New Obama Budget Pays For Legal Services Corporation to Litigate for Abortions
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- As President Barack Obama's new federal budget is thoroughly examined, pro-life advocates are finding a number of goodies for the abortion industry. Next on the list is a move by the president to allow the Legal Services Corporation to use tax dollars to pay for abortion litigation. The Obama budget includes a move to overturn the ban on taxpayer-funding of abortions in the nation's capital and it eliminates all funding for abstinence education. It also changes the language governing funding for the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) and loosens it to allow LSC grantees to conduct abortion litigation. Under Obama's plan, direct funding of abortion litigation would be prohibited, but LSC grantees could shift other taxpayer funds to a separate account for pro-abortion activities. As National Right to Life Committee legislative director Douglas Johnson tells LifeNews.com, pro-life advocates have opposed this fungible move for years as, similar arrangements in previous years allowed LSC grantees to file legal challenges against pro-life laws using taxpayer funds. "Back in the 1980s, some Legal Services Corporation grantees were deeply involved in pro-abortion litigation, until Congress told the LSC to stay out of either side of the abortion fight," Johnson recalls. "Now, the Obama White House wants to remove the laws that stopped LSC pro-abortion activism, and replace them with bookkeeping requirements that are essentially meaningless." Full story at LifeNews.com
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- As President Barack Obama's new federal budget is thoroughly examined, pro-life advocates are finding a number of goodies for the abortion industry. Next on the list is a move by the president to allow the Legal Services Corporation to use tax dollars to pay for abortion litigation. The Obama budget includes a move to overturn the ban on taxpayer-funding of abortions in the nation's capital and it eliminates all funding for abstinence education. It also changes the language governing funding for the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) and loosens it to allow LSC grantees to conduct abortion litigation. Under Obama's plan, direct funding of abortion litigation would be prohibited, but LSC grantees could shift other taxpayer funds to a separate account for pro-abortion activities. As National Right to Life Committee legislative director Douglas Johnson tells LifeNews.com, pro-life advocates have opposed this fungible move for years as, similar arrangements in previous years allowed LSC grantees to file legal challenges against pro-life laws using taxpayer funds. "Back in the 1980s, some Legal Services Corporation grantees were deeply involved in pro-abortion litigation, until Congress told the LSC to stay out of either side of the abortion fight," Johnson recalls. "Now, the Obama White House wants to remove the laws that stopped LSC pro-abortion activism, and replace them with bookkeeping requirements that are essentially meaningless." Full story at LifeNews.com Democrats for Life of America will hold their annual conference and Hall of Fame dinner on June 17 at the Phoenix Hotel in Washington. Meet pro-life Democrats! See http://www.DemocratsForLife. |
Study: Abortion Drug Fails 23 Percent of the Time, Surgical Abortions Necessary
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Abortion advocates have promoted the dangerous abortion drug RU 486 (mifepristone) in part by saying it can cause an abortion without women having to have a surgical abortion. However, a new study shows the abortion drug fails anywhere from 16-23 percent of the time. When the mifepristone abortion drug fails, a follow-up surgical abortion is necessary because an incomplete abortion can result in major medical problems, including death. Melissa Strafford of the Boston Medical Center presented the results of her study at the recent American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists annual meeting. The abortion drug failed to complete the abortion in 23 percent of the women getting the two drugs simultaneously and failed to finish the abortion process for 16 percent of the women getting the drugs 48 hours apart. For Dr. Randy O'Bannon, the director of research and education for National Right to Life, there failure rates and need for surgical abortions present bigger problems for women. "Those who have developed and promoted RU 486 have told women that the abortifacient offers them a way to have an abortion without the risk of surgery," he told LifeNews.com. "Attempts to make the process more convenient for women, for the clinics, may help the industry attract more customers, but as this latest study shows, it exposes women to additional risks." Full story at LifeNews.com
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Abortion advocates have promoted the dangerous abortion drug RU 486 (mifepristone) in part by saying it can cause an abortion without women having to have a surgical abortion. However, a new study shows the abortion drug fails anywhere from 16-23 percent of the time. When the mifepristone abortion drug fails, a follow-up surgical abortion is necessary because an incomplete abortion can result in major medical problems, including death. Melissa Strafford of the Boston Medical Center presented the results of her study at the recent American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists annual meeting. The abortion drug failed to complete the abortion in 23 percent of the women getting the two drugs simultaneously and failed to finish the abortion process for 16 percent of the women getting the drugs 48 hours apart. For Dr. Randy O'Bannon, the director of research and education for National Right to Life, there failure rates and need for surgical abortions present bigger problems for women. "Those who have developed and promoted RU 486 have told women that the abortifacient offers them a way to have an abortion without the risk of surgery," he told LifeNews.com. "Attempts to make the process more convenient for women, for the clinics, may help the industry attract more customers, but as this latest study shows, it exposes women to additional risks." Full story at LifeNews.com Pro-Life Doctor: Obama's Repealing Conscience Rules Would Hurt Health Care
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The public comment period has expired on a proposal from President Barack Obama to repeal Bush administration rules that provide more protections for pro-life doctors. One physician says if Obama follows through on repealing the rules, he will hurt patient's access to quality health care. The Obama plan would repeal the Provider Conscience Clause that provides more enforcement for three federal laws that make it so medical professionals and centers are not pressured to participate in abortions. As the nation begins to grapple with the upcoming heath care reform debate, Dr. Donald Thompson, a member of the Christian Medical Association says repealing the rules would only exacerbate the shortage of doctors the nation is experiencing. "I wonder if the Obama administration realizes that repealing the provider conscience protection regulations could drive thousands of faith-based physicians out of medicine and close faith-based hospitals that provide over 17% of the health care delivered in the United States," Thompson said. "Many of these physicians and hospitals target their care to medically underserved populations." Full story at LifeNews.com
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The public comment period has expired on a proposal from President Barack Obama to repeal Bush administration rules that provide more protections for pro-life doctors. One physician says if Obama follows through on repealing the rules, he will hurt patient's access to quality health care. The Obama plan would repeal the Provider Conscience Clause that provides more enforcement for three federal laws that make it so medical professionals and centers are not pressured to participate in abortions. As the nation begins to grapple with the upcoming heath care reform debate, Dr. Donald Thompson, a member of the Christian Medical Association says repealing the rules would only exacerbate the shortage of doctors the nation is experiencing. "I wonder if the Obama administration realizes that repealing the provider conscience protection regulations could drive thousands of faith-based physicians out of medicine and close faith-based hospitals that provide over 17% of the health care delivered in the United States," Thompson said. "Many of these physicians and hospitals target their care to medically underserved populations." Full story at LifeNews.comVatican Archbishop Criticizes Notre Dame for Inviting Pro-Abortion Obama
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A top Vatican leader is the latest to speak out against the University of Notre Dame for inviting pro-abortion President Barack Obama to give its commencement address. Archbishop Raymond Burke, who essentially leads the Vatican's top court, said Notre Dame was wrong to invite Obama. He called the university's decision to allow him to give the graduation message a scandal and said it was made worse by it giving Obama an honorary degree. Burke said the Catholics bishops in the United States have made it clear that Catholic colleges and universities should not give a platform or honor "those who teach and act publicly against the moral law." "The proposed granting of an honorary doctorate at Notre Dame University to our president, who is so aggressively advancing an anti-life and anti-family agenda is rightly the source of the greatest scandal," Burke said. Burke said if Catholics are not willing to stand up for the church's teachings, "we are not worthy of the name Catholic." Full story at LifeNews.com Sex and the City's Cynthia Nixon Wants Planned Parenthood Mother's Day Gifts
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Sex and the City star Cynthia Nixon, who plays Miranda on the popular television program and movie, is the latest celebrity to stump for donations for the Planned Parenthood abortion business on Mother's Day. Her letter to Planned Parenthood donors follows one from children's author Judy Blume. The Blume letter sparked so much national outrage after LifeNews.com exposed it, that Planned Parenthood begged its supporters to send thank you notes to her. Like the Blume letter, the missive from Nixon ironically urges donations to Planned Parenthood to celebrate Mother's Day even though Planned Parenthood routinely puts women's health at risks with unsafe abortions and spends most of its time doing abortions instead of offering women legitimate prenatal health care services. "I am Cynthia Nixon. I am an actor, an activist, a mom, a daughter. But today, I am writing to you about motherhood, on behalf of Planned Parenthood and the many people they serve," the actress writes. "The truth is, in my book, there is no organization that supports motherhood more than Planned Parenthood. That's why I'm honoring the moms I know with a gift to Planned Parenthood today." With Planned Parenthood killing children and injuring women in abortions, Nixon displays an astonishing impudicity when she adds, "To me, it just makes sense: honor the courageous mothers who are raising kids ... with a gift to the courageous organization that helps so many women." ACTION: Contact Cynthia Nixon, c/o William Morris Agency, One William Morris Place, Beverly Hills, California 9021. Full story at LifeNews.comTed Turner: China a Good Example of Population Control, Despite Forced Abortions
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Billionaire broadcast magnate Ted Turner is causing guffaws from observers with his latest comment on family planning in China. He lauded the Asian nation for its population control program and said it was a good example even though it is rife with forced abortions and sterilizations. During an interview with the Diane Rehm Show gave China as a model for how to handle growing populations. "We do have the example of China, and they've done it without, uh, draconian, as far as I can see, draconian steps," he said. Observers of the quote are surprised that Rehm let it go unchallenged and without any mention of the human rights abuses that accompany the Chinese family planning program. The policy has resulted in epidemics of forced abortions and sterilizations and human rights abuses ranging from job loss and imprisonment to house arrest and threatening family members. In fact, new reports show the forced abortions have resulted in high infertility rates forced abortions. A new report indicates that has sparked infertility and given rise to an underground network of surrogate mothers. Now, family planning authorities are cracking down on the surrogacy and more forced abortions are occurring as a result. Also, a new investigation from a group that monitors population issues shows population control officials in China are now engaging in kidnapping. Full story at LifeNews.com
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Billionaire broadcast magnate Ted Turner is causing guffaws from observers with his latest comment on family planning in China. He lauded the Asian nation for its population control program and said it was a good example even though it is rife with forced abortions and sterilizations. During an interview with the Diane Rehm Show gave China as a model for how to handle growing populations. "We do have the example of China, and they've done it without, uh, draconian, as far as I can see, draconian steps," he said. Observers of the quote are surprised that Rehm let it go unchallenged and without any mention of the human rights abuses that accompany the Chinese family planning program. The policy has resulted in epidemics of forced abortions and sterilizations and human rights abuses ranging from job loss and imprisonment to house arrest and threatening family members. In fact, new reports show the forced abortions have resulted in high infertility rates forced abortions. A new report indicates that has sparked infertility and given rise to an underground network of surrogate mothers. Now, family planning authorities are cracking down on the surrogacy and more forced abortions are occurring as a result. Also, a new investigation from a group that monitors population issues shows population control officials in China are now engaging in kidnapping. Full story at LifeNews.comKansas Senate Fails to Override Sebelius Veto of Bill to Limit Late-Term Abortions
Topeka, KS (LifeNews.com) -- The Kansas Senate failed in a late Thursday vote to override a veto from former Gov. Kathleen Sebelius of a bill that would place more limits on late-term abortions. The bill requires abortion practitioners to provide the state health department with detailed information about why the abortion was done. The legislature approved H Sub 218 with the House casting a final vote of 82-43 for the bill and the Senate voting 25-11 for it. Sebelius vetoed the bill and the Kansas Senate override vote was 25-13, two short of the two-thirds majority needed to overcome her decision. The veto came just days before the U.S. Senate confirmed Sebelius to become President Barack Obama's health secretary. Mary Kay Culp, the director of Kansans for Life, told LifeNews.com she is disappointed the state Senate failed to reach an override majority. She said it is "an especially insulting and indefensible outrage because it concerned an attempt to stop abortions performed illegally, that is, outside the legal limits set out for unborn babies big enough to live outside the womb at the time of the abortion." Full story at LifeNews.com
