LifeNews.com Pro-Life News Report
Friday, August 6, 2010
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Current Headlines
• Senate Confirms Pro-Abortion Activist Elena Kagan to Supreme Court
• Pro-Life Groups Disappointed Senate Confirmed Abortion Advocate Elena Kagan
• Senators Introduce Bill to Exclude Abortion Funding From New ObamaCare Law
• Senator McCain Leads the Charge Against Defense Department Bill Over Abortion
• Americans Oppose Mandate in Pro-Abortion ObamaCare, Back Lawsuit Against It
• Pro-Abortion Constitution Passes in Kenya, Opponents Seek Amendments
• Iowa Board of Medicine to Receive Letter Asking for End to Telemed Abortions
• Colorado Senate Candidate Jane Norton Gets Pro-Life Group's Endorsement
• Kansas Pro-Life Group Sees Endorsed Candidates in Tuesday's Primary Win 2-1
• Baltimore Law Attacking Pregnancy Centers Subject of Hearing Before Judge
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Senate Confirms Pro-Abortion Activist Elena Kagan to Supreme Court
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The Senate today approved President Barack Obama's nomination of pro-abortion activist Elena Kagan to replace retiring pro-abortion Justice John Paul Stevens on the Supreme Court. Kagan joins four other justices who support unlimited abortions allowed under Roe v. Wade.
Senators voted 63-37 for Kagan, with Nebraska Democrat Ben Nelson joining most Republicans in opposing Kagan's confirmation.
The total for Kagan's confirmation is one of the lowest levels of support for a Supreme Court nominee in a quarter century.
Five Republicans joined the rest of the Democrats in the Senate in supporting her nomination, including three who normally vote pro-life, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Judd Gregg of New Hampshire, and Dick Lugar of Indiana. Two pro-abortion GOP senators, Olympia Snow and Susan Collins of Maine, also voted for Kagan.
Reacting to the confirmation vote in the Senate, pro-life advocates predicted she would become one of the most ardent abortion advocates on the high court.
Elena Kagan will emerge as one of the Supreme Court s most agenda-driven, reliably pro-abortion Justices," Americans United for Life president Charmaine Yoest told LifeNews.com.
"It is deeply troubling that the Senate voted to confirm Ms. Kagan without fully investigating her role in manipulating medical evidence during the partial-birth abortion debate in 1996-97. The American people want fair and impartial judges, and Justice Kagan s negative impact will be felt for decades to come," Yoest added. Full story at LifeNews.com
Pro-Life Groups Disappointed Senate Confirmed Abortion Advocate Elena Kagan 
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Leading pro-life organizations responded swiftly to the Senate vote confirming pro-abortion Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan. They said the hearings and Kagan's extensive pro-abortion record make it clear she will be no friend of women and unborn children.
Wendy Wright, the president of Concerned Women for America, responded: We expect that Elena Kagan will continue her life-long practice of using her position to place her opinion as the final authority over the law, treat the Constitution as optional, and re-write the facts to fit her agenda, all to the detriment of our country."
"Kagan s presence at the Supreme Court will be a constant reminder to conservatives of the clear and present danger we face if we are not engaged in the political process to ensure only qualified people of character are in key positions," she said.
As a White House official, Miss Kagan re-wrote the statement of a medical organization regarding partial-birth abortion in order to manipulate legislators and the courts," Wright complained.
Another pro-life leader also condemned Kagan's judicial activism on partial-birth abortions.
Today the Senate confirmed to the highest court a candidate without judicial experience and with a concerning history of promoting a pro-abortion agenda over the rule of law and the Constitution," said Susan B. Anthony List president Marjorie Dannenfelser.
She added: "From the outset of the Senate hearings, the SBA List called upon Senators to hold Elena Kagan to the standard of interpreting the Constitution, as opposed to advancing a personal ideological preference. Her confirmation is tragic news for women, the unborn and the American pro-life majority. Full story at LifeNews.com
Senators Introduce Bill to Exclude Abortion Funding From New ObamaCare Law
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- With the health care plan President Barack Obama signed into law having no protections against taxpayer funding of abortions, and with a dustup weeks ago that saw three instances of abortion funding exposed, a coalition of senators have introduced a bill to ensure no ObamaCare funds go towards abortion.
Senators Tom Coburn, an Oklahoma Republican, and Orrin Hatch, a Utah Republican, introduced the new bill with 23 original cosponsors today.
Their legislation would prevent by the force of law coverage of abortion services under the new health care law.
The Excluding Abortion Coverage from Health Reform Act of 2010 guarantees that no federal taxpayer dollars can be used to pay for elective abortions. Their bill is a companion measure to the House bill sponsored by Rep. Joe Pitts, known as the Protect Life Act, H.R. 5111.
Coburn, an OBGYN, commented on his new legislation in a press statement LifeNews.com obtained.
Forcing Americans to pay for abortion services with their own dollars is a grave abuse of government authority. The administration s track record of ambiguity in this area underscores the need for federal legislation clarifying, once and for all, that public funds will not be used to pay for abortion services under the new health law, he said. Full story at LifeNews.com
Senator McCain Leads the Charge Against Defense Department Bill Over Abortion
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Senator John McCain fired off the first volley in what is expected to be a fierce battle over the bill to authorize funding for the Defense Department. Because of abortion and other issues, he objected today to September consideration of the legislation.
McCain, the ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, objected when Senate Democrats sought unanimous consent to arrange for the Senate to consider the defense bill after its August recess.
McCain said he would not agree to allow the bill to be considered unless senators had an opportunity to remove from the bill language that overturns the current ban on abortions at taxpayer-funded military base hospitals in the U.S. and overseas.
The fight concerns the amendment Sen. Roland Burris attached to a defense spending bill to allow abortions at taxpayer-funded military base hospitals. The Senate Armed Services Committee approved the amendment on a 15-12 vote.
All Democrats supported it except for Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska, who joined all of the committee's Republicans in opposition.
It s again the chairman of the committee and the majority leader and the other side moving forward with a social agenda on a legislation that was intended to ensure this nation s security. Along with it, they have abortion - [it] is going to be performed in military hospitals for the first time in a long time," he said on the Senate floor today.
Sen. Carl Levin, a pro-abortion Michigan Democrat who would manage the bill on the Senate floor if it comes up, promised lawmakers would have an opportunity to debate the abortion provision on the Senate floor. Full story at LifeNews.com
Americans Oppose Mandate in Pro-Abortion ObamaCare, Back Lawsuit Against It
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- On the heels of the landslide victory for Proposition C in Missouri, where citizens voted to exempt Missouri from the insurance mandate in the new health care law, a new poll finds Americans across the country would likely have voted for the proposition themselves had it been on the ballot in their state.
Missourians voted overwhelmingly to reject a federal mandate to purchase health insurance -- important because some of the plans in the program will pay for abortions with federal funds.
They passed Proposition C by almost a 3-1 ratio.
Now, a new Rasmussen Reports poll finds 54 percent of likely voters oppose the requirement in the new federal health care bill that every American must buy or obtain health insurance. It finds just 43 percent favor the requirement, which is also the subject of a lawsuit in court sponsored by numerous states.
Eighty-one percent (81%) of Republicans and 62% of voters not affiliated with either party oppose the requirement that every American buy or obtain health insurance. Seventy-two percent (72%) of Democrats favor it.
As on all questions involving the health care plan, the intensity is on the side of the opponents: 23% strongly favor the health insurance requirement, but 41% strongly oppose it. Full story at LifeNews.com
Pro-Abortion Constitution Passes in Kenya, Opponents Seek Amendments
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- With more than 70 percent of the vote counted, residents of Kenya appear to have approved a new constitution that would essentially allow unlimited abortions. Kenya has long protected women and unborn children but the zeal for a new constitution overtook concerns about preventing abortions.
The Yes campaign on the constitution prevailed on a 69 to 31 percentage point margin over the No campaigners who were led in part by pro-life advocates and churches.
Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki on Thursday hailed the vote but promised opponents that their "voice has been heard" and appealed for national unity.
"Let us all join hands together to begin the process of national renewal under the new constitution," he said, according to the dpa news agency.
Higher Education Minister William Ruto, one of the leaders of the No camp, conceded defeat but he also called for government leaders to allow amendments to the document.
"Kenyans have spoken and we respect that," Ruto said. "[The] majority had their way, we had our say. Now that Kenyans have endorsed that we pass, we are now proposing immediate consultations. We want to be part of taking Kenya to the future."
"It is not only necessary, it is mandatory," he said of addressing the concerns of the minority. Full story at LifeNews.com
Iowa Board of Medicine to Receive Letter Asking for End to Telemed Abortions
Des Moines, IA (LifeNews.com) -- The Iowa Board of Medicine will soon receive a letter from prominent pro-life leaders and groups -- both in Iowa and across the nation -- asking it to shut down the telemed abortion scheme Planned Parenthood is operating in the state.
The process has women getting the dangerous abortion drug without an in-person examination by a physician.
It's further concerning to pro-life advocates because national Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards recently visited Iowa and confirmed the abortion business has plans to put women at risk nationwide. Planned Parenthood is denying them an in-person doctor visit before getting the drug that has killed at least 13 women -- and perhaps as many as 40 -- and injured at least 1,100 more according to 2006 FDA figures.
Planned Parenthood of the Heartland is already the subject of a criminal complaint pro-life group Operation Rescue made with Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller and pro-life advocates say it should be subject to a state audit.
Now, three Iowa-based groups: Iowans for Life, Iowa Right to Life and Dubuque County Right to Life are organizing a letter to the Iowa Board of Medicine. Full story at LifeNews.com
Colorado Senate Candidate Jane Norton Gets Pro-Life Group's Endorsement
Denver, CO (LifeNews.com) -- When Colorado voters head to the polls next week to cast their ballots for a Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate, Americans United for Life hopes they'll support Jane Norton. She is the former Lt. Governor who is taking on pro-life district attorney Ken Buck in the race for the GOP nod.
The winner of the nomination with face either of two pro-abortion Democrats, Michael Bennett and Andrew Romanoff, in the November election in what is considered one of the most hotly contested Senate seats in the nation.
Charmaine Yoest, the president of Americans United for Life Action, contacted LifeNews.com today to explain her group's endorsement.
Americans United for Life Action is proud to lend our first-ever endorsement to [Norton]," she said.
"She has fought taxpayer-funded abortion in her state, honoring the wishes of Coloradans. She has been a leading voice in promoting adoption and has worked successfully to protect vulnerable children," Yoest said.
"In an era where Washington elites are ignoring the will of the American people, Jane Norton will be exactly the kind of Senator we need - a powerful pro-life voice in the U.S. Senate," Yoest added. Full story at LifeNews.com
Kansas Pro-Life Group Sees Endorsed Candidates in Tuesday's Primary Win 2-1
Topeka, KS (LifeNews.com) -- The pro-life group Kansans for Life says it had a successful primary election on Tuesday, with pro-life candidates winning their party's nomination in state House races by a 2-1 margin over other candidates. And in some cases, a loss didn't mean an abortion advocate will head to the state legislature.
"KFL-favored pro-lifers won their House primary races 2-1," said KFL legislative director Kathy Ostrowski.
"Tuesday s election primaries saw 31 Kansas House races where Kansans for Life s endorsement or recommendation was in play," she told LifeNews.com. "Our candidates won about twice as often: 20 wins and 11 losses, with 5 House races decided by less than 250 votes."
And in those 11 races where KFL-endorsed candidates lost, the pro-life movement didn't lose "because some of the non-KFL-endorsed winners are pro-life, and many of the general election opponents without primaries, are pro-life," the legislative leader said.
"It s a nice problem to face races where both party s candidates are pro-life! This is a reflection of the increasing number of national polls where majorities of the public self-identify as pro-life," Ostrowski said. Full story at LifeNews.com
Baltimore Law Attacking Pregnancy Centers Subject of Hearing Before Judge
Baltimore, MD (LifeNews.com) -- A federal judge held a hearing on a lawsuit filed by the Archdiocese of Baltimore against the Maryland city yesterday over a law that attacks pregnancy centers that help women find abortion alternatives.
Last year, the city passed the new ordinance that fines pregnancy centers $150 per day if they don't post a sign saying they do not do abortions.
Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, the former city council president who is now the mayor, sponsored the measure that the city council approved on a 12-3 vote. The council defeated an amendment to the bill that would have required abortion businesses to post a similar sign confirming they do not provide abortion alternatives.
The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court in Baltimore, says the law unfairly targets the centers rather than applying to medical facilities as a whole.
U.S. District Judge Marvin J. Garbis held a hearing yesterday on the city's request to approve a motion dismissing the lawsuit. The law was to take effect in January and it has already been put on hold until December for the legal case to proceed. Full story at LifeNews.com
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