are offered by the MHIP Federal Plan? The MHIP Federal Plan offers the same benefit package as other MHIP plan options."
Johnson says that statement is "referring to the state plans that Maryland already had in effect -- and those plans cover abortion." Full story at LifeNews.com
Lead Republican on Judiciary Committee Suggests Kagan Misled on Abortion
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The leading Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee has responded to a new report from Americans United for Life showing the extensive involvement Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan had in attempting to keep the three-day-long partial-birth abortion procedure illegal.
Senator Jeff Sessions, a pro-life Alabama Republican, has read the report from AUL and is suggesting Kagan may have misled members of the panel.
During her testimony, Kagan made it appear she was a neutral party acting as an advisor to President Bill Clinton when he made the decision to veto the ban on partial-birth abortions Congress had passed at the time.
The report summarizes and expands on the information the committee has learned and documents from the administration reveal showing Kagan attempting to manipulate the opinion of two medical organizations and persuade Clinton to veto the bill.
President Clinton seems to have been disposed to sign the ban, and Ms. Kagan seems to have persuaded him to reverse that position, Sessions, according to a report in the newspaper Human Events. In her testimony, Kagan clearly presented herself as a neutral staffer in the process, though this record suggests she was an active player in working to keep partial-birth abortion legal.
Sessions, according to Human Events, also praised the AUL report for its thoroughness.
Partial-birth abortion is a gruesome procedure. People strongly oppose it. AUL s report provides a valuable perspective on the debate, its importance, the timeline of events, and the key role Ms. Kagan appears to have played in the outcome of the fight, Sessions said.
"The debate over the legislation in which Ms. Kagan played a major role was intense, and the vote was much contested, Sessions added. I look forward to studying the facts carefully in an effort to fairly evaluate this contradiction. Full story at LifeNews.com
Pro-Life Groups Demand Law Stopping Abortion Funding in Health Care Plan
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- After a dustup this week that saw the Obama administration authorize abortion funding in high risk insurance pools in at least two states, and then subsequently backtrack and promise no funding would occur, pro-life advocates are demanding a new law to ensure that doesn't happen.
After National Right to Life exposed new federally-funded health insurance plans that would have covered elective abortions in Pennsylvania and New Mexico, the Department of Health and Human Services promised the Obama administration would ensure no funding takes place.
Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, the head of the pro-life outreach for the nation's Catholic bishops, said in a statement provided to LifeNews.com that he welcomes the statement averting what he calls an alarming precedent."
But DiNardo doesn't just take President Barack Obama at his word, he is calling for permanent law to exclude abortion from all programs under the new health care law Obama signed.
We welcome this new policy, the Cardinal said, while continuing to be gravely concerned that it was not issued until after some states had announced that pro-abortion health plans were approved and had begun to enroll patients.
This situation illustrates once again the need for Congress to enact legislation clearly stating once and for all that funds appropriated by [the health care bill] will not pay for abortions or for insurance coverage that includes abortion, he continued. Full story at LifeNews.com
Planned Parenthood Gives Award to Pro-Abortion "Catholic" Speaker Nancy Pelosi
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- At a Planned Parenthood gala on Capitol Hill Thursday evening, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was treated like a rock star by the abortion business. Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards presented Pelosi with an award in front of an event featuring 300 college and high school students cheering her.
The large abortion business gave Pelosi its "Champion of Women's Health" award and also recognized pro-abortion Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan.
The award comes even though Pelosi has been repeatedly at odds with the Catholic Church, in which she claims membership, over the issue of abortion.
The students came to Washington to lobby members of Congress to implement the health care bill, which contains massive funding of abortions.
During her acceptance speech, according to Politico, Pelosi recalled the process of getting the controversial legislation through the House.
"We had some pretty dark days," she said. "Sometimes it didn't look as if we'd be able to pass the bill. And sometimes people in the press said to me, this looks pretty desperate. How on earth are you going to pass this bill?"
"And I said well, we're going to pass it. And we're going to go up to the gate and we're going to push open the gate. And if the gate is locked, we're going to climb over the fence. And if the fence is too high, we're going to pole vault in. And if that doesn't work we're going to helicopter in. We're going to parachute in. But we're going to pass this obstacle," Pelosi explained. Full story at LifeNews.com
Poll for 2012 Election Finds Obama Trailing, Tying Potential Pro-Life Candidates
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A poll previewing the 2012 election, conducted by the Democratic-leaning polling firm Public Policy Polling, finds pro-abortion President Barack Obama trailing or tying some of the potential pro-life candidates he may face in his re-election bid.
The firm pitted Obama against five potential Republican presidential hopefuls and the only candidate Obama is leading is pro-life Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, whose name is not among those most often mentioned.
Obama trails former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney 46-43 and pro-life former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee 47-45 percent. Obama also trails pro-life former House Speaker New Gingrich 46-45 and he is tied with pro-life former Alaska governor Sarah Palin at 46 percent apiece.
"With his approval numbers hitting new lows it s no surprise that Barack Obama s numbers in our monthly look ahead to the 2012 Presidential race are their worst ever this month," the polling firm noted. "The only person tested he leads is Jan Brewer, who doesn't have particularly high name recognition on the national level at this point."
PPP suggests Obama is not trailing because Americans strongly favor the potential GOP opponents but because Obama's approval rating is so low.
It noted the favorability ratings of the Republicans are low, too, with only Huckabee having a net positive at 37 percent approval and 28 percent disapproval. Romney stands at 32 percent approval and 33 percent disapproval while Gingrich's approval rating is a 32-42, Palin's stands at 37-52 and Brewer is at 17-20. Full story at LifeNews.com
New Poll: Evangelical Christians, Churchgoing Americans More Likely Pro-Life
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The results of a new poll conducted by the Barna Group find evangelical Christians and churchgoing Americans are more likely to take a position favoring making all or most abortions illegal. Those who are less inclined to have a religious faith or don't consider themselves churchgoers favor legal abortions.
The Barna study of 1,001 adults explored Americans views on abortion by asking if they believe abortion should be legal in all cases, legal in most cases, illegal in most cases, or illegal in all cases.
Among evangelical Christians, 78% believe that the practice should be illegal in all or most cases.
On the other hand, 72% of atheists and agnostics support keeping most or all abortions legal.
"Also, each of these segments was the most likely population group to express unyielding resistance to (evangelicals) or support for (atheists and agnostics) abortion," Barna indicated.
Looking at other faith groups, Barna found non-evangelical born again Christians favor making abortion illegal (55% illegal versus 39% legal), as did active churchgoers (60% versus 33%) and non-mainline Protestants (58% versus 34%). Full story at LifeNews.com
Pro-Life Group Sponsoring Petition Opposing Pro-Abortion Kenya Constitution
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- An international pro-life group is sponsoring a new petition and is working to secure signatures from pro-life organizations in the United States and elsewhere opposing the pro-abortion proposed constitution in Kenya that will receive a vote in August.
The World Congress of Families is in the process of collecting the signatures of pro-life and pro-family leaders around the world on a petition "In Support of The 'No' Campaign and Kenyans Opposed To The Pro-Abortion Constitution."
"Pro-lifers in Kenya need to know that they have allies around the world who stand in solidarity with them," WCF said.
The petition says "the undersigned pro-family and pro-life leaders urge Kenyans to consider the consequences of enacting a constitution which would, in reality, allow unlimited access to abortion and result in the destruction of countless unborn children and injury to women."
Managing director Larry Jacobs told LifeNews.com about the petition and said, "And we're doing it without tax dollars."
That is a reference to the concerns pro-life groups and members of Congress that President Barack Obama has spent as much as $10 million illegally supporting the efforts of constitution supporters to secure passage of the document, which would overturn the historic pro-life laws of the African nation. Full story at LifeNews.com
Arizona Right to Life Supports Governor Jan Brewer, Congressional Candidates
Phoenix, AZ (LifeNews.com) -- The Arizona Right to Life Political Action Committee has issued endorsements for the upcoming primary election and it is backing Governor Jan Brewer, who delighted pro-life advocate by signing several pro-life bills. The pro-life organization is also backing a large number of candidate in Congressional races.
"AZRTL PAC endorses Jan Brewer because of her strong support of the pro-life cause over her 25 year political career," the group emailed LifeNews.com.
"In just her first term as governor since being appointed in January of 2009, Governor Brewer signed eight pro-life bills into law that will help protect innocent human life in Arizona. Among those bills signed into law include a ban of partial-birth abortions in Arizona and a mandatory 24-hour waiting period before an abortion can be performed," the pro-life group's PAC chairman Walt Opaska said.
"Unlike her immediate predecessor, Governor Brewer has shown she truly cares about women and children by recognizing the importance of protecting all innocent life, including the unborn," Opaska said. Full story at LifeNews.com
New Hampshire Senate Candidate Kelly Ayotte Gets Pro-Life Group's Okay
Concord, NH (LifeNews.com) -- When voters go to the polls in New Hampshire in September to cast their primary ballots, the Susan B. Anthony List, a pro-life women's group, hopes they will cast their ballot for Kelly Ayotte. She is seeking the Republican nomination against other candidates in a crowded race to replace pro-life Sen. Judd Gregg.
The Susan B. Anthony List Candidate Fund announced its endorsement of Ayotte late Thursday.
"New Hampshire families deserve the pro-life feminine leadership Kelly Ayotte has already demonstrated in her position as New Hampshire's first female Attorney General," said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the organization.
"Kelly is committed to rescinding taxpayer funding of abortion in health care. She has expressed her strong determination to be a vocal advocate for women and unborn children in abortion debates on the floor of the U.S. Senate," Dannenfelser confirmed.
Dannenfelser says Ayotte is part of a new women's movement which affirms its original pro-life roots is making its way to the U.S. Senate. She is one of a throng of pro-life women seeking Senate seats and seats in the House.
Kelly Ayotte is one of its brightest new stars in a Senate that is devoid of pro-life women, Dannenfelser said. Full story at LifeNews.com
Delaware Senate Candidate Christine O'Donnell Gets Pro-Life Endorsement
Dover, DE (LifeNews.com) -- Delaware Senate candidate Christine O'Donnell has received the endorsement of the Susan B. Anthony List, a pro-life women's group. O'Donnell faces pro-abortion and pro-embryonic stem cell research candidate Mike Castle in the Republican primary for the chance to take on Democrat Chris Coons.
The three are vying for the seat currently held by pro-abortion Democrat Ted Kaufman, who was named to the seat by the state s Democratic governor to replace pro-abortion Vice President Joe Biden.
However, Kaufman has decided not to seek a full term.
Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of SBA List Candidate Fund, told LifeNews.com that Delaware families deserve the pro-life leadership Christine O Donnell so capably provides."
Unlike her primary opponent, who has an explicitly pro-abortion voting record, O Donnell has expressed her strong determination to be a vocal advocate for women and unborn children in abortion debates on the floor of the U.S. Senate," she said. Full story at LifeNews.com
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Mississippi Personhood Campaign Files Response to Lawsuit Against Amendment
Jackson, MS (LifeNews.com) -- The Mississippi personhood campaign has filed a response to a lawsuit filed by abortion advocates who say the amendment, which attempts to define unborn children as persons and thereby prohibit abortions, is unconstitutional. The ALCU and Planned Parenthood are behind the lawsuit as they have been elsewhere.
Attorneys for the pro-abortion groups have filed an injunction against the Mississippi Secretary of State seeking to disallow Mississippi voters from voting on the measure.
Amendment sponsors and volunteers exceeded state signature requirements on February 17, becoming only the fourth successful ballot initiative in the state since 1992.
Steve Crampton, an attorney helping the pro-life group, said, "I find it ironic that the plaintiffs would wait until the first day the court is open after Independence Day, then file a lawsuit that seeks to continue the oppression of the pre-born and deny the rights of over 130,000 Mississippi voters." Full story at LifeNews.com
Pro-Life News: Pennsylvania, Notre Dame, Abortion, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Duggar
Pennsylvania Pro-Life Governor Candidate Tom Corbett Still Leads Dan Onorato
Harrisburg, PA (LifeNews.com) -- Attorney General Tom Corbett, who is pro-life, still leads in his race for governor against Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato. Corbett holds a 10-point lead again this month over Onorato.
Legal Group Pursuing Further Discovery Against Notre Dame in Obama Protest
South Bend, IN (Lifenews.com) -- This week, another pretrial hearing was held in St. Joseph County Criminal Court involving the criminal trespass charges that the University of Notre Dame and the county prosecutor continue to press against the "ND88."
New Jersey Residents Up in Arms Over Billboard That Advocates Suicide
Hillside, NJ (LifeNews.com) -- The message on a billboard in New Jersey is stirring up a lot of controversy, reports WBCS. It centers on whether a person suffering from a painful disease has the right to take his or her own life.
Michelle Duggar Receives Mother of the Year Award at National Baby Conference
San Antonio, TX (LifeNews.com) -- Duggar, mother to 19 and star of TLC's "19 Kids and Counting" received the "Mother of the Year Award" as part of a special ceremony at the Baby Conference held July 8-10 in San Antonio.
Rhode Island Right to Life to Hold 40th Annual Convention in Late July
Providence, RI (LifeNews.com) -- Rhode Island Right to Life is holding its 40th anniversary statewide convention featuring Dr. Wanda Franz, the president of the National Right to Life Committee.
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