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Current Headlines
• Catholic Bishops Speak Out Against Pro-Abortion Health Care Bills
• Republican Party Runs Health Care Ad Blasting Rationing, Targets Seniors
• John McCain Wants to Stop Democrats' Health Care Reconciliation Move
• Newsweek's Clift Wrong: Hyde Amdt Doesn't Stop Abortion in Health Care
• White House Reality Check Web Site Still Silent on Abortion in Health Care
• Speaker Nancy Pelosi Releases Misleading Factsheet on Abortion, Health Care
• NBC Joins ABC in Refusing to Air Ad Critical of Health Care Measure
• Physicians, Black Pro-Life Group Sue Obama for Health Care Snitch Email
• Ezekiel Emanuel, Obama's Rationing Czar, Says We Have Too Much Health Care
• Pro-Life Advocates Should be Upset by Veterans Guide Pushing Euthanasia
• State and International Pro-Life News Headlines
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Individual Catholic Bishops Speak Out Against Pro-Abortion Health Care Bills
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The nation's Catholic bishops have spoken collectively against the pro-abortion health care bills pending in Congress. Now, individual bishops are beginning to speak out and to urge elected official to focus on promoting health care not rationing and abortion funding. Bishop Walker Nickless of Sioux City, Iowa issued a message on Tuesday that has pro-life Catholics cheering. The upshot? No health care "reform" is better than a restructuring that forces abortion funding or mandates. "First and most important, the Church will not accept any legislation that mandates coverage, public or private, for abortion, euthanasia, or embryonic stem-cell research," Nickless writes. "We refuse to allow our own parish, school, and diocesan health insurance plans to be forced to include these evils." The bishop is also concerned about the effect a government-run health care system would have on the thousands of Americans who are pro-life medical workers. "As a corollary of this, we insist equally on adequate protection of individual rights of conscience for patients and health care providers not to be made complicit in these evils. A so-called reform that imposes these evils on us would be far worse than keeping the health care system we now have," Nickless added. Full story at LifeNews.com
ACTION: Contact members of the House and Senate and urge strong support for any amendment to exclude abortion and rationing from their health care bills. Ask them to oppose any health care bill that allows abortion funding or rationing. Call 202-224-3121 or go to http://www.House.gov and http://www.Senate.gov for specific contact information.
Republican Party Runs New Health Care Ad Blasting Rationing, Targets Seniors
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The Republican Party has entered the health care debate on Capitol Hill with a new television commercial that blasts the congressional bills for rationing care. The ad is meant to reach seniors who are concerned about the quality of life and "death panels" components of the bills. The ad will run in Florida and on cable networks across the country and it attacks the pro-abortion health care bills for cutting Medicare, rationing health care treatments and allowing the government to push certain end-of-life decisions. "When you disagree with Washington, how come they act like it's your problem?" RNC chairman Michael Steele asks in the spot. "That's what the Democrats have done with health care. They say you're the problem." The ad touts the new Seniors Bill of Rights the Republican Party has put forward as a way to craft a health care bill that doesn't ration care or wind up supporting assisted suicide. "Congress should always consider health care proposals that protect senior citizens," Steele says. "For starters, [the bill should] make it illegal to ration health care based on age, and it should prevent any government role in end-of-life care." Full story at LifeNews.com
John McCain Wants to Stop Democrats' Possible Health Care Reconciliation Move
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Senator John McCain is hoping to bring back as many elements of the Gang of 14 as possible to stop a move by Senate Democrats to use a procedural process to railroad through the health care bill that contains taxpayer-funding for abortions and rationing. The Gang of 14 was a bipartisan group of lawmakers who blocked efforts to filibuster votes on President George W. Bush's judicial nominees. McCain says a similar bipartisan group of elected officials is needed to stop Senate Democrats from using the reconciliation process, meant for important budget items, to stop Republicans from exercising their right to filibuster the pro-abortion government-run health care plan. Last night, McCain told Fox News host Sean Hannity that the 60-vote principle is important for the Senate and that he will fight the reconciliation strategy on health care on those grounds. "I think it destroys, in many respects, the unique aspects of the institution in the Senate which is the 60-vote principle," McCain said. "But the fact is that if they go this way in the so-called, quote, 'reconciliation,' I think that you will see a backlash in the United States Senate and across this country. The institution of the Senate works on the 60-vote basis in many occasions." Full story at LifeNews.com
Newsweek's Eleanor Clift Wrong: Hyde Amdt Doesn't Stop Abortion in Health Care
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- In the latest example of the mainstream media covering up what pro-life advocates already know and some media outlets have admitted, Newsweek's Eleanor Clift maintains that the Hyde amendment would stop abortion funding in health care. But a pro-life expert says that's not the case. Clift's weekend column for the weekly magazine claims "opposition forces" have been trying to 'spread misconceptions" about the government-run health care plan funding abortions. Clift's contention is that the Hyde Amendment, passed in the 1970s to stop abortion funding only in the Medicare program, will block abortion funding in the health care bill. "There has been no serious effort in the last three decades to dislodge the Hyde amendment, and it is certainly not part of the current health-care debate. But that hasn't stopped critics from suspecting that Democrats are looking for a back-door way to fund abortions," Clift claims. Douglas Johnson, the legislative director for the National Right to Life Committee, says "Clift's observations about the Hyde Amendment are, I am afraid, a big red herring," he tells LifeNews.com. "The Hyde Amendment is not a government-wide law. It is a limitation, renewed year to year, that applies only to funds that flow through the annual Health and Human Services appropriations bill -- most importantly, funds for the long-established Medicaid program," Johnson explains. Johnson says the government-run health care bills in the House and Senate create new programs that do not fall under the jurisdiction of the Hyde Amendment. Full story at LifeNews.com
ACTION: Contact members of the House and Senate and urge strong support for any amendment to exclude abortion and rationing from their health care bills. Ask them to oppose any health care bill that allows abortion funding or rationing. Call 202-224-3121 or go to http://www.House.gov and http://www.Senate.gov for specific contact information.
White House Reality Check Web Site Still Silent on Abortion in Health Care
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The Obama administration released a new web site earlier this month supposedly debunking myths opponents are using to criticize the government-run health care plan he supports. Though President Barack Obama himself has accused pro-life advocates of lying about abortion funding in the bills, the White House web site was silent on the subject. "You've heard that this is all going to mean government funding of abortion," he said recently. "Not true." Three weeks later, nothing has changed at the Reality Check web site (which replaces the controversial flag@whitehouse.gov email address), even though the web site has been updated several times since its initial launch. A refutation of the analysis from pro-life groups and several media outlets that the legislation includes abortion funding still doesn't exist on the site. Dan Gilgoff, a reporter on faith-based issues for U.S. News and World Report, noticed the omission. "It's a stunning omission, given how much the government-funded abortion allegation has dominated this month's congressional town hall meetings on healthcare reform—and given that President Obama himself has called the charge a myth," he writes. Full story at LifeNews.com
Speaker Nancy Pelosi Releases Misleading Factsheet on Abortion, Health Care
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has released a misleading factsheet perpetuating the myth that the House version of the government-run health care plan does not included taxpayer-financed abortions. Pelosi's "Daily Mythbuster" contains an analysis that has been rebutted by various media outlets and an independent political watchdog. Pelosi issued a factsheet that, ironically, contains few facts about HR 3200 and the various ways in which the bill will allow government-funded abortions. According to Pelosi, "the bill clearly spells out that no federal funds can be used to pay for abortions." However, the Capps amendment the House Energy and Commerce Committee adopted specifically authorizes the government-run public plan to pay for elective abortions. The public plan collects premiums from taxpayers that are, in turn, used to pay for abortions. Pelosi also says, referring to the Hyde amendment that prohibits abortion funding in Medicare, that "the bill preserves the status quo in abortion policy." "The latest version of the House bill continues longstanding federal policy, which currently bars federal funding for paying for abortions ," she says. While the Hyde amendment is not overturned by the health care restructuring bill, it only applies to Medicare and would not limit abortion funding in any aspect of the government-run health care system. Full story at LifeNews.com
ACTION: Contact members of the House and Senate and urge strong support for any amendment to exclude abortion and rationing from their health care bills. Ask them to oppose any health care bill that allows abortion funding or rationing. Call 202-224-3121 or go to http://www.House.gov and http://www.Senate.gov for specific contact information.
NBC Joins ABC in Refusing to Air Ad Critical of Pro-Rationing Health Care Measure
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- NBC has joined ABC in refusing to air a conservative group's ad that talks about the rationing concerns present in the government-run health care plans Congress is considering. While ABC rejected the ad outright, NBC is demanding the organization make revisions to it. As LifeNews.com reported, the League of American Voters had planned to air the commercial that is already airing on local networks in 12 states. Bob Adams, the director of the group, told LifeNews.com he was "stunned" when ABC officials told him they would not air the ad. Although CBS has approved the ad for airing and LAV staff are working with Fox to run the commercial on its stations, NBC has questioned some of the facts in the ad. "We have not rejected the ad," spokeswoman Liz Fischer told Fox News. "We have communicated with the media agency about some factual claims that require additional substantiation. As always, we are happy to reconsider the ad once these issues are addressed." The ad features neurosurgeon Dr. Mark J. Cuffe, who says that the Obama plan would be so costly that health care rationing will ensue. Full story at LifeNews.com
Ezekiel Emanuel, Obama's Rationing Czar, Says We Have Too Much Health Care
by Betsy McCaughey
Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, health adviser to President Barack Obama, is under scrutiny. As a bioethicist, he has written extensively about who should get medical care, who should decide, and whose life is worth saving. Dr. Emanuel is part of a school of thought that redefines a physician's duty, insisting that it includes working for the greater good of society instead of focusing only on a patient's needs. Many physicians find that view dangerous, and most Americans are likely to agree. The health bills being pushed through Congress put important decisions in the hands of presidential appointees like Dr. Emanuel. They will decide what insurance plans cover, how much leeway your doctor will have, and what seniors get under Medicare. Dr. Emanuel, brother of White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, has already been appointed to two key positions: health-policy adviser at the Office of Management and Budget and a member of the Federal Council on Comparative Effectiveness Research. He clearly will play a role guiding the White House's health initiative. Dr. Emanuel says that health reform will not be pain free, and that the usual recommendations for cutting medical spending (often urged by the president) are mere window dressing. Full story at LifeNews.com
Pro-Life Advocates Should be Upset by Veterans Guide Pushing Euthanasia
by Bradley Mattes
First there were angry senior citizens at town hall meetings, literally fearing for their lives. They're worried that under the President's proposed health care plan they'll be denied critical life-saving services because of their age. There's good reason for their concern. And what's come to light since then won't make them sleep any easier. The Obama administration now seems to have our nation's veterans in the crosshairs. Perhaps you've heard about the booklet Your Life Your Choices—also known as the Death Book for Veterans. This book is particularly alarming, so I want to share some detail you may not have heard. I have the book on my desk. Part of it consists of reasonable dialogue on the importance of sharing your wishes regarding potential future medical treatment with trusted family members or friends. I agree that communication before a health crisis arises is key. But look at one section titled "What makes your life worth living?" It lists 18 potential physical conditions, and the veteran is required to check which column reflects his outlook on life. One of those columns is "not worth living." I'm all for personal autonomy in choosing appropriate health care, but this booklet clearly crosses the line. Full story at LifeNews.com
Ex-Employees Note Unsafe, Illegal Conditions at LeRoy Carhart's Abortion Center Full story at LifeNews.com
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