June 24, 2011

2011 State Efforts to Defund Planned Parenthood

     

Yesterday New Hampshire joined the growing number of states seeking to defund abortion giant Planned Parenthood.  The trend seemed to start last year when New Jersey Governor Chris Christie passed a budget which eliminated about 7.5 million dollars worth of family planning funding.

As reported by Kevin Smith, the Executive Director of Cornerstone, the Granite state's leading family policy organization:

"This has truly been a banner day for the babies here in the Granite State… in a completely unexpected and under the radar move today, the NH Executive Council (which is like our lieutenant Governor, but it's made up of 5 elected officials from across the state), which along with the Governor has to approve all state contracts above $2499 (yes, you read the correct) voted to REJECT the state contract for Planned Parenthood worth $1.8 million over the next two years!! This is simply amazing news!  The vote was 3-2 and it is the first time that a state contract with PP has ever been rejected!"

The story can be found here.

Here is a list (with the legislation in question as well as the state organizations that led the way) of some of the successful efforts this year, as well as three valiant efforts that did not pass.

Successful Efforts (IN, KS, NH, NC, TX, TN, WI):


INDIANA

Family policy organization: Indiana Family Institute

Leading the cause to defund Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers, Indiana passed a monumental piece of legislation, HB1210, earlier this year.  It has subsequently been challenged in court and U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt is expected to make a ruling by July 1st whether to grant injunction while the court case continues.

The actual text in question can be read below:

"An agency of the state may not:
(1) enter into a contract with; or
(2) make a grant to; any entity that performs abortions or maintains or operates a facility where abortions are performed that involves the expenditure of state funds or federal funds administered by the state.

(c) Any appropriation by the state:
(1) in a budget bill;
(2) under IC 5-19-1-3.5; or
(3) in any other law of the state;
to pay for a contract with or grant made to any entity that performs abortions or maintains or operates a facility where abortions are performed is canceled, and the money appropriated is not available for payment of any contract with or grant made to the entity that performs abortions or maintains or operates a facility where abortions are performed.
(d) For any contract with or grant made to an entity that performs abortions or maintains or operates a facility where abortions are performed covered under subsection (b), the budget agency shall make a determination that funds are not available, and the contract or grant shall be terminated under section 5 of this chapter."


KANSAS

Family policy organization: Kansas Family Policy Council

In contrast to the legislative method of Indiana, Kansas effectively defunded Planned Parenthood through their state budget.  This was accomplished by prioritizing the means of distributing family planning funds: first to public entities and secondly to private entities which provided comprehensive health care in addition to family planning services (something which Planned Parenthood is not equipped to do).  The new budget strips about $334,000 in federal Title X funding for the organization, according to Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri.

Relevant text can be read below:

Senate substitute for HB2014 Sec. 57:
(a) During the fiscal year ending June 30, 2011, subject to any applicable requirements of federal statutes, rules, regulations or guidelines, any expenditures or grants of money by any state agency for family planning services financed in whole or in part from federal title X moneys shall be made subject to the following two priorities: First priority to public entities (state, county, local health departments and health clinics) and if any moneys remain then; second priority to non-public entities which are hospitals or federally qualified health centers that provide comprehensive primary and preventative care in addition to family planning services.

(page 85) (l)
During the fiscal year ending June 30, 2012, subject to any applicable requirements of federal statutes, rules, regulations or guidelines, any expenditures or grants of money by the department of health and environment–division of health for family planning services financed in whole or in part from federal title X moneys shall be made subject to the following
two priorities: First priority to public entities (state, county, local health departments and health clinics) and, if any moneys remain, then, Second priority to non-public entities which are hospitals or federally qualified health centers that provide comprehensive primary and preventative care in addition to family planning services: Provided, That, as used in this sub-
section "hospitals" shall have the same meaning as defined in K.S.A. 65-425, and amendments thereto, and "federally qualified health center" shall have the same meaning as defined in K.S.A. 65-1669, and amendments thereto.
 

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Family policy organization: Cornerstone Action

The Executive Council, a body of five elected councilors, is responsible for approving the expenditure of state and federal funds within New Hampshire.  They work with ther Commissioner of the Department of Administrative Services and the Attorney General to manage the business of the state.  On Wednesday, June 22nd, the Council voted 3 -2 against funding a contract in the amount of 1.8 million dollars with Planned Parenthood of Northern New England.

According to Union Leader.com, Councilor Dan St. Hilaire said the Planned Parenthood contract "differed (from other health provider contracts) in that the organization directly provides abortions, it's CEO earns in excess of $250,000 a year, and most of its services and administration are located out of state in Williston, Vt."


NORTH CAROLINA

Family policy organization: North Carolina Family Policy Council

Similar to Kansas, the North Carolina legislature successfully voted to defund Planned Parenthood through their budget, overriding the governor's veto.  According to a Reuters article, Planned Parenthood said it received just over $434,000 a year through state grants and programs, about 4 percent of the group's budget for operating nine health centers in North Carolina.  The funding for Planned Parenthood's participation in public health programs will end on July 1.

Find out more information here.

The actual bill text states:

"PROHIBIT USE OF ALL FUNDS FOR PLANNED PARENTHOOD ORGANIZATIONS

SECTION 10.19. For fiscal years 2011-2012 and 2012-2013, the Department of Health and Human Services may not provide State funds or other funds administered by the Department for contracts or grants to Planned Parenthood, Inc., and affiliated organizations."
 

TENNESSEE

Family policy organization: Family Action Council of Tennessee

The path to defund Planned Parenthood in TN was long and not without mishaps.  Initially legislators sought to defund through an amendment to the budget (Section 78) which read that funds allocated for women's health services "shall be used fully" by government-run health agencies and none "shall be paid to third-party providers or private organizations or entities."  However, at the last moment a "mystery amendment" was snuck in to the budget which stated: "Section 78 of this act shall not be construed to supersede applicable provisions of federal and state law."  Due to the complicated nature of the various provisions of law referenced, there was legal doubt over the validity of the defunding amendment.

In effort to try and reduce some of the dismay and confusion among lawmakers, the Lt Governor's office released the following statement:

"The confusion surrounding the language in the budget regarding Planned Parenthood has been unfortunate.  The Office of Legal Services advised House and Senate leadership that it is unconstitutional to amend general law through the appropriations bill (Article II, Section 17), an interpretation which would have put the entire budget document in jeopardy. It was not our intent to allow funding for Planned Parenthood. Our majority in the General Assembly clearly meant to defund them. We are currently working with pro-life activists to resolve this issue with legislation and we will put it to rest immediately upon the legislature's return in January."

Many citizen urged Governor Haslam to use his executive power to "fix the mistake" in the recently passed budget.  Finally, on June 11th the Lieutenant Governor, Ron Ramsey, announced that Governor Haslam had asked the State Health Department to pressure the state's two largest counties, Davidson and Shelby Counties, to provide family planning services through their respective county health departments (as the other 93 counties in TN currently do) instead of contracting with Planned Parenthood and granting them state funds to provide family planning services on behalf of those two counties.

"We are at long last moving towards the final stages of the Planned Parenthood shell game," said Lt. Gov. Ramsey. "It has always been the ambition of Republicans in the legislature to defund this organization. I was proud to lead the charge to turn over family planning services to the county health departments effectively defunding the organization in 93 out of 95 counties. I'd like to praise the Governor for working to completely turn off the spigot of taxpayer funds to Planned Parenthood."


TEXAS

Family policy organization: Liberty Institute

Texas, similar to Kansas used a funding prioritization method in their recently passed 2012-2013 budget:

"The Department of State Health Services shall allocate funds appropriated above in Strategy B.1.3, Family Planning Services using a methodology that prioritizes distribution and reallocation to first award public entities that provide family planning services, including state, county, local community health clinics, Federally Qualified Health Centers, and clinics under the Baylor College of Medicine; secondly, non-public entities that provide comprehensive primary and preventative care as a part of their family planning services; and thirdly, non-public entities that provide family planning services but do not provide comprehensive primary and preventative care."

My San Antonio reports: "Now that the dust has settled on the recently passed 2012-13 budget, the state's family planning money now hovers at $38 million — $73 million less than the $111 million allocated in the current biennium."

Click here to read the  article in its entirety.

Another bill currently under consideration, SB 7, would further increase funding prioritization and prohibit public hospitals and facilities who receive public funds from performing abortions.


WISCONSIN

Family policy organization: Wisconsin Family Council

According to a Huffpost Politics article, Governor Scott Walker (R) is expected to sign a budget bill that eliminates state and federal funding from nine of the state's Planned Parenthood health centers. It directs federal Title V family planning dollars to public health agencies and prohibits them from giving the funds to organizations or its affiliates that provide abortions or abortion referrals.

The article states the new budget would eliminate $1 million a year in funding for nine of Wisconsin's 25 Planned Parenthood clinics.

Unsuccessful Efforts (MN,  MT, NH ):


MINNESOTA

Family policy organization: Minnesota Family Institute

A bill (SF1224) was introduced that would have prohibited all state family planning funds from going to any organization that performs abortions or is associated with an organization that performs abortions.  Unfortunately it did not pass the chamber of origin.  The actual text states:

"Family planning grant funds" means funds distributed through the maternal and child health block grant program under sections 145.881 to 145.883, the family planning special projects grant program under section 145.925, the program to eliminate health disparities under section 145.928, or any other state grant program whose funds are or may be used to fund family planning services.

Subd. 2. Uses of family planning grant funds. No family planning grant funds may be:
(1) expended to directly or indirectly subsidize abortion services or administrative expenses;
(2) paid or granted to an organization or an affiliate of an organization that provides abortion services, unless the affiliate is independent as provided in subdivision 4; or
(3) paid or granted to an organization that has adopted or maintains a policy in writing or through oral public statements that abortion is considered part of a continuum of family planning services, reproductive health services, or both.

Subd. 3. Organizations receiving family planning grant funds. An organization that receives family planning grant funds:
(1) may provide nondirective counseling relating to pregnancy but may not directly refer patients who seek abortion services to any organization that provides abortion services, including an independent affiliate of the organization receiving family planning grant funds. For purposes of this clause, an affiliate is independent if it satisfies the criteria in subdivision 4, paragraph (a);
(2) may not display or distribute marketing materials about abortion services to patients;
(3) may not engage in public advocacy promoting the legality or accessibility of abortion; and
(4) must be separately incorporated from any affiliated organization that provides abortion services.

Subd. 4. Independent affiliates that provide abortion services.  (a) To ensure that the state does not lend its imprimatur to abortion services and to ensure that an organization that provides abortion services does not receive a direct or indirect economic or marketing benefit from family planning grant funds, an organization that receives family planning grant funds may not be affiliated with an organization that provides abortion services unless the organizations are independent from each other. To be independent, the organizations may not share any of the following:
 (1) the same or a similar name;
(2) medical facilities or nonmedical facilities, including, but not limited to, business offices, treatment rooms, consultation rooms, examination rooms, and waiting rooms;
(3) expenses;
 (4) employee wages or salaries; or
(5) equipment or supplies, including, but not limited to, computers, telephone systems, telecommunications equipment, and office supplies.

(b) An organization that receives family planning grant funds and that is affiliated with an organization that provides abortion services must maintain financial records that demonstrate strict compliance with this subdivision and that demonstrate that its independent affiliate that provides abortion services receives no direct or indirect economic or marketing benefit from the family planning grant funds.


MONTANA

Family policy organization: Minnesota Family Foundation

The Montana Legislature passed a two year budget rejecting federal family-planning funds in the amount of about $4.7 million.

According to an article in the Missoulian, House and Senate Republicans had also voted to remove $1 million in state funding for family planning clinics and rejected a Schweitzer administration proposal to spend another $1.2 million in state and federal funds for higher access to birth control.

The article states that Planned Parenthood, the most prominent abortion provider in Montana, receives about half of the $5.7 million in state and federal family-planning money, for use at its health clinics in Billings, Missoula, Helena and Great Falls.

Rejection of the federal money was a bold statement by lawmakers that they did not want to subsidize the abortion giant Planned Parenthood and other organizations that perform abortions with taxpayer money.  Unfortunately when the budget was presented to democratic Governor Brian Schweitzer, he used his amendment power to restore funding to Planned Parenthood and pressured the legislature to approve his amendments.


NEW HAMPSHIRE

NOTE: NH was ultimately successful in defunding PP through the Executive Council.  The following refers to their legislative attempt.

Family policy organization: Cornerstone Action

House Bill 228 specifically named Planned Parenthood and forbid the state from entering into any grants or contracts with that organization or other abortion providers.  It also forbid the use of public funds for abortions or to pay any health insurance costs for policies that cover abortions.

This section does not prohibit the state from complying with the requirements of federal law relative to Title XIX and Title XXI of the Social Security Act.

The methodology of the bill states: "The Department of Health and Human Services states this bill prevents the Department from contracting with Planned Parenthood of Northern New England. The Department stated the current contract with Planned Parenthood is in the amount $794,370 of which $428,960 is federal Title X funds and $365,410 is state general funds. Under the contract, Planned Parenthood provides family planning services, reproductive healthcare, HIV testing, STD testing and treatment, and health education. The Department states federal law prohibits these funds from being used to fund abortions. The Department assumes that, without this contract, the federal funds would be returned to the federal government and the general funds would be returned to the general fund."

Contact: Brianna Walden
Source: FRCBlog

NRLC hoping to revive America

     

The National Right to Life Committee (NRLC) will report on the pro-life victories of state legislatures at its annual convention, taking place this week in Jacksonville, Florida.
 
The theme is "Bringing America Back to life," and NRLC president Carol Tobias expects this year's attendees to be encouraged by the actions of state legislatures.

"Four states have passed a bill that would ban abortion at the point that the unborn child can feel pain; Nebraska did it last year," she reports. "So with the four this year, we now have five states. Several states are going after Planned Parenthood in order to take tax-dollar funding from the organization," Tobias adds. "Planned Parenthood is the nation's largest abortion-provider."

She says a number of other major topics will also be addressed.

"Some experts are going to talk about how abortion can impact breast cancer [and] what the link is between the two," the NRLC president explains. "We're going to be talking about the Obama healthcare law and how it rations healthcare for everyone in the country."

Plus, some presidential candidates will be attending the convention to take part in a candidate forum. "For sure, we've got Rick Santorum (R-Pennsylvania), Herman Cain and Ron Paul (R-Texas)," Tobias reports. And the pro-life group hopes a number of other candidates will be able to attend its Jacksonville event as well.
 
Both Santorum and Paul recently signed a presidential pro-life leadership pledge promoted by another pro-life organization, the Susan B. Anthony List. Cain, however, refused to sign the pledge.

Contact: Bill Bumpas
Source: OneNewsNow

Illinois abortionists 'given complete pass'

     

Statistics show Illinois abortion providers aren't complying with state laws that require them to report abortions and the complications of those procedures.
 
State law requires that details on abortion procedures and any related problems be reported, but Bill Beckman of Illinois Right to Life tells OneNewsNow there is proof of little compliance.

"According to the Guttmacher Institute, there were about 7,000 more abortions in Illinois in 2008 than the state thought there were," Beckman notes. "The other bad news is the fact that there's very little oversight and proper record-keeping related to what's going on with abortionists -- and especially with regard to abortions that go bad."

State records cannot even account for the deaths of women and girls who had abortions. But failing to report those procedures and their complications, he says, is a violation of state law that is subject to revocation of operating licenses. He notes, however, that no disciplinary action has been taken.

"There's been a complete lack of interest with the abortion advocates in charge of the government in the state of Illinois, just as what was going on in Pennsylvania," the Illinois Right to Life spokesman laments. "It's like there's no interest in enforcing the law against abortionists; they're given a complete pass."

His mention of Pennsylvania refers to that state having not inspected the clinic of abortionist Kermit Gosnell for nearly two decades. Gosnell is currently in jail for the death of one mother, along with charges of murdering seven viable babies who were born alive during abortions.

Contact: Charlie Butts
Source: OneNewsNow

Wisconsin on its way to defunding abortions

     

Wisconsin lawmakers have sent a bill to Governor Scott Walker (R) that will limit the funds given to Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers.
 
Matt Sande of Pro-Life Wisconsin reports that the budget bill includes a provision to keep $1 million from Planned Parenthood, the state's biggest abortion-provider, and it passed in both houses.

"What it does is [take] those family planning funds and requires them to go to public entities, county public health departments. And then, in turn, it prohibits those public entities, those county public health departments, from allocating any of the funds to organizations or their affiliates [that] perform or refer for abortion," he explains.

Though that does not defund Planned Parenthood, Sande says it is a good start. Also, another provision prohibits the University of Wisconsin hospital system from paying medical residents to train in performing abortions.

"They have...four two-week rotations for the medical residents in the OB-GYN department to go to the Planned Parenthood facility, the abortion mill in Madison, to train to do abortions," the Wisconsin pro-lifer details. "Obviously, that's reprehensible. And to add insult to injury, they're using state funds to do it."

The bill also bars the hospital from performing late-term abortions. In addition, the current program of providing free taxpayer-funded birth control to 15- to 17-year-olds without parents' knowledge or consent will end.

Contact: Charlie Butts
Source: OneNewsNow

Planned Parenthood displays real priorities

     

Indiana Planned Parenthood, which lost $3 million in state funding, is halting services to Medicaid patients.
 
Planned Parenthood took that action pending a federal court decision. At issue is a newly signed law that halts state funds for any abortion-provider. Sue Swayze of Indiana Right to Life tells OneNewsNow Planned Parenthood made a poor choice.
 
"As our governor is fond of saying, they could have simply stopped providing abortions in order to comply with the new law," the pro-lifer explains, "but instead [they] have chosen to stop serving women's health patients and keep the abortion side of the house." Swayze calls that "a telling statement of where their priorities lie."
 
Does that mean Medicaid patients will have to do without breast exams, pap tests, birth control, and other healthcare services Planned Parenthood provided?
 
"Absolutely not," responds the activist. "In fact, Indiana has over 800-plus Medicaid providers throughout the state as well as upwards of 100 freestanding family planning clinics -- Title X, and other kinds of family planning clinics. There are lots of other providers."
 
Swayze also says one would hope Planned Parenthood would care enough about its clients to refer them to other facilities where they can get the medical assistance, rather than just dumping them. Meanwhile, the Obama administration is threatening to halt all Medicaid funding to Indiana.

Contact: Charlie Butts
Source: OneNewsNow

U.S. House Votes to Prevent Telemedicine Grants from Covering Abortion Pill

     

The U.S. House of Representatives passed an agriculture spending bill Thursday, and included an amendment to prevent the telemedicine funds in the measure from covering telemed abortions.

Planned Parenthood clinics in Iowa were the first in the country to sell so-called telemed abortions, in which an abortionist in another location consults with a woman over a webcam and then uses a remote control to open a drawer containing RU-486 for her to take. The woman and the abortionist never meet in person.

"I applaud the House of Representatives for passing my important pro-life amendment," said Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa. "American taxpayers should not be asked to subsidize abortions, and federal telemedicine grants should not be used to enable abortion providers like Planned Parenthood to dispense the RU-486 abortion drug.

"My amendment ensures that no telemedicine grant money in the Agriculture Appropriations bill will be spent for any purpose that enables abortionists to perform 'telemed abortions.' Cutting off this source of funding for this procedure will save the lives of women and unborn babies."

At least six women have died in the U.S. in connection with RU-486, and at least 950 cases of serious side effects have been reported.

Source: CitizenLink

June 17, 2011

'Bringing America Back to Life' Annual National Right to Life Convention Returns to Florida

     

The National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), the federation of 50 state affiliates and more than 3,000 local chapters, brings its annual convention back to the Sunshine State June 23-25, at the Hyatt Regency Riverfront in Jacksonville, Florida.  The convention last came to Florida in 1998.

Every summer pro-life individuals from across the country and around the world gather at the National Right to Life convention to exchange ideas, share information and join together in the common goal of ensuring protection for all innocent human life.  Attendees include leaders of National Right to Life's chapters and state affiliates, veteran pro-life activists and new members who have only recently taken up the cause of life.

"The National Right to Life Convention truly is the premiere pro-life educational event of the year," said National Right to Life President Carol Tobias.  "Every attendee -- from the most seasoned activist to the newest members of our movement -- will leave empowered with information about abortion, assisted suicide, embryo-killing research, and the Obama health care law and will be motivated to share that information in their own communities."

This year's convention is hosted by National Right to Life's Florida affiliate, Florida Right to Life, and offers more than 70 workshops and general sessions featuring experts who will address the broad spectrum of pro-life issues.

Guest speakers at this year's convention include National Right to Life President Carol Tobias, Executive Editor of The Weekly Standard and Fox News Contributor Fred Barnes, former Planned Parenthood clinic director Abby Johnson,  recording artist Jaime Thietten, abortion survivor Melissa Ohden, author Angela Franks, Ph.D., ethicist Steven Zielinski, M.D., J.D., and photojournalist Michael Clancy.  The convention will also feature a Republican presidential candidate forum on Friday morning.

Additionally, American Victims of Abortion, an outreach program of National Right to Life, will mark its 25th anniversary with a series of workshops exploring the impact of abortion on both women and men in the country and the very real prevalence of post-abortion syndrome among women who have had abortions.

National Teens for Life (NTL) will also hold its 26th annual convention concurrently with workshops and sessions geared specifically toward educating and mobilizing the next generation of pro-life activists.

Reporters MUST have credentials in order to attend the convention.  To register for credentials, complete and return the form available here or call Jessica Rodgers in the NRLC Communications Department at (202) 626-8825.  An informal breakfast briefing will be held for reporters at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 23rd.  Please note on the form, or when you call, if you will be attending the breakfast briefing.

Founded in 1968, the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), the federation of 50 state right-to-life affiliates and more than 3,000 local chapters, is the nation's oldest and largest grassroots pro-life organization. Recognized as the flagship of the pro-life movement, NRLC works through legislation and education to protect innocent human life from abortion, infanticide, assisted suicide and euthanasia.

National Right to Life Convention 2011
June 23-25 -- Jacksonville, Florida -- Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront
"Bringing America Back to Life!"

--  Major Sessions  --

Thursday, June 23, 2011

10:00 - 11:30 am
Opening General Session & Welcome
"Bringing America Back to Life!"
Fred Barnes, Executive Editor The Weekly Standard and FoxNews Contributor
Carol Tobias, NRLC President
Hon. Lynda Bell, NRLC Vice-Chairman of the Board
Special Tribute to Dr. Mildred Jefferson, former NRLC President

12:45 - 2:15 pm
General Session
"Planned Parenthood: The Hyper-Political, Under-Regulated, Out-of-Control Mega-Marketer of Abortion"
Abby Johnson, former Planned Parenthood Director
Randall K. O'Bannon, Ph.D., NRLC Director of Education and Research
Mary Spaulding Balch, J.D., NRLC Director of State Legislation
Reverend Dennis C. Day, NRLC Treasurer

Friday, June 24, 2011

7:30  - 9:00 am 
Annual Prayer Breakfast
"The Apathy is Killing Me!"
Melissa Ohden, abortion survivor
Bishop Felipe Estevez, Diocese of St. Augustine
Music by recording artist Jaime Thietten
Ernest L. Ohlhoff, NRLC Director of Outreach

9:30  - 11:30 am           
NRLC Republican Presidential Candidate Forum
Carol Tobias, NRLC President
David O'Steen, Ph.D., NRLC Executive Director
Darla St. Martin, NRLC Co- Executive Director
Confirmed: Herman Cain, Hon. Rick Santorum, Hon. Ron Paul

Saturday, June 25, 2011

9:30 - 11:00 am
General Session   
"Fighting Denial of Life-Saving Treatment"
Bobby Schindler, Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network
Suzanne Schindler Vitadamo, Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network
Burke Balch, J.D., Director, NRLC Powell Center for Medical Ethics
David N. O'Steen, Ph.D., NRLC Executive Director

8:00 - 11:00 pm
Closing Banquet
"In the Blink of an Eye -- How One Photo Changed the Abortion Debate"
Michael Clancy, Photojournalist
Hon. Geline B. Williams, NRLC Chairman of the Board
Music by recording artist Jaime Thietten

Contact: Derrick Jones or Jessica Rodgers
Source: National Right to Life Committee

Embryonic stem cells only create false hope

     

Research demonstrates that embryonic stem cells are not an effective resource for treatment and create false hope for a cure, according to a professor from the University of Milan, in Italy.

"This situation helps to nourish the uncritical mentality that demonizes any attempt at regulation as anti-scientific and against progress. Moreover, 'stem' has become a sort of magic word that gives added value to everything from cosmetics to the most absurd therapeutic ideas," said professor Augusto Pessina of the University of Milan.

The professor's remarks were published in a June 14 article in the Vatican daily, L'Osservatore Romano.

In May of this year, the German government ordered the closure of the XClinic, which provided treatment for cerebral palsy, Parkinson's and spinal cord conditions, after an 18-month-old baby died in October of 2010 from an injection of embryonic stem cells into the brain.

A few months earlier, a 10-year-old child was left severely disabled after undergoing a similar procedure.

Pessina pointed to these cases in his article titled, "Hope is not nourished by lies."

"There is a lot of false information and lies in stem cell biomedicine, whether about biological knowledge or clinical applications," he said.

He noted that one can find hundreds of sites on the internet that make "unrealistic promises" to cure "almost any pathology" with "at best therapies that have not been approved or that in other cases are useless or even dangerous to one's health."

The Committee for Advanced Therapies in Europe has already warned that this phenomenon "contributes to the discrediting of proper scientific research carried out in accord with ethical norms," such as research with umbilical cord stem cells, which have been shown to be effective in various therapies.

Pessina said "correct and honest information" is urgently needed to prevent more unethical cases.
He went on to denounce the media for uncritically applauding procedures that have not been verified, thus causing biomedical information to be poorly received and "generating in patients and family members unfounded hopes and bitter disappointments."

"Lies must not be used to raise the hopes of the sick," he warned. 

On the other hand, he pointed to the case of France, where several days ago research with embryonic stem cells was prohibited despite protests that called the decision obscurantist and contrary to freedom of research.

"In biological research today—where the principle that whatever can be technically done is licit seems to rule—the French law represents a courageous move that seeks to defend the dignity of the human person," Pessina stated.

Source: CNA/EWTN News

US bishops approve first collective statement on assisted suicide

       

On June 16 the U.S. bishops approved a document on assisted suicide, which will become their first collective word on the matter.  The statement, entitled "To Live Each Day with Dignity," refutes the idea that assisted suicide is a compassionate form of medical treatment.

"Getting rid of yourself is a false choice," said Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, chairman of the bishops' Committee on Pro-Life Activities, in a press conference following debate on the document at the bishops' spring meeting in Bellevue, Wash.

"The Church needs to respond in a timely and visible way to this renewed challenge, which will surely be pursued in a number of states in the years to come," the pro-life chairman said.

The document required 180 positive votes from the bishops and received 191.

In "To Live Each Day with Dignity," the bishops define true compassion as "meeting patients' needs and … a commitment to their equal worth." This mentality contrasts sharply with physician-assisted suicide's elimination of the patient, as a means of ending suffering.

The bishops also state that the mindset of assisted suicide, if allowed into society, must "inevitably" target people with chronic illness and disabilities "whose suffering is considered serious enough for assisted death."

At the press conference, Cardinal DiNardo also warned that the medical field risks losing its basic identity if it moves away from preserving life.

Rather than treating life itself as an illness, the bishops argue, physicians must provide "life-affirming palliative care" in keeping with "the principle of equal and inherent human rights and the ethical principles of the medical profession."

Oregon was the first U.S. state to legalize assisted suicide in 1994. A popular referendum legalized the practice in Washington in 2008, and Montana's Supreme Court declared it legal in 2010.

Contact: Katherine Veik
Source: CNA/EWTN News

Report: Fewer Planned Parenthood clinics in U.S.

     

A pro-life group's annual report on the nation's largest abortion provider shows that even though Planned Parenthood is still making money, it is suffering some setbacks.
 
Although federal and state governments continue to pump millions of dollars into Planned Parenthood, Jim Sedlak, vice president of the American Life League (ALL), tells OneNewsNow the abortion provider suffered some setbacks, according to the pro-life group's 2010 report.

"They closed down several dozen clinics this year," he notes. "They are down to 785 clinics, which is the lowest number they've been at since 1986."

Some were closed due to a lack of business, and others threw in the towel because of states' reduced or eliminated funds. Even so, Planned Parenthood continues to promote abortions because it is a money-maker.

Sedlak says, "Their latest statistics, which came out in January, said they did 332,287 abortions in 2009, and they're looking to do even more" by increasing the promotion of RU-486 by 20 percent. Meanwhile, surgical abortions have suffered a slight decrease.

"Over 40 percent of Planned Parenthood clinics now do surgical or medical abortions, and Planned Parenthood says it wants more of them to do that," the ALL vice president explains. Yet the organization routinely claims that abortion is only a small percentage of its business.

Furthermore, the clinic chain continues to promote abortion, even though surveys show that Americans do not want their tax dollars to fund the procedure.

Contact: Charlie Butts
Source: OneNewsNow

Illinois investigation uncovers 4,000 underreported abortion complications (in one year alone) and six abortion deaths

     

Good for the Chicago Tribune, revealing today some shocking statistics it uncovered when investigating shoddy records reporting by Illinois abortion clinics and the lax Illinois Department of Public Health overseeing them:

Health care providers are failing to detail abortion complications to the state as required by law….

Nearly 4,000 reports of abortion complications involving Illinois residents in 2009 were missing the required description.

Health care providers who intentionally fail to submit accurate and complete reports are committing a criminal act, and a failure to report abortion complications is grounds for revoking their licenses, but the Department of Public Health has never sought disciplinary action against a provider…..

     Maurice Stevenson

"It's outrageous," declared Maurice Stevenson [pictured] whose wife died in 2002 from infection following an abortion at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Chicago….

A review of malpractice cases revealed other abortion-related complications in IL -  with no way of knowing whether they were reported to the state.

For example, in 2002, after an area woman's uterus was torn in an abortion she began hemorrhaging, went into cardiac shock and was hospitalized for 3 weeks. Several years later, a mother of 3 experienced seizure symptoms and slipped into a coma following her abortion at a city clinic. And in 2009, a teenage girl suffered respiratory and cardiac arrest and died immediately following her abortion in a northern suburb, according to court records….

In certain medical malpractice cases reviewed by the Tribune, women said they were never informed by their provider that the abortion was unsuccessful and later underwent challenging pregnancies, painful deliveries and other complications.

Others suffered anesthesia-related problems, hemorrhaging and infections, according to the suits….

Planned Parenthood of Illinois… could not confirm for the Tribune whether it had reported the 2002 death of Stevenson's wife, only that it had reported the 2008 death of another patient. The organization said it had no reason to believe the 2002 death was not reported but that the records were in storage.

And Family Planning Associates said it could not confirm whether it had reported 3 deaths, in 1998, 1999 and 2000.

A woman who identified herself as a manager of the Women's Aid Clinic of Lincolnwood would not comment on a 2009 death.

Contact: Jill Stanek
Source: JillStanek.com

Congress Takes Up Pro-Life Legislation

     

More than once, the U.S. Congress has failed to pass the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act (CIANA), which would require parents to be notified if their minor daughter has an abortion anywhere in the country.

Now, Republican Sens. Marco Rubio of Florida and Orrin Hatch of Utah are looking for co-sponsors to reintroduce the legislation.

Kellie Fiedorek, staff attorney with Americans United for Life, said it's important that lawmakers are taking the issue seriously.

"Oftentimes, abortion providers like Planned Parenthood will encourage minors to go to states where the laws are less strict," she said.

"Parental consent is required for getting your ears pierced or to get an aspirin or Tylenol or to get a tattoo, and abortion is so much more serious and so much more risk to a young girl's health and to her life."

Meanwhile, the U.S. House is expected to vote soon on a pro-life amendment that would help to protect human embryos.

The measure would put the Weldon Amendment into law, ensuring that patents would not cover human beings. Similar legislation already has been passed by the Senate.

Fiedorek said there has been an eagerness among researchers to patent and market human embryos.

Source: CitizenLink

June 10, 2011

Right to life finally gets 'right ruling'

     

An Ohio federal judge has ruled that that state's law for dispensing the abortion drug RU-486 is constitutional, but that it should be used according to the Federal Drug Administration's (FDA) regulations.
 
The law was passed in 2004, but according to Ohio Right to Life executive director Mike Gonidakis, Planned Parenthood did not plan to comply.

"Planned Parenthood was doing...off-label prescriptions of the drug. The FDA required no more than 49 days, [or] seven weeks, could the RU-486 be prescribed, and yet Planned Parenthood wanted to prescribe it at a later date," the Ohio pro-lifer reports. "We challenged that in court, and finally, we got the right ruling."

Gonidakis emphasizes that the ultimate goal is for RU-486 to never be prescribed. But if it is to be used, he argues it ought to be done according to federal guidelines for the sake of the women involved.

"Over 1,200 women have been hurt by RU-486, and it's led to some deaths," he notes. "This drug is a dangerous drug to begin with; it shouldn't be even on the market. Yet now, we're able to get these pro-life laws back in place that Planned Parenthood's been trying to block for years."

He concludes the abortion business is motivated by profit, as they can make more money off RU-486 than from surgical abortions.

Contact: Charlie Butts
Source: OneNewsNow

Planned Parenthood protecting profit

     

Planned Parenthood of South Dakota has filed suit to block the state's new pro-life law, and one pro-lifer believes the abortion-provider is only out to protect its money-maker.
 
The new law requires a 72-hour waiting period, complete information on the abortion process and its possible consequences, and counseling at a pro-life pregnancy center to make sure the mother understands alternatives to abortion before she undergoes the procedure. Dr. Allan Unruh, a Sioux Falls "Vote Yes for Life" advocate, says the law also prohibits coerced abortions.

"It's also in response to live testimony given by Planned Parenthood in the Eighth Circuit, where they admitted that there is no doctor-patient relationship," Dr. Unruh explains. "By their testimony, a lot of women are crying their eyes out during an abortion, there's a lot of coercion, [and] they don't have any qualified or trained people to counsel women prior to an abortion."

Plus, says Unruh, a scant medical history is taken from the patient prior to ending the baby's life.

"We can't trust Planned Parenthood to police themselves, because they have a conflict of interest to protect their bottom line," the pro-lifer contends. So he concludes the abortion-provider filed suit to do away with the new measure that will likely reduce abortions and significantly affect the clinic chain's profit.

Contact: Charlie Butts
Source: OneNewsNow

OH federal court win on RU-486 could have national impact

     

A first-in-the-nation law that restricts the abortion industry's use of abortion-inducing RU-486 survived another round this week in a case that began 7 years ago. A federal district court in Ohio ruled that the law was "not vague" but could be readily understood by the abortion providers industry. Americans United for Life President and CEO Dr. Charmaine Yoest noted that AUL has twice argued that position in two separate amicus briefs during the protracted legal battle and predicted the case would have "national impact."

"The abortion industry has cavalierly given abortion-inducing drugs to women against FDA protocols," said Dr. Yoest. "The courts affirmed the right of states to protect women by requiring proper use of these dangerous drugs. And AUL model legislation on the regulation of RU-486 has been made available nationwide with that protection."

The Ohio regulation in dispute requires abortion providers to comply with the FDA- approved protocol for the drug. On its own website, Planned Parenthood freely admits that RU-486 is given to women who are further along in their pregnancies than the FDA recommends. Ohio enacted the regulation in 2004 after women across the nation died or were severely injured following such "off-label" use of RU-486.

To read AUL's amicus briefs in support of the Ohio law, one before the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, and one before the Ohio Supreme Court, click here. In both instances, AUL represented members of the U.S. Congress who supported the regulation, including current Speaker of the House John Boehner.

For more information on RU-486 and AUL's model act regulating abortion-inducing drugs, go here.

Source: Americans United for Life

State of Health Insurance Abortion Coverage Opt-Outs

     

Since the passage of Obamacare, officially titled the Paitient Protection and Affordable Care Act, many states have stepped in to fill the loophole allowing taxpayer funding of abortion.  They have accomplished this by passing laws prohibiting abortion coverage in health plans created through the state exchange program set up by Obamacare.  Arizona was the first state to do so in April of last year followed by four other states that session.  Eight more states have passed laws prohibiting abortion coverage in the 2011 session and eight additional states currently have such legislation pending.  The following chart and map gives details:

State Bill NumberDate Enacted/Status
Passed in 2010:
Total: 5 states
ArizonaAZ SB 13054/24/10
TennesseeTN SB 26865/05/10 (Democrat Gov. did not veto or sign, but allowed bill to become law without his signature.)
MississippiMS SB 32145/24/10
LouisianaLA HB 1247 7/02/10
MissouriMO SB 7937/23/10 (same scenario as TN)
Passed in 2011:
Total: 8 states
UtahUT HB 3543/23/11
IdahoID S 11154/01/11
VirginiaVA HB 24344/06/11
OklahomaOK SB 5474/20/11
IndianaIN HB 1210 5/10/11
NebraskaNE LB 225/18/11
Kansas KS HB 20755/25/11
FloridaFL H 976/02/11


Total passed: 13 states
Not Passed in 2011:

MinnesotaMN HF 201Vetoed (5/25/11)
Montana MT SB 176Vetoed (4/4/11)
ArkansasAR SB 113Passed Senate  and House with amendments, then House did not transmit bill back to the Senate for them to concur before adjournment (2/2/11)
GeorgiaGA SB 177Same path as AR (4/12/11)
Rhode IslandRI S 87Passed Senate (4/6/11)
Alabama AL SB 202Passed Senate  (5/24/11)


Total: 6 states
Pending in 2011 session:

PennsylvaniaPN SB 3Passed Senate
Ohio OH HB 79Reported out of House committee
WisconsinWI AB 154/SB 92In committees of origin
OregonOR HB 3600In House committee
Iowa HF 576, HSB 57, SF 38In committees of origin
MichiganHB 4143/HB 4147In House committee
South CarolinaSC H 3406/S102In committees of origin
New Jersey NJ A 3085In Assembly committee


Total: 8 states

Contact: Brianna Walden Source: FRCBlog

New Video from Personhood USA Asks 'Pro-life? What is it?'

     
 
Personhood USA has unveiled a new video that asks an important question of the pro-life movement; "What does it mean to be pro-life?" The group's latest contribution serves as both a moment of self-reflection and a call to action.
 
"This is the key question as we examine where we have been in the last forty years and where we are collectively headed," said Keith Mason, Co-founder of Personhood USA. "The video not only helps answer this question, but we also hope it inspires lifelong pro-lifers and activates a new generation to rally in defense of the lives of every human being."
 
Since their humble beginnings in 2008, Personhood USA has provided support and assistance for grassroots groups campaigning for constitutional personhood amendments and personhood legislation. These measures seek to secure the God-given and natural right to life of every human being from our biological beginnings and throughout every stage of development.
 
Personhood amendments reached the ballot in Colorado in both 2008 and 2010. Residents of Mississippi are set to vote on a similar measure in November, Amendment 26, that would define the term "person," as used in the Mississippi Bill of Rights, to "include every human being from the moment of fertilization, cloning or the functional equivalent thereof."
 
In 1973's infamous Roe v. Wade decision, Justice Harry Blackmun wrote, "If this suggestion of personhood is established, the appellant's case [for decriminalized abortion], of course, collapses." By filling this hole, personhood laws are on solid legal footing to end abortion and provide protections from emerging biotechnologies including abortion inducing drugs, human cloning, and deadly medical research.
 
"Clearly, we see now that the battle for human dignity has expanded to a range of issues all centered around a denial of the most basic of human rights," Mason continues. "The age-based discrimination perpetrated against the preborn is a 21st century issue that requires a return to very foundations of law and human rights: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.'"
 
To view "Pro-life? What is it?" please visit www.PersonhoodUSA.com.

Contact: Keith Mason
Personhood USA

Abortion -- age-based discrimination

     

A new organization has been formed to educate college student on how to fight for the lives of unborn babies.
 
Mark Harrington, former head of The Center for Bio-Ethical Reform, has left after 12 years to create the new group, Created Equal.
 
"Unfortunately in today's world, equality means everything other than equality between the pre-born and the born," he laments. "So we felt that the name speaks well of what we're trying to communicate, and that is that abortion is simply aged-based discrimination."
 
Created Equal will be taking its outreach and training program to more university students to make sure that pro-life scholars are fully trained to carry the torch.
 
"We can have a gigantic presentation, such as The Genocide Awareness Project, but if we don't transfer that to the next generation, then we're not getting it done," Harrington explains. "So what we're going to emphasize is the transferability of the project so that students will carry on the work once we're gone."
 
He points out that members of the pro-life movement are aging, so the concept of life, as opposed to abortion, must be grasped by today's youth. Harrington and Created Equal are working to establish a succession plan to accomplish that.

Contact: Charlie Butts
Source: OneNewsNow

June 3, 2011

Jack Kevorkian Dead

     

Not by assisted suicide.  From the Detroit Free Press story:

Known as Dr. Death even before launching his fierce advocacy and practice of assisted suicides, Kevorkian, 83, died at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, where he had been hospitalized with kidney and heart problems. His attorney, Mayer Morganroth, said it appears Kevorkian suffered a pulmonary thrombosis when a blood clot from his leg broke free and lodged in his heart. With Kevorkian was his niece Ava Janus and Morganroth. "It was peaceful, he didn't feel a thing," Morganroth said.

Kevorkian was a disturbed man who, I fear, understood his society–and the media–all too well.  And that may be his legacy.  He perceived how far some will bend to rationalize even the most egregious wrongdoing or advocacy if the excuse is relieving suffering.  Time will tell if he was also a prophet of a dark utilitarian society to come.

What is the proper response to the death of someone like Kevorkian? We should, at least for the moment, set disputes aside and hope that in whatever comes next, he finds forgiveness and peace.  In this regard, Kevorkian was a death-obsessed atheist who zealously believed that when he died–nothing.  He now knows (or doesn't) whether he was right.

Contact: Wesley J. Smith
Source: Secondhand Smoke

 

Pro-life Group Asks MTV to Reconsider Decision to Yank Ads

     

Heroic Media is hoping MTV will have a change of heart and reconsider pulling a pro-life ad campaign from its airwaves.

"Heroic Media has asked MTV to reconsider the decision and allow Heroic Media and other organizations to make women aware of the availability of life-affirming resources," group spokeswoman Marissa Gabrysch told CNA on May 24.

The Texas-based pro-life group recently announced its We Can Help campaign, which was set to air for several weeks on the MTV and BET networks, starting May 2.

However, the ads – which provided practical information for women with unexpected pregnancies – were pulled after one airing.

MTV spokeswoman Jeannie Kedas told Fox News that the network cut the ads because of a controversial billboard campaign in New York City by a group with connections to Heroic Media.

On February 22, pro-life group Life Always displayed a prominent billboard depicting a young black girl beneath the phrase "The most dangerous place for an African American is in the womb." The ad was removed within days, despite the protests of pro-life supporters around the U.S., including Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan of New York.

Although MTV claims that the billboard is the main reason behind the cuts, Bill Eisner – head of Nonbox, a brand agency representing Heroic Media – argues that the real issue is the ads' conflict with some of the promotions between the network and Planned Parenthood.

Although the television network has denied the connection, Eisner says one of his network sales representative confirmed that MTV president Stephen Friedman chose to nix the ads because of the projects currently in place with Planned Parenthood.

Eisner added that MTV did not inform Heroic Media its ads had been canceled, and that the pro-life group reportedly found out after being contacted by a reporter.

Despite having its spots canceled, Gabrysch said, "Heroic Media remains committed to airing positive messages that connect women with hopeful alternatives to abortion."

"Everything Heroic Media does is designed to reach women where they are," she added, noting that when a woman learns "about compassionate, positive alternatives to abortion, she'll choose life."

Source: CNA

Tom Roeser, Rest in Peace

     

Illinois conservative leader Tom Roeser will be laid to rest this Saturday, and Friday evening he will lie in state in Park Ridge.  Mrs. Lillian Roeser sends her appreciation to Illinois Review readers for the kind comments written about her husband. 

The Chicago Daily Observer provides these details:

Tom Roeser's visitation will be Friday, 4 to 9 p.m. at Nelson Funeral Home, 820 Talcott Road, Park Ridge. A funeral will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday at St. John Cantius Church, 825 N. Carpenter St. in Chicago followed by burial at Interment All Saints Cemetery, 700 N. River Road in Des Plaines.

In lieu of flowers, the Roeser family has requested that donations be made to the Haymarket Center, a comprehensive alcohol and other drug treatment organization on the Near West Side of Chicago, founded by Msgr. Ignatius McDermott and long supported by Tom Roeser.

ILLINOIS HOUSE HONORS CONSERVATIVE TOM ROESER

Sponsored by House Minority Leader Tom Cross and House Speaker Michael Madigan, HR 444 passed the Illinois House Tuesday to honor Illinois conservative icon, WLS-AM 890's Tom Roeser who passed away Sunday at age 82. Click here for more.

You Are Funding Forced Abortions in China through UNFPA

     

The following is submitted by Reggie Littlejohn, Founder and President of Women's Rights Without Frontiers:

You are funding forced abortions in China. So am I. Not only elective abortions. Forced abortions. It doesn't matter whether you are pro-life or pro-choice on this issue. No one can support forced abortion, because it is not a choice.

What do I mean by "forced abortions?" Here's a short video about a young, Chinese woman who was dragged off the street, strapped to a table and forced to abort at seven months (www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjtuBcJUsjY). You can read many more accounts of forced abortion, forced sterilization and infanticide under China's brutal One Child Policy here.

According to the Congressional-Executive Commission on China report, released on October 10, 2010, violators of China's One Child Policy continue to be victims of "forced sterilization, forced abortion, arbitrary detention, and other abuses."

The One Child Policy has also led to many other serious human rights violations. I'll name just three:

Gendercide. Because of the traditional preference for boys, girls are disproportionately subject to abortion, abandonment and infanticide.
 
Sexual Slavery. There are now an estimated 37 million more males than females living in China today. This severe gender imbalance is a powerful, driving force behind trafficking in women and sexual slavery from nations surrounding China.
 
Female Suicide. According to the World Health Organization, China has the highest female suicide rate of any country in the world. Approximately 500 Chinese women end their lives each day. Could this extraordinary suicide rate be related to the trauma of enduring a forced abortion or forced sterilization?

How does this affect us? Through UNFPA, we are helping finance the infrastructure used in coercive family planning in China. In 2001, the US stopped funding UNFPA on the basis that it is complicit in coercive family planning in China. In 2008, the US State Department reaffirmed that assessment, yet we restored funding in 2009.

Just last week, US citizens voted to cut UNFPA funding under the new YOUCUT program (majorityleader.gov/YouCut/P2_W1.htm).  Because of this vote, Rep. Renee Ellmers will introduce legislation to cut UNFPA, saving $400 million over the next ten years. The bill still needs to pass through committee and be passed by the House to become effective, so you still have time to contact your representative about it.

To sign an international petition against forced abortion and sexual slavery in China, click here.

Contact: Reggie Littlejohn
source: Women's Rights Without Frontiers

'Webcam' abortions? 4 states ban them

     

Nebraska Gov. David Heineman signed into law May 26 a bill to prohibit "telemedicine," or webcam, abortions in the state.

The Republican governor's signature made Nebraska the fourth state this year to enact legislation to address the abortion industry's effort to expand its business through videoconferencing. Kansas, Oklahoma and Arizona also have adopted measures to prevent the relatively new practice.

The law requires a woman using the two-step drug RU 486 for an abortion to take it in the physical presence of a doctor, thereby preventing a "telemed" abortion.

Planned Parenthood initiated "telemed" abortions in Iowa nearly three years ago and threatened to transport the technique to its centers in the neighboring state of Nebraska. As used by Planned Parenthood, a doctor in Des Moines or another city counsels by means of videoconferencing a woman seeking an abortion at another Planned Parenthood center in the same state. After he reviews sonogram images and visits with the woman, the physician can dispense the two-step abortion drug to her by pressing a computer button, thereby opening a drawer from which the woman in the remote clinic may remove the pills.

Heineman signed the bill into law only two days after the Nebraska Legislature passed it in a 38-9 vote.

"Huge kudos to the Nebraska Legislature for stopping [webcam] abortions before they get started in our state," said Julie Schmit-Albin, executive director of Nebraska Right to Life, in a written release.

Legislative efforts to protect the unborn did not fare as well in Minnesota. There, Gov. Mark Dayton vetoed three pro-life bills in two days.

On May 24, the Democratic governor rejected a measure in a larger Health and Human Services bill that would have prohibited human cloning for both research and reproductive purposes. In research cloning, the human embryo is destroyed, normally five to 10 days after its creation.

On May 25, Dayton vetoed two pro-life bills, one to ban abortions after 20 weeks' gestation based on scientific evidence a baby in the womb experiences pain by that point and another to prohibit state funding of elective abortions. Legislators fell short of veto-proof majorities in approving both measures.

Pro-lifers are "very disappointed," said Scott Fischbach, executive director of Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life, after the May 25 vetoes.

"These are reasonable provisions, not extreme, and have overwhelming support from Minnesotans and legislators," Fischbach said.

Contact: Tom Strode
source: Baptist Press.