Adult Stem Cell Researchers File Brief Asking Federal Court to Grant Their Pending Motion for Summary Judgment and Finally Ban Federal Funding of Illegal, Unnecessary, and Unethical Research on Human Embryos

The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia is now set to resume proceedings following the United States Court of Appeals' April 29 ruling vacating the District Court's August 23, 2010 preliminary injunction ruling. The parties' pending cross- motions for summary judgment are now pending before the District Court.

    

Today, on behalf of the adult stem researchers it represents, the Jubilee Campaign's Law of Life Project and their co-counsel at the Alliance Defense Fund and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, following a second remand from the United States Court of Appeals, filed its "supplemental brief" asking the United States District Court to provide summary judgment on each of their clients' claims based on the National Institute of Health's clear violation of two separate laws: (1) the Dickey-Wicker Amendment that bars federal funding of any "research in which" human embryos are "knowingly subjected to risk of injury or death;" and, (2) the Administrative Procedure Act that prohibits a government agency, from patently ignoring or prejudging public comments submitted in opposition to unlawful agency action, like NIH has been and is doing in this case.

The case began almost two years ago when, in response to President Obama's March 9, 2009 Executive Order, the NIH published and noticed for public comment regulatory guidelines allowing federal funds to be used for the first time for the creation of new stem cell lines (hESC) requiring the destruction of living human embryos. Before these guidelines became law the Law of Life's General Counsel, Sam Casey, with his co-counsel Tom Hungar of Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher, representing the DO NO HARM Coalition, formally filed over 140 pages of legal and scientific comments objecting to what many people saw as the grossly irresponsible use of public funds to support research which is illegal, unnecessary, and an unethical breach of long-standing Congressionally-acknowledged principles barring such human subject experimentation. When NIH patently ignored and prejudged these comments and approximately 30,000 other comments and commentators opposing federal funding of destructive human embryonic stem cell research, the on-going legal action was required.

LOLP's General Counsel, Sam Casey, who has been arguing the issues in this case for more than decade said: "Each time grant-awarding officials and federally funded scientists support or engage in hESC research, living human embryos are 'knowingly subjected to risk of injury or death,' in violation of the federal law known as the Dickey-Wicker Amendment. The federally sponsored hESC research that the Guidelines support inevitably creates a substantial risk -- indeed, a virtual certainty -- that more human embryos will be destroyed in order to derive more hESCs for research purposes. Indeed, Dr. James Sherley, one of the plaintiffs in the case, today filed a supporting declaration demonstrating that the NIH Guidelines are in fact currently having just such a destructive impact in violation of the federal prohibition against such conduct set forth in the Dickey-Wicker Amendment that was again reauthorized by Congress at the beginning of this year."

"The NIH chose to ignore both our DO NO HARM et. al. Comments, as well as approximately 30,000 other comments -- 60% of those received in the mandatory guideline review process -- which raised serious and highly relevant questions about the ethics and scientific merits of hESC research," said Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher partner, Tom Hungar, Mr. Casey's cocounsel. Hungar added, "the challenged NIH Guidelines clearly violate the Dickey-Wicker Amendment, but NIH's decision to turn a blind eye to tens of thousands of comments demonstrating that hESC research can't be justified even under the government's own criteria means that the NIH's guidelines were promulgated in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act and must be struck down for that reason as well."

After the NIH took any real consideration of the merits of hESC research "off the table" during its pre-ordained review process, effectively pushing a very specific and controversial policy despite laws designed to prevent exactly that action, the Law of Life Project and its co-counsel were left with no recourse but direct litigation, and the hope that the judicial system will ultimately rectify the injustice the NIH continues to unlawfully perpetrate at the taxpayers' expense. Since that time, after going to the Court of Appeals the first time in 2009 to establish their clients' "standing" to assert their claims, and a second time in 2010 unsuccessfully defending a preliminary injunction entered by the District Court on the strength of only the first of their three claims for relief, Casey says, "the Law of Life Project is now right back where it wants to be -- respectfully asking the United States District Court on all the grounds filed in its pending motion for summary judgment (and in its opposition to the government's claims) to bring an end to this illegal, unnecessary, and unethical misuse of federal taxpayer dollars."

Contact: Samuel B. Casey
Source: Jubilee Campaign

Sweeping Pro-Life Provisions Go Into Effect Today in Indiana

     

Indiana Right to Life is hailing today as the date on which sweeping pro-life policies passed by the Indiana legislature in HEA 1210 and HEA 1474 will go into full effect, marking the most significant improvements to Indiana's abortion law in nearly four decades.

"These are monumental advances in state policy that place Indiana on the leading edge of national efforts to curb abortion," states Indiana Right to Life President and CEO Mike Fichter.

Highlights of the new Indiana policies that go into effect today include:

Women must be informed that human physical life begins at fertilization.
 
Indiana will opt-out of abortion coverage in any state health exchange required under the new federal health law passed by Congress in 2010.
 
Pain-capable children beginning at 20-weeks gestational age will enjoy enhanced protections.
 
All abortions on girls under the age of 14 must be reported to child protective services within three days of the abortion in order to facilitate prompt investigation into child sexual abuse.
 
Women must be informed that abortion may increase the risk of infertility, infection, or hemorrhaging.
 
Doctors who do abortions in Indiana must have local hospital admitting privileges, provide medical licensing numbers, and provide emergency contact information to women having abortions.
 
Women considering abortion must be informed about Indiana's safe haven law that allows for mothers who decide to carry their children to term but are unable to care for their children to leave them with safe haven providers such as local police without criminal repercussions.

Two additional provisions of HEA 1210 have been enjoined by a federal judge, including the removal of all state-directed funds from businesses that do abortions and a requirement that women be informed about an unborn child's ability to feel pain. Indiana Right to Life is confident that both of these provisions will be upheld by the courts and will eventually go into effect.

Fichter notes that Indiana Right to Life will be monitoring abortion businesses to ensure compliance and will work with government agencies and local prosecutors to report any suspected non-compliance.

Contact: Contact: Cathie Humbarger
Source: Indiana Right to Life

Court: Conception is beginning of human life

     

Although a federal judge has temporarily suspended an Indiana law that defunds the state's Planned Parenthoods, an important aspect for the pro-life movement is included in the ruling.
 
Even though the overall decision is disappointing for pro-lifers, the order upholds a key provision that requires women to be informed that physical life begins when a human egg is fertilized by a human sperm.

"No one should be allowed to decide that a human innocent life is worthless," contends Alliance Defense Fund attorney Steven H. Aden. "Abortionists have done this by telling women that a pre-born baby is just a batch of cells instead of what he or she actually is -- a human being.
 
"This law ends that deception in Indiana," he continues. "All the court did was recognize the indisputable fact that a biological human life begins at conception. It is false to say anything else."

He says the ruling simply recognizes a biological fact, and he points out that the court disagreed with Planned Parenthood's argument that the statement is misleading. Meanwhile, the Indiana attorney general's office is expected to appeal the decision, which allows Medicaid funds to continue flowing into the coffers of abortion-providers.

Contact: Charlie Butts
Source: OneNewsNow

Abortion warning labels

    

Students for Life wants the federal government to adapt its tobacco labeling policy to address abortions.
 
The government intends to require that graphic pictures be displayed on tobacco product labels by next fall, for example showing a dead body or diseased lungs.

"Why doesn't the pro-life movement get this? Why is it that we can't show a woman before she can have an abortion what exactly abortion is going to do," questions Kristan Hawkins, executive director of Students for Life of America (SFLA). "Why is it that the FDA, the U.S. government, is forcing cigarette manufacturers to put these warning labels on cigarettes, but they won't tell women what an abortion really is?"

She says the government even refused to require warning labels on the abortion drug Ella before it was approved last summer, when there are known dangers.

"So, we're trying to expose the hypocrisy in saying, 'If you're going to force cigarette manufacturers to put graphic images on every single pack of cigarettes, you should do the same thing with abortion,'" Hawkins adds.

SFLA has set up a website where people can sign a petition that will be sent to federal officials to encourage them to include graphic images and warning labels at abortion facilities and mandate that they be displayed and given to patients before any abortion procedure begins.

Contact: Charlie Butts
Source: OneNewsNow

IFRL CD Elections 2011

    

The Illinois Federation for Right to Life (IFRL) is a statewide grassroots organization.  As an organization the IFRL encourages members to become active in the cause for life. To become a member one must donate a minimum of $3.00 annually.  A member is entitled to vote for the individual who will represent him or her as their Congressional District (CD) Director on the IFRL Board.

The elections for CD Directors are held every two years. Applications of individuals interested in running for the position of CD Director for their congressional district are now being accepted.  All candidates for CD Directors must be paid members of the IFRL and the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC) by August 1, 2011. Any donation to NRLC in the last year will qualify a candidate as a member of NRLC.

A CD Director is obligated to attend the quarterly board meetings of the IFRL. The board meetings are held at different locations throughout the state. The Directors are expected to support IFRL activities with an emphasis on lobbying, elections, education and fundraising activities.

Anyone interested in becoming a candidate for CD Director must submit his/her name to the IFRL office at 2600 State St. Suite E., Alton, IL. Letters must be postmarked no later than August 1, 2011. Applications may be faxed to (618) 466-4134 no later than August 1, 2011. Please include a statement indicating membership with the IFRL and NRLC.

For Life,
Pat Conklin, IFRL President

The Fetus and Federal Regulations

     

The Code of Federal Regulations is an almost sure-fire antidote to insomnia.  If boredom were a commodity, the Code would be its biggest resource.

The arcane and involved language of the Code is one reason why so few people read it.  Yet within its myriad pages are the rules that govern government itself – how laws are applied, how legislation is to be understood, and even how words used in federal regulations are to be interpreted.

Some of those words are more important than others, and those that deal with the very nature of human personhood are, perhaps, the most important of all.

In the October 1, 2009 edition of the Code, we read that "Fetus means the product of conception from implantation until delivery."

There we have it: an unborn child is merely the "product of conception," conception itself evidently needing no interpretation (that it takes place through the sexual union of two image-bearers of God is, apparently, irrelevant).

What are we to make of this "product?"  This collection of cells and blood and tissue stored within the veil of human flesh?  Here's what David said of this "product," this "fetus," this creature:

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have ordained;
What is man that You take thought of him,
And the son of man that You care for him?
Yet You have made him a little lower than God,
And You crown him with glory and majesty! (Psalm 8:3-5)

From conception onward, this "fetus" has all the same DNA as every reader of this piece.  What are the criteria for its humanness?

Is it less human because of its size?  If so, then anyone shorter than someone else is less human, as well.

Is it less human because of its development?  If so, then anyone with a physical or mental disability is less human than those more physically or mentally advanced.

Is it less human because it is dependent?  If so, then any child is less human than the parents on whose support she depends for food, clothing, shelter, etc.

And so it goes through whatever other comparisons can be summoned: Intelligence, appearance, etc.  What changes at time of "delivery," per the Federal Registry, is not the personhood of the child but his place of residence.  He lives nine months within his mother's womb, and the remainder of his life outside it.

Even the term "fetus," used as a medical euphemism by those unwilling to confront the unborn child's humanness, is telling if rendered honestly.  "Fetus" is Latin for "offspring" or "young while still in the womb." Those who persist in its usage for the purpose of dehumanizing that to which they refer cannot avoid the potency of language itself.

Sometimes euphemisms have their place.  Saying that someone is "all foam, no root beer" is a pleasing way of conveying that the individual referenced is full of talk but has no substance or seriousness.  Yet language, however we might use it to obscure, can never fully hide that which it described.

To this point, the German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in his landmark work Ethics, wrote,

Destruction of the embryo in the mother's womb is a violation of the right to live which God has bestowed upon this nascent life. To raise the question whether we are here concerned already with a human being or not is merely to confuse the issue. The simple fact is that God certainly intended to create a human being and that this nascent human being has been deliberately deprived of his life.

The language of the Code of Federal Regulations is tedious.  Its impact on American public life is profound.  But its artful obfuscation of that which is most compelling of all – what it means to be human – is unsuccessful.

A fetus is a baby is a person is a human being.  No euphemism can hide that truth – and you can take that to the bank.

Contact: Rob Schwarzwalder
Source: FRCBlog

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

'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…..

    

"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

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