Focus on the Family: Pro-life victories around the country (669 hits)
This week I have some exciting pro-life victories to share with you from around the country. But first, let me bring you up to date on the ongoing discussion surrounding the nation's budget. This week, a group of 41 U.S. senators announced that they will block any government spending bill that defunds Planned Parenthood®--a major pro-life effort spearheaded in the House of Representatives. So for now, the House and the Senate remain locked in a standoff that could result in a government shutdown by the end of this week. While the senators' announcement is disappointing, there is much good news on the state level when it comes to protecting life. On last week's CitizenLink Report video, we told you about several exciting bills moving through state legislatures. Since last week's report, there have been even more pro-life advances to share with you:
- Florida--The Legislature is considering a bill that would provide a woman with an ultrasound and information about her preborn baby before an abortion. The state is also considering a ballot measure that would prohibit public funding of abortion in health care, and legislation to restrict late-term abortions and strengthen parental consent laws. Gov. Rick Scott is strongly pro-life and we expect him to sign these bills into law if they make it to his desk.
- Idaho--Idaho's Legislature has passed several life-protecting bills including: the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act; a bill that would ban physician-assisted suicide; and another that would restrict taxpayer funding of abortion. These bills are now on Gov. "Butch" Otter's desk for signature and we believe he will sign them into law.
- Kansas--The state House and Senate have passed a fetal pain bill as well as a bill that requires accurate reporting of abortions. The bills are now waiting for Gov. Sam Brownback's signature. He has expressed strong support for both bills.
- New Hampshire--The state House has already passed a parental notification bill that would require a parent be informed before their minor daughter has an abortion, thus helping ensure parents are involved in their daughter's life during such an important decision. The bill awaits a vote in the state Senate, and while we're fairly confident the bill has a veto-proof majority in both chambers, we'll be watching it closely.
- Texas--Gov. Rick Perry has indicated he's ready to sign a bill that will provide a woman with an ultrasound and description of her preborn baby before she makes the life-altering decision about having an abortion.
- Virginia--Gov. Bob McDonnell just signed into law a bill that requires abortion clinics to meet the medical standards already in place for ambulatory care centers.
Even more to cheer about Arizona is celebrating two pro-life victories this week. Last week, at a dinner hosted by the Center for Arizona Policy (the state-based group with which Focus on the Family is associated), Gov. Jan Brewer signed a key piece of legislation that protects women by ensuring that they have the opportunity to see an ultrasound image of their baby before an abortion. It also bans "tele-med" abortions in which an abortionist consults with a woman over webcam. From his distant location, the abortionist then uses a remote control to open a drawer at the woman's location containing the abortion pill RU-486.
Gov. Brewer also signed a bill that will prohibit abortion on the basis of the preborn baby's gender or race. This first-in-the-nation law protecting the preborn based on both gender and race is a preemptive measure to prevent the selective abortions that have become prevalent overseas. As you can see, there are many state pro-life victories around the country to be thankful for. But we must also remain vigilant--particularly as it concerns pro-life legislation moving at the federal level. As always, Focus on the Family will continue to keep you informed about the family issues we each hold dear.
For faith and family, Tom Minnery Senior Vice President, Government & Public Policy
The end result will be abortions will go underground--wealthy families will still pay for them, as they always have.
Poor families will go to butchers.
And desperate and lonely young girls will try dangerous do-it-yourself methods that will cause great harm to themselves.
The absolute best and most efficient way to reduce abortions remains contraception. That is why Planned Parenthood has prevented more abortions than any other organization in the country. Their mission is education and contraception. By one account, they prevent nearly one million aobrtions each year.
My opinion is that abortion--which is completely legal--should be safe but rare.
We can all agree that the highest priority is to focus on ways to reduce the number. And at the same time we need to guarantee safety for women.
It's alright Brother Rich. We can agree to disagree. I don't believe that with all the good Planned Parenthood has done with offering women's health services that it should continue to allow the one major blemish (offering abortions) to overshadow their good, after all one rotten apple can spoil the bunch.
Monday, April 11th 2011 at 11:02AM
Jen Fad
