Senate Democrats Stop Proposal to Halt President Obama’s Pro-Abortion Czars
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
September 24, 2009
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — Senate Democrats used a procedural tactic on Thursday to defeat a proposal from Republicans to put a halt to President Barack Obama’s czars, many of whom strongly support abortion and euthanasia. The proposal would have halted any more federal funds for new czar positions without more information.
Republicans wanted Obama’s czars to have to appear before Congress to testify about their views since they are not subject to Senate approval.
The Obama administration, which already has 18 czars, argued such a move would violate the separation of powers.
The proposal said the Senate would be able to forward "reasonable" requests for testimony from the czars that would require a detailed "public, written report" biannually of their actions and any involvement in the creation of law, policy or regulations.
Democrats used a Senate rule that prohibits legislating on a spending bill, something that both parties normally do, to prevent the proposal from being added.
Sen. Susan Collins, a pro-abortion Republican, sponsored the proposal and said she was "deeply disappointed" that Senate Democrats used the rules to disallow it.
"My amendment has been carefully tailored to cover officials that the president has unilaterally designated for significant policy matters," she said.
Pro-life advocates have been concerned about the czar positions.
Cass Sunstein, who became Obama’s new regulatory czar, holds pro-abortion and pro-human cloning views. https://www.lifenews.com/bio2957.html
In a 2003 review of the book "Our Posthuman Future" by Francis Fukuyama, Sunstein confirmed he has little regard for developing human life in the womb.
He said there need not be any regard for unborn children in their earliest days because human embryos are "only a handful of cells."
Ezekiel Emanuel, health adviser to President Barack Obama, also came under scrutiny.
Emanuel, brother of White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, has already been appointed to two key positions: health-policy adviser at the Office of Management and Budget and a member of the Federal Council on Comparative Effectiveness Research. He clearly will play a role guiding the White House’s health initiative.
He has been accused of supporting rationing and euthanasia. https://www.lifenews.com/bio2941.html
And John Holdren, whom Obama appointed to become Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, was accused of backing forced abortions and population control. https://www.lifenews.com/nat5216.html
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