Pro-Lifers call the abortion industry's bluff

Thursday, March 3, 2011 This Week's Feature PRO-LIFE VIRGINIANS CALL THE ABORTION INDUSTRY'S BLUFF: ABORTION MUST BE MEDICALLY SAFE NOT JUST LEGAL Virginia State Capitol Building in Richmond Pro-life advocates in Virginia had a lot of celebrate last week when the legislature passed a law to regulate all abortion clinics for the first time in 25 years. Delegate Kathy Byron attached an amendment to an uncontroversial medical facility regulations bill to include abortion clinics under the definition of ‘hospitals’ for regulatory purposes. Since the bill had already passed the Senate, pro-abortion senators couldn’t strip it out. And despite the ‘house of horrors’ abortion clinic in Philadelphia where abortionist Dr. Kermit Gosnell is facing 8 counts of murder, twenty senators changed their vote to ‘No’ on the bill because they did not support requiring abortion clinics to meet even basic health and safety standards. Coming to the rescue: Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, who provided the tie-breaking vote, and Governor Bob McDonnell who quickly promised to sign the measure. “This is just the beginning of efforts to strategically target abuses from an almost unregulated abortion industry,” said AUL President and CEO Dr. Charmaine Yoest, who noted that states like Indiana, Nebraska and Oklahoma have multiple pro-life bills expected to pass this session – bills such as bans on late term abortion and new limits on chemical abortion. North Dakota has a comprehensive abortion regulation bill that addresses these areas and more. Even Maine, which has their first pro-life majority in years, is actively pursuing enhancing their parental consent law and strengthening the informed consent that must be given before abortion. Click here to read media reports on AUL’s work in Oklahoma. On The Docket MOTHER JONES & HUFFINGTON POST WORKING HARD TO MANUFACTURE ABORTION-RELATED CONTROVERSIES This week, the liberal Mother Jones and Huffington Post attacked AUL with a false and ugly smear. AUL model legislation called the “Pregnant Woman’s Protection Act” seeks to ensure that a pregnant woman and her unborn child are protected from criminal violence. Specifically, the model legislation was drafted in direct response to the well-documented and growing problem of pregnancy-related domestic violence against women.  But the left-leaning publications attempted to assert that the woman-focused legislation in fact allowed for the killing of abortion providers. “Leave it to the anti-life lobby to claim that model legislation that offers protection to battered women is nefarious,” said AUL Vice President of Legal Affairs Denise Burke. “Research shows that pregnant women are more likely to be victims of domestic abuse. It is tragic that the pro-abortion lobby maligns efforts to protect these women. AUL’s expertly drafted model legislation does not legalize violence against abortion providers, and specifically permits only a woman at immediate risk the right to use force to defend herself and her child.  Equally important, in keeping with our pro-life convictions, AUL has always condemned violence against abortion providers.” Other media came to AUL’s defense, to read media reports about the false stories, click here. LIFE ON THE HILL A number of pro-life bills are moving forward this week. The House Judiciary Committee is expected to hold a full Committee markup of H.R. 3, the “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act,” which establishes a permanent government-wide prohibition on taxpayer funding for abortion and abortion coverage. The bill introduced by Representatives Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Dan Lipinski (D-IL) in January eliminates the need for appropriations riders (such as the Hyde Amendment which must be renewed annually), regulations (which can be overturned by new administrations), and executive orders (which exist at the will of a president). The abortion industry has targeted H.R.3, which is crucial to ensure that Americans are not forced to support abortion and subsidize the abortion industry with their tax dollars. And, The Energy and Commerce Committee marked out and approved H.R. 358, the “Protect Life Act,” by a vote of 33-19 on February 16, 2011. H.R. 358, introduced by Health Subcommittee Chairman Joe Pitts (R-PA) and Representative Dan Lipinski (D-IL), prohibits funding for abortion and abortion coverage under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). The legislation also protects health care providers from discrimination for refusal to participate in abortions. The House is expected to have a floor vote on H.R. 358 in March. Dr. Charmaine Yoest offered her analysis of the bills before Congress for The Hill. Click here to read more. STATUS OF WOMEN During the annual meeting of the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations in New York from February 22 to March 4, AUL joined with other international pro-life groups to recognize the President of Chile for his country’s laws and policies protecting human life and women’s health.  Chile, whose constitution bans abortion, has the lowest rate of maternal mortality in Latin America. Click here to read more. IN THE NEWS AUL staff counsel Kellie Fiedorek joined a debate on NPR discussing de-funding Planned Parenthood. To listen, click here. The Hill newspaper highlighted AUL’s efforts at the state level to curtail abortion, click here to read more. Back To Top Forward to a Friend   View in Browser  Unsubscribe Our mission at Americans United for Life is to defend human life through vigorous legislative, judicial, and educational efforts, on both the state and national level. Americans United for Life 655 15th Street NW, Suite 410, Washington, DC 20005 ph 202.289.1478

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