Pro-Life Women's Group Asks Congress to to Prevent Abortion in Health Care
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A pro-life women's group is asking an influential congressman to do more to make sure abortion funding is not included in the House health care reform bill, HR 3200. Susan B. Anthony List president Marjorie Dannenfelser told LifeNews.com that Rep. Henry Waxman, who has pledged to keep abortion funding out, has not done so."Actually there is much more Waxman can do," said Dannenfelser. "For starters he could actually ensure no federal funds will pay for abortion services. As it stands today, the proposed public option will indeed subsidize abortions. The U.S. Government will write checks to abortionists in exchange for their services. To remedy this, Waxman should throw his support behind the Stupak-Pitts Amendment. Only then would he actually honor his commitment to the majority of taxpayers who don’t want to subsidize abortion in health care." "A survey commissioned by the Susan B. Anthony List found the issue of government-funded abortion coverage in health care turns off five times as many voters as it gains," said Dannenfelser. "The American people have spoken, and their answer is on the side of Life. It’s time Congress and the President advanced policies to respect the growing majority pro-life sentiment across America. Excluding mandated abortion coverage from health care reform legislation is a step in the right direction." Last month, Susan B. Anthony List commissioned a nationwide poll conducted by Public Opinion Strategies on government funding for abortion in health care reform. The survey found 58% of Americans disagree that the government has an obligation to offer abortion coverage in the public option. Fifty-five percent said it was "wrong" for the government to fund abortions, and 52% opposed funding health plans that covered abortion.

Michelle Obama and Jill Biden Promote Breast Cancer Awareness, Ignore Abortion
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- First lady Michelle Obama focused on health care reform as a women's issue at a breast cancer event at the White House Friday, marking the third time in recent weeks she has weighed in on the health debate so directly. However, she and Jill Bide, wife of pro-abortion Vice-President Joe Biden ignored the link between abortion and breast cancer. Flanked by several House members, breast cancer survivors, and advocates, Obama and Biden said women with breast cancer are often denied coverage, or pay exorbitant premiums and out-of-pocket costs and are discriminated against in the current system. "The battle against breast cancer is personal," said Biden, who founded the Biden Breast Cancer Initiative several years ago. "I am here for a future free of breast cancer." Some 200,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer are diagnosed each year, and 40,000 women will die each year from the disease. Three woman spoke about the difficulties in getting treatment and Obama said their stories "take the veil off this disease" but they did not mention abortion. Most studies on the subject have found that having an abortion increases the risk of contracting breast cancer and having multiple abortions multiples the risk further. On the other hand, carrying a pregnancy to term, especially at a younger teen or young adult age, lowers a woman's breast cancer risk. Obama and Biden didn't share that information either. Obama said the health care bill in Congress, that includes massive abortion funding and subsidies, needed to be approved for better breast cancer research, but she attacked the pro-life advocates who oppose the bill because of the abortion funding. "First we have to get it passed, that's the hard part," she said. "We know there are folks who will do anything to stop reform."

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito Upset by Attacks on Number of Catholics
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito is upset by the increasing attacks on the number of Catholics on the high court -- that a majority of its members are members of the Catholic Church. Alito aired the topic in a speech to an Italian-American law group in Philadelphia. "There has been so much talk lately about the number of Catholics serving on the Supreme Court," Alito said in a speech to the Justinian Society. "This is one of those questions that does not die." Alito complained about "respectable people who have seriously raised the questions in serious publications about whether these individuals could be trusted to do their jobs." He said he thought the Constitution settled the question long ago with its guarantee of religious freedom. Alito, 59, the son of an Italian immigrant, is one of six justices on the nine-member court who were raised Catholic, including new Justice Sonia Sotomayor. A dozen of the 111 jurists in the court's history have been Catholic. Part of the criticism has to do wit the fact that Catholics are typically pro-life and four pro-life Catholics on the Supreme Court could eventually be joined by a fifth pro-life jurist and look at overturning the Roe v. Wade abortion decision. Chief John Roberts and Justices Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas and Alito comprise the current minority on the court most likely to overturn Roe. Notre Dame law professor Richard W. Garnett echoed Alito's comment that the religion of qualified justices will not determine their views of pending cases, even if their experiences might shade it. "It's not the calling of a Catholic judge to enforce the teachings of the faith. It's the calling of a Catholic judge, as well as he or she can, to interpret and apply the laws of the political community," Garnett said. "No one thinks the moral commitments of a judge are irrelevant. I don't think anybody can completely put aside who they are." Bill Donahue, president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, said he believes the focus on the religious makeup of the court is really a ruse. "I think it comes down to one issue, it's abortion," he said. "The people who are complaining about Alito and Roberts are the same people who would have nine Nancy Pelosis on the Supreme Court who are pro-choice Catholics."

Pro-Life Advocates Continue Helping New York Congressional Candidate Doug Hoffman
Albany, NY (LifeNews.com) -- Pro-life advocates are upping their support for pro-life New York congressional candidate Doug Hoffman in advance of the special election on November 3. Marjorie Dannenfelser, the president of the Susan B. Anthony List pro-life women's group is heading to the 23rd congressional district to help Hoffman's team. Dannenfelser arrives on the heels of the initiation of a $300,000 voter education effort by several national organizations, including SBA. The effort includes radio ads launched on Friday, October 23, 2009, targeted phone calls and mailings, as well as an extensive volunteer effort to distribute literature, yard signs, and man polling places on election day. "All eyes are on New York right now," she told LIfeNews.com. "This special election in the 23rd District could determine whether the national GOP stays true to the traditional values enshrined in its platform, or whether future Republican candidates are more likely to resemble Democrats in 2010. Here's the bottom line: when the GOP insists upon standing for an 'R' by the candidate's name instead of principles, it loses. From now through Election Day, social and economic conservatives are banding together to send the message that America needs more candidates like Doug Hoffman, not fewer."

Freakonomics: Authors That Credited Abortion for Lower Crime Now Blame Feminism
LifeNews.com Note: This is an excerpt from an article written by Jeff Poor on the NewsBusters blog: We'll have to wait and see if the so-called outside-the-box thinking once praised by some of liberal media elites will get the same reception with this latest edition. In 2005, University of Chicago economist Steven Levitt and New York Times journalist Stephen J. Dubner released the book "Freakonomics" that provided cover for the pro-abortion movement in America by suggesting legalized abortion lowered crime and had a positive impact on society. However, in their new book "SuperFreakonomics: Global Cooling, Patriotic Prostitutes, and Why Suicide Bombers Should Buy Life Insurance," Levitt and Dubner blame what is generally accepted to be a liberal cause, women's liberation, for the rise of high-end prostitution in America and a failing public education system. The authors appeared on ABC's Oct. 23 "20/20" to elaborate on their theories."And with ‘SuperFreakonomics,' they won't make a lot of friends among women, as they argue gender equality, the women's liberation movement, hasn't really done that much for female teachers or financiers, but has been great for high-end prostitutes." ABC "20/20" correspondent Bill Weir said.Dubner expanded on that point by saying it was a case of a demand being fulfilled by a nefarious means. "Prostitution is one of the few, if not only sector of the labor force that is dominated by women, always has been," Dubner said. "And that arises from the very simple fact that, you know, there's a lot of men who want to have a lot of sex more than they're able to get for free. We're not saying prostitution is good or bad, but if you want to go out and save women from prostitution, you should understand why they're responding to the market and becoming prostitutes in the first place." Another unintended consequence of the women's liberation movement has been the deterioration in the education system - mainly the availability of the best teachers. And because of birth control, women were able to take on other professions besides teaching. "Before the pill, women were not able to make the investments to be doctors and lawyers," Levitt said. "Instead they would find career tracks that would allow them to get in and out of the labor force."

Texas Pro-Life Advocates Want Abortion Centers to Get License to Use Dangerous Abortion Drug
Austin, TX (LifeNews.com) -- Texas pro-life advocates are asking the state attorney general for an opinion about whether current state law requires abortion centers to first obtain a license before they are able to dispense the dangerous mifepristone (RU 486) drug that has already killed 13 women an injured more than 1,100 in the U.S. alone. State Rep. Frank Corte, a San Antonio Republican, requested the opinion on October 9 from Attorney General Greg Abbott. "It may be perceived by some as a gray area," said Corte. "What they’re doing is the same thing as a surgical process, with the same end result. We need to have a clear understanding of what our law says. This is the question it goes back to. Who are these folks [dispensing the drug]? They may be very qualified to dispense the item, but they need to be licensed facilities so we know for sure." The pro-life group Texas Alliance of Life, told LifeNews.com they appreciated Corte requesting the opinion. "We think Corte's legal analysis is absolutely correct," says Joe Pojman, the director of the organization. "When facilities perform RU-486 abortion, state law requires them to be licensed and regulated, including compliance with minimum safety standards, undergoing annual inspections, and allowing only physicians to perform abortions. These laws are in place to protect the health and safety of women." The Texas Department of State Health Services issued notice of violation letters in June to four Planned Parenthood facilities in San Antonio that were performing abortions illegally in unlicensed abortion facilities. The facilities were assessed fines totaling $119,000. Corte was the author of the Women's Right to Know Act, a bill that helped women get information on abortion risks and alternatives they don't normally get from abortion centers. Because Corte is chairman of the House Committee on Defense and Veterans Affairs, Texas law requires Abbott to answer his request with a legal opinion. Abbott’s office has 180 days from the time the request was received. "What he says will tell the Legislature if there needs to be legislation or not," Corte said. "I’m not trying to make providers stop doing what they’re doing if they believe that’s what they want to do. But I do think that as medical procedures change, those seeking medical treatment should have licensed folks doing that."

Indiana Right to Life Tells Gary Newspaper to Apologize for Attacking Pro-Life Advocates
Gary, IN (LifeNews.com) -- Indiana Right to Life officials are calling on the Gary Post-Tribune newspaper to review its editorial guidelines and to issue apology in wake of a troubling editorial calling pro-lifers "right-wing religious freaks." The editorial is authored by editorial page editor Rich James. James also contends that abstinence programs are a failure and that "Sarah Palin's daughter could have used the services of Planned Parenthood." James' editorial is a caustic response to community opposition to Planned Parenthood's attempt to move from Gary to Griffith. "This inflammatory rhetoric is demeaning and destructive to the citizens of Griffith who do not want Planned Parenthood in their neighborhood," notes Indiana Right to Life president Mike Fichter. "We would hope that a professional publication would rise above this type of mean-spirited attack." Fichter notes that the editorial's attempt to separate Planned Parenthood from the business of abortion is misleading on its face. "One of the largest Planned Parenthood abortion facilities in the state is located in Merrillville, directly next door to Gary. Trying to separate abortion from Planned Parenthood is like trying to separate K-Mart from blue light specials."

Baltimore City Council Targets Pregnancy Centers, Must Tell Women They Don't Do Abortions
Baltimore, MD (LifeNews.com) -- The Baltimore City Council president, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and 10 members of the council are sponsoring a measure that would target pregnancy centers by making them post a sign saying they do not offer abortions or provide contraception. The measure does not contain any stipulations for abortion centers requiring a disclosure indicating they do not provide comprehensive abortion alternatives. City Council Bill 09-0406 would fine pregnancy centers $500 per day if they do not comply with the city ordinance. Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien of the Catholic Church has already complained about the measure and its potential fines and wrote a letter on October 16 urging members of the council to reject the ordinance. He said it is "well-known" that pregnancy support centers are exclusively focused on assisting women in unplanned pregnancy situations by providing them with abortion alternatives and not abortions themselves. "To fine a center $500 for not posting a sign that states as much is nothing short of harassment," Archbishop O’Brien said, "especially when nothing in a pregnancy support center’s yellow page advertisements or Web pages would lead a woman to believe these centers provide abortions or abortion-related services." According to the Catholic Review, Rawlings-Blake sent a response back to the bishop defending her proposal. "I believe this measure is needed to secure women’s access to accurate and safe medical information," and added that "simple compliance" would ensure the centers don't face fines. "Of course, I support efforts by nonprofit organizations to assist future mothers," she said. "This ordinance does nothing to hamper those efforts." Archbishop O’Brien countered that argument, saying "The bill does not on the other hand seek to fine abortion clinics for not posting a list of services they do not provide (e.g., parenting classes, maternity and infant clothes, formula)." The Baltimore bill is similar to one that was promoted by Planned Parenthood in the Maryland legislature during the 2008 legislative session. The bill never made it out of committee but would have required pregnancy centers to falsely state they do not provide "factual information." Nancy Paltell, associate director for the respect life office of the Maryland Catholic Conference, told the Catholic Review that Planned Parenthood is behind the Baltimore effort.

Travis County to Vote on Sending Half Million Grant to Planned Parenthood
Austin, TX (LifeNews.com) -- The Travis County Healthcare District is a taxing authority created by voters in 2004 that uses Travis County property taxes to fund health care for low-income residents. Texas Alliance for Life has learned that the governing Board of Managers will vote soon a proposed contract with local abortion facilities to use $450,000 in property taxes to pay for about 1,000 abortions over the next year. "Abortion takes the lives of unborn children and harms their mothers. I do not want to be forced to pay for abortions with my property taxes. Tax dollars should not be used to destroy innocent human lives," says TAL director Joe Pojman. Texas Alliance for Life's research has revealed that the City of Austin has funded elective abortions since the 1970s. In 2004, the Travis County Healthcare District (TCHD) was created by voters to use county property taxes to pay for health care at local hospitals and clinics for low income residents. The TCHD took over the City's abortion contracts and pays for the abortions. Women get a voucher that is presented at an abortion facility to pay for the abortion. The TCHD is governed by a Board of Managers, which must approve the abortion contract with a separate vote. The Board of Managers has nine members -- four appointed by the Travis County Commissioners, four appointed by the Austin City Council, and one jointly appointed. Each serves a four-year term. Texas Alliance for Life is asking pro-life advocates to contact the Travis County Healthcare District to oppose the proposed $450,000 abortion contract by going to http://www.traviscountyhd.org/contact_us.html or calling 512.978.8000.

South Dakota Petition Drive Started to Overturn State Human Cloning Ban
Pierre, SD (LifeNews.com) -- Former South Dakota Secretary of State David Volk wants to overturn a state law that bans the creation and destruction of human embryos for research. Volk will need to collect more than 16,000 signatures to bring the issue to a vote in the 2010 elections. Chris Hupke, president of the South Dakota Family Policy Council, said the state doesn't need to overturn the ban on life-destroying embryonic stem-cell research. "All of the cutting-edge research is happening with adult stem cells," he said, "and we think it's important to focus where the results are." Volk recently told the Argus Leader newspaper: "For 40 years I've been in South Dakota politics in one form or another. I've never been involved in a campaign for a candidate or an issue campaign where I've had this response." He says he has heard from a wide-ranging group of people who hope to have their medical ailments or conditions cured through embryonic stem cell research that human cloning could help foster -- even tough no patients have ever been cured using the cells. Linda Schauer, state director of Concerned Women for America of South Dakota, commented on the pro-cloning move. "Our laws make good sense. They allow for ethical and successful science," Schauer says. "I think this ballot initiative is a sham." She adds so far, embryonic stem cell research has been longer on promise than delivery. "Embryonic stem cell research is futile. It has not cured or treated one disease." South Dakotans for Lifesaving Cures on Sept. 8 filed a statement of organization with the secretary of state, according to Election Supervisor Kea Warne. Volk is the group's chairman. The next deadline the group has to hit is a Feb. 1 financial disclosure report, and it has until April 6 to formally file petitions with the secretary of state.

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