LifeNews.com Pro-Life News Report
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
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Current Headlines
• Democrats Fail to Stop Filibuster Against DISCLOSE Act Pro-Lifers Oppose
• House Democrats Refuse Hearing on Pro-Rationing Obama Czar Donald Berwick
• Congressman Tells Hearing on MDGs Abortion Doesn't Lower Maternal Mortality
• Pro-Life Champion Chris Smith to Get Wilberforce Award From Students for Life
• Pro-Life Women's Group Launches $100K Hispanic Effort to Help Carly Fiorina
• Wisconsin Gov Candidate Barrett to Benefit From Pro-Abortion Fundraisers
• Kansas Board May Discipline Late-term Abortion Associate of George Tiller
•Small Steps To Justice: Review of Clark Forsythe s Politics for the Greatest Good
• Massachusetts Citizens for Life Releases New Statement on Cahill Endorsement
• University of Alabama-Birm Arrests Pro-Life Advocates Protesting Abortion
• Chicago "Bubble Zone" Law Sees First Pro-Lifers Charged Opposing Abortion
• New Zealand Right to Life Responds to Report on Women's Abortion Delays
• Pro-Life News: England, Abortion, Alabama, North Dakota, Maryland, Disabled
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Democrats Fail to Stop Filibuster Against DISCLOSE Act Pro-Life Groups Oppose
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Democrats failed on Tuesday to get enough votes to stop a Republican filibuster against the DISCLOSE Act. That's the campaign finance reform bill pro-life groups oppose because they say it would place stringent limits on their ability to communicate to the public about legislation and elections.
Senate Republicans are filibustering the legislation and Democrats held a cloture vote this afternoon where they need 60 votes to be able to stop the filibuster and move towards a vote on the bill itself.
However, they were unable to peel off any Republicans to support the cloture vote and lost by a 57-41 margin.
Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska, who mostly votes pro-life, voted against cloture and Sen. Joe Lieberman, who typically votes with Democrats, was out of town for a funeral.
Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid also voted against cloture so he could immediately move that the Senate reconsider the vote at a later time. Under Senate rules, only a member who opposed cloture can ask for a re-vote, which Reid has done so Democrats can get Lieberman to town and twist arms some more until they have the 60 needed to move the bill forward.
Sen. Susan Collins of Maine announced her opposition to the bill on Monday, in what is seen as the potential final blow preventing Democrats from getting the magic number of 60.
The bill would provide a clear and unfair advantage to unions while either shutting other organizations out of the election process or subjecting them to onerous reporting requirements that would not apply to unions, said Collins spokesman Kevin Kelley. Full story at LifeNews.com
House Democrats Refuse Hearing on Pro-Rationing Obama Czar Donald Berwick
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Like their counterparts in the Senate, House Democrats are refusing to hold a hearing on the recess appointment of rationing advocate Donald Berwick, whom President Barack Obama named to become the director of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Obama appointed Berwick without a hearing or vote in the Senate and, even though he complained about that, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus will not put together a hearing.
Now, Connie Hair of the conservative newspaper Human Events reports House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Sander Levin won't hold one either.
Both top Democrats are denying public hearings on Berwick even though he will be charged with helping lead the implementation of the new national health care plan Obama signed into law that concerns pro-life groups on abortion and rationing issues.
Rep. Dave Camp, a pro-life Michigan lawmaker who is the leading Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee, responded to Levin's refusal to hold a hearing.
"Apparently, House Democrats are really taking Speaker Pelosi s 'we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it style of governing to heart. Now, we have to hand the reins at CMS over to Dr. Berwick first so we can later find out what direction he will take Medicare and Medicaid, he said, according to HE.
At a time when Democrats have implemented the most radical changes ever to the nation s health care system, they are refusing to conduct the proper and necessary oversight required by the Committee, Camp said. Full story at LifeNews.com
Congressman Tells Hearing on MDGs Abortion Doesn't Lower Maternal Mortality
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A prominent congressman who monitors international issues told a hearing today in the nation's capital that, as international observers monitor attaining the Millennium Development Goals, they need to remember that abortion does not lower maternal mortality for women.
The Outcome Document for the High-Level Summit on the Millennium Development Goals continues to be negotiated at the United Nations this week.
Congressman Chris Smith of New Jersey addressed the House International Subcommittee on International Organizations.
"We must keep in mind that to achieve MDGs 4 and 5 reducing child mortality and maternal mortality--both mother and unborn child must be treated as co-patients," he said. "The life of one cannot be forfeited for the other. We must strive to save them both, and we can."
Smith referred to an April study in the British medical journal Lancet showing maternal mortality rates have been significantly overestimated by United Nations (UN) agencies.
The study cites four main reasons for the improvement: declining pregnancy rates in some countries, higher per capita income, higher education rates for women, and increasing availability of basic medical care including skilled birth attendants" -- but it does not cite legalized abortion as a reason. Full story at LifeNews.com
Pro-Life Champion Chris Smith to Get Wilberforce Award From Students for Life
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Congressman Chris Smith, who has led the pro-life battles in the House of Representatives for decades, will receive the Wilberforce Leadership Award on Thursday from Students for Life of America. The award will be presented at SFLA's third annual Summer Social in Washington.
Congressman Chris Smith has been a key leader within the pro-life movement and has lead many efforts to protect the unborn across the country," SFLA director Kristan Hawkins told LifeNews.com on Monday.
"It is because of his leadership that SFLA is proud to present Congressman Smith with the first Wilberforce Leadership Award," she said.
I can think of no one more deserving of the award than Smith. He is a true champion for Life in Congress. Smith was a tireless leader in the fight against abortion funding in President Obama s health care plan," she added.
William Wilberforce was a member of the British Parliament who lead the abolition movement in Britain. Wilberforce worked for 26 years in Parliament to abolish the slave trade and finally passed the Slave Trade Act in 1807, abolishing slave trade within the British Empire.
Students for Life of America chose to honor a national leader, like William Wilberforce, who has led efforts to abolish abortion, which it considers the slave trade of the 21st century, in the United States. Full story at LifeNews.com
Pro-Life Women's Group Launches $100K Hispanic Effort to Help Carly Fiorina
Sacramento, CA (LifeNews.com) -- A national pro-life women's group told LifeNews.com today it has launched a new $100,000 effort to reach Hispanics in California on behalf of pro-life Senate candidate Carly Fiorina. The Susan B. Anthony List's education campaign is in conjunction with a $1 million effort headed by the Latino Partnership for Conservative Principles.
The goal of the groups is to convey to Latino voters that Fiorina shares their pro-life values and beliefs.
Poll after poll shows that the overwhelming majority of Latino voters call themselves pro-life and that Latino voters are comprising an increasing percentage of the voting block, said SBA List president Marjorie Dannenfelser.
She said Fiorina is the perfect candidate for both pro-life advocates and Hispanic voters whose cultural and religious beliefs line up with Fiorina's.
We've been waiting for Carly Fiorina since the day Barbara Boxer was elected. Carly embraces and advances the rights of women and unborn children, following in the footsteps of the earliest women in politics. This is important to all Californians and especially to the Hispanic community," she said. Full story at LifeNews.com
Wisconsin Governor Candidate Barrett to Benefit From Pro-Abortion Fundraisers
Madison, WI (LifeNews.com) -- Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Tom Barrett will benefit from two pro-abortion fundraisers this week featuring Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion business. On Wednesday and Thursday, Richards will be the keynote speaker at two Barrett events.
Pro-Life Wisconsin informed LifeNews.com of the events and said it plans to protest them.
The collaboration features Richards, Governor Jim Doyle, a Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin lifetime achievement award recipient, and Barrett, the Milwaukee mayor Planned Parenthood has endorsed for governor.
"Does Tom Barrett really want Planned Parenthood s blood on his hands? asked Peggy Hamill, state director of the pro-life group. Planned Parenthood s theme of Moving Wisconsin Forward is disrespectful to the thousands of babies they kill every year, babies who will never Move Forward in Wisconsin.
The communities in which these events will be held at the homes of Planned Parenthood supporters will not be able to ignore Planned Parenthood s destructive agenda, Hamill added. I encourage all concerned citizens to join our Pro-Life Wisconsin staff, board and people from all over Wisconsin in these peaceful protests. Full story at LifeNews.com
Kansas Board May Discipline Late-term Abortion Associate of George Tiller
Topeka, KS (LifeNews.com) -- The Kansas State Board of Healing Arts has filed an eleven-count recommendation that late-term abortion practitioner Ann Kristin Neuhaus be disciplined. Neuhaus allegedly violated the Healing Arts Act concerning abortion referrals she made to late abortion practitioner George Tiller.
In October 2006, Operation Rescue staffer Cheryl Sullenger filed a complaint with the medical board concerning an improper financial relationship between Tiller and Neuhaus that violated Kansas law.
That complaint was amended in February 2007 and Sullenger was notified of the petition in a letter from the KSBHA dated July 21.
The letter indicated the petition had been filed on April 16 and that an evidentiary hearing will soon be scheduled. Neuhaus could face revocation of her medical license, as Tiller could have for his role in the improper abortions.
Sullenger discovered Tiller used only Neuhaus as the legally-mandated second referring physician for all his post-viability abortions, an arrangement that created a symbiotic financial relationship that appeared to violate the law that prohibited legal or financial affiliation between the abortion practitioner and the concurring physician. Full story at LifeNews.com
Small Steps To Justice: Review of Clark Forsythe s Politics for the Greatest Good
by Michael New 
Today, when we speak of "prudence" we often mean sheer pragmatism or simple cautious moderation. In reality, it is neither of these things. Prudence is making good decisions and implementing them effectively. In his book Politics for the Greatest Good, Clarke Forsythe, Senior Counsel at Americans United for Life, uses insights from philosophy and history to restore a rightful understanding of the virtue of prudence. In so doing, Forsythe offers powerful advice for current political activists particularly those involved with the pro-life movement.
In the beginning of the book Forsythe discusses the philosophy of prudence. He describes the thoughts of a number of philosophers, including Aristotle, Augustine, and Aquinas, on prudential reasoning and prudential judgment. While the philosophical arguments are interesting, Forsythe s main interest is trying to make a practical case for prudence. He does this through analyzing the history of two important political movements the efforts by William Wilberforce to abolish the slave trade in Great Britain in the 1800s and efforts by President Lincoln to abolish slavery in the United States.
Specifically Forsythe chronicles Wilberforce s career in public service and favorably comments not only upon his strategic decisions, but on Wilberforce s charisma and winsome nature. He also describes the legislative steps Wilberforce advocated which ultimately led to the abolition of the slave trade in Great Britain. Wilberforce promoted three types of incremental legislation, bills that prohibited slave exports from specific parts of Africa, bills that prohibited the importation of slaves to specific foreign colonies, and bills that would require more humane treatment of slaves, such as those that reduced the number of slaves that could be carried per ship. Full story at LifeNews.com
Massachusetts Citizens for Life Releases New Statement on Cahill Endorsement
Boston, MA (LifeNews.com) -- After the dustup in the wake of its endorsement of independent gubernatorial candidate Tim Cahill, Massachusetts Citizens for Life has released a further statement helping pro-life voters understand its decision-making. The group says it is not re-evaluating its decision to back Cahill and that his opponents are clearly pro-abortion.
"There has been some confusion regarding the endorsement of Tim Cahill by the MCFL PAC," the organization said in a statement to LifeNews.com. "The PAC endorsed the Cahill-Loscocco ticket because the ticket is the best choice to advance the pro-life cause."
MCFL says Cahill "made it clear" in two different meeting with officials of the pro-life group that, while he believes Roe v. Wade is "settled law," he supports parental notification, tax credits for adoptions, and, as governor, will sign pro-life legislation such as informed consent, a partial-birth abortion ban, and an unborn victims bill.
"As Governor, Tim Cahill will work to create a culture of life across Massachusetts," the group said, adding that he has promised to veto any bill legalizing assisted suicide. "In both meetings, Cahill was forthright, candid and thoughtful." Full story at LifeNews.com
Birmingham, AL (LifeNews.com) -- Officials at the University of Alabama-Birmingham are coming under fire for arresting pro-life young adults hoping to share the pro-life perspective with students on campus. Members of the pro-life group Survivors returned to the streets of Birmingham last Thursday to participate in a series of pro-life events. A consent agreement reached between the city and the group ensured city police would not interfere with the expressive activities of the pro-life youth group.
The city abided by the agreement and the Survivors were able to educate the public and show the truth about abortion, but that was overshadowed by what the organization is calling the unwarranted arrest of two of its members by UAB officials on Monday.
UAB administrators ordered the young people off of the campus -- claiming that the public university was actually private property.
When Survivors staffer Kristina Garza asked the UAB administrator what right he had to order the group off of public property, the UAB official refused to speak with Garza and would not provide his name to her.
UAB police responded to the call by administrators and within two minutes arrested the two activists for failing to heed the demand to leave the campus and for videotaping the incident. Full story at LifeNews.com
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Chicago "Bubble Zone" Law Sees First Pro-Lifers Charged Opposing Abortion
Chicago, IL (LifeNews.com) -- The first pro-life person has been charged under the new bubble zone law in Chicago that local citizens say has robbed them of their free speech rights outside abortion centers. The city council approved the new last October and pro-life groups say it targets those who provide women abortion alternatives.
Thomas More Society attorney Peter Breen entered a "not guilty" plea in court Tuesday morning on behalf of Joseph Holland, who was charged with disorderly conduct.
Holland, a Northwestern University graduate student, was praying the rosary on a public sidewalk outside the Planned Parenthood Near North abortion facility on July 3 when staff called the police, claiming that he had violated the new ordinance.
The "Bubble Zone" ordinance prohibits approaching within eight feet of a person without their consent "for the purpose of passing a leaflet or handbill to, displaying a sign to, or engaging in oral protest, education, or counseling." Full story at LifeNews.com
New Zealand Right to Life Responds to New Report on Women's Abortion Delays
Wellington, New Zealand (LifeNews.com) -- The following statement comes from Right to Life of New Zealand:
A study was made in 2009 into the delays experienced by women seeking an abortion. The study was conducted at 9 abortion facilities and included 2150 women. The study was conducted by Dr Martha Silva and two associates from the University of Auckland. The study found that the average delay from the time of referral at the clinic to the abortion was 25 days.
The Abortion Supervisory Committee recommended that the delay should not exceed 2 weeks. Studies done overseas had revealed that women who have made a decision to terminate the life of their child suffer stress, anxiety and a diminished quality of life if they are required to wait for an abortion. The study promotes a culture of death. It is appalling that Dr Silva wants to have a debate about the best time to kill the child. Full story at LifeNews.com
Pro-Life News: England, Abortion, Alabama, North Dakota, Maryland, Disabled
British Government to Use Aid Budget to Fund Abortions in Third World Nations
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- The British government is planning to adjust its foreign aid spending in order to promote so-called family planning overseas. The department for international development claims that a major cause of maternal deaths is so-called unsafe abortion, and therefore promotes so-called safe abortions as the solution.
Paralyzed Woman Tells other Disabled People Don't Give up Hope for the Future
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- A severely disabled woman has urged other disabled people who may feel like ending their lives not to abandon hope for the future.
Alabama Pro-Life senator Richard Shelby Leads Democrat William Barnes
Montgomery, AL (LifeNews.com) -- Republican Senator Richard Shelby remains well ahead of his Democratic challenger in his bid for reelection in Alabama.
Pro-Life Group will Distribute Flyers Exposing Maryland Abortion Practitioner
Annapolis, MD (LifeNews.com) -- Pro-Life activists from across America kicked off the Defend Life 2010 "Face the Truth" tour in West Virginia on Monday, July 26th.
North Dakota Pro-Life Senate Candidate John Hoeven Leads Democrat Potter
Bismarck, ND (LifeNews.com) -- Republican John Hoeven remains well ahead in the U.S. Senate race in North Dakota with the seat now held by retiring pro-abortion Democrat Byron Dorgan on course to be a likely GOP pickup in November.
Full story at LifeNews.com
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