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Tuesday, March 06, 2007

Pressure Builds on Kansas Politicians


Late term abortionist George Tiller helped kill 19-year old Christin Gilbert in 2005 by performing a botched late-term abortion at his Wichita, KS death mill. That death has helped focus new scrutiny on a lucrative practice which attracts women and girls from across the country to this once-conservative state.

Complaints were filed at the time of Ms. Gilbert’s death with the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts. Those complaints were set aside by a board controlled by Democrat Governor Kathleen Sebelius – a pro-abortion politician who has received millions in campaign dollars from America’s most notorious abortionist.

Former Attorney General Phill Kline filed another complaint with the medical board last October. In that complaint, Mr. Kline charged that Tiller regularly performs late-term abortions in violation of state law. The KSBHA contends that that complaint is still under investigation.

On Tuesday, Operation Rescue filed additional documents with the board, in an attempt to bolster Kline’s original filing – and to build public pressure on the board to do its duty under the law.

Operation Rescue spokeswoman Cheryl Sullenger pleaded with the medical board: “Tiller and his abortion business create a clear and present danger to viable preborn babies and their mothers. Swift action must be taken to stop further loss of innocent life.”

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Monday, March 05, 2007

Cancer Society Subsidizes Planned Parenthood


In a further display of the disturbing relationships between the cancer fundraising industry and the Abortion Lobby, STOPP International reports that Planned Parenthood of Iowa has received a grant of $3,000 from the American Cancer Society. According to records uncovered by this American Life League organization, the grant is to be used to “train staff to provide smoking-cessation assistance to patients”.


That may strike you as a worthy endeavor. However, consider that this funding is used to help support the on-going administrative costs of running America’s largest abortion enterprise. What is the obvious connection between killing babies and helping folks end their smoking behavior? Surely there are more appropriate organizations to partner with.


Consider also that this kind of grant allows Planned Parenthood to expand its influence and credibility as a legitimate health care provider. Beyond the hard cash – that is the obvious reason Planned Parenthood would go after such a grant.


This is at least the second instance of a “cancer-fighting” outfit using its money and credibility to assist Planned Parenthood. Affiliates of the Komen Foundation have provided crucial funding to PP clinics around the country, ostensibly for breast cancer screening programs.


The cross-pollination between the cancer and abortion industries provides important clues about why so much political and cultural opposition has developed to scientific work around the connection between abortion and breast cancer. We are seeing a similar phenomenon around present attempts to shut down skeptical and intelligent discussion of Al Gore’s “Great Global Warming Decree”.


One can only conclude that a common political agenda continues to undermine the welfare of American women.

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Friday, March 02, 2007

Risch Honored at ICL Event


Lt. Governor James Risch was given the 2007 “Friend for Life Award” at the annual ICL Legislative Reception on Thursday evening.

In presenting the Award, ICL Executive Director David Ripley acknowledged the many years of public leadership Risch has offered to the State of Idaho.

“During his many years in the Idaho State Senate, there was not a single pro-Life bill considered by that body which was not shepherded and defended by Jim Risch. The last I remember was the Idaho Ban on Partial Birth Abortion in 1998,” Ripley said.

“But his leadership and contributions certainly did not end there. During his short time as Governor of Idaho last year, he made it a high priority to fix the distribution problem at the Department of Health & Welfare. For many years, we struggled to get the DHW to provide Informed Consent brochures to every woman and girl undergoing abortion – as the law required. Governor Risch made it his business to ensure that materials got into the hands of women considering abortion. Those materials are not perfect – but they do contain important information about the baby’s development, and agencies willing and able to help women find an alternative to abortion.

“In addition, Governor Risch issued what we believe to be the first pro-Life Proclamation in Idaho history, when he proclaimed “Life Chain Sunday” in Idaho. That proclamation is a wide-ranging declaration of pro-Life principle,” Ripley concluded in presenting the award to Jim and Vickie Risch.

In accepting the award, Governor Risch said he was humbled by the honor simply for doing his job on behalf of Idaho’s families.

“It has been my privilege to help from time to time in the long battle to restore Idaho’s preborn citizens to full recognition and protection under the law,” Risch said.

Risch joins the likes of pro-Life heroes like Helen Chenoweth, Bill Sali, Tom Loertscher, Gerry Sweet and Halli Stone – previous recipients of the organization’s highest award.

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Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Senate Approves Parental Consent


The Idaho State Senate approved SB1082 on a 23-12 vote Monday morning. The vote puts the legislation well on its way to becoming law.


During debate, the bill sponsor, Sen. Russ Fulcher, argued that it was more than ironic that our teenage daughters needed our permission to get an aspirin from the school nurse – but we wouldn’t even be informed after an abortion as things now stand.


The only Democrat to support the measure was Sen. Diane Bilyeu of Pocatello. Sen. Edgar Malepeai, also from the Pocatello area, supported the measure in committee, but switched his vote on the floor. He said during debate that he was just troubled by how the legislation would affect girls coming from dysfunctional homes.


There were some other pleasant surprises. A number of freshmen cast votes on their first pro-Life legislation: Jim Hammond of Post Falls; Lee Heinrich of Cascade; Steven Bair of Blackfooot and Jeff Siddoway of Terreton.


Sen. John Goedde of Coeur d’Alene, who usually doesn’t support pro-Life legislation, cast a vote in support of the bill.


Probably the most disappointing vote came from John Andreason of Boise’s District 15. Without comment, he voted against the bill. Sen. Andreason has voted at least three times for Parental Consent legislation during his 7 terms in the Senate. But he bailed out on principle yesterday, voting against legislation which is considerably weaker than those previous versions.


The measure now heads to the House State Affairs Committee.


Here is how the full Senate voted:


02/26 SB1082 as amen - PASSED - 23-12-0


AYES – Bair (R), Bastian (R), Bilyeu (D), Cameron (R), Corder(R) Darrington(R), Davis (R), Fulcher (R), Gannon (R), Geddes (R), Goedde (R), Hammond (R), Heinrich (R), Hill (R), Jorgenson(R), Little (R), Lodge(R), McGee (R), McKague (R), McKenzie (R), Pearce (R), Richardson (R), Siddoway (R)

NAYS – Andreason (R), Broadsword (R), Burkett (D), Coiner (R), Kelly (D), Keough (R), Langhorst (D), Malepeai (D), Schroeder(R), Stegner (R), Stennett (D), Werk (D)

Absent and excused – None

Floor Sponsor – Fulcher
Title Approved - to House

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Saturday, February 24, 2007

Washington Planned Parenthood Clinic Closes


Planned Parenthood announced that it will close one of its Washington state facilities on March 8th. Located in Longview, the clinic does not provide abortion services – but it does offer various products like condoms, breast exams and contraceptives. They do, however, provide abortion referrals.


Planned Parenthood blamed the closing on cutbacks in state funding of “reproductive health services”.


STOP Planned Parenthood President Jim Sedlak joined many pro-Lifers in celebrating the setback for America’s largest abortion provider. He indicated in a news release that the closure demonstrates how dependent this radical organization is on public tax dollars.


The rejoicing may not over. Planned Parenthood spokeswoman Jennifer Allen indicated that several other clinics in the state may have to close as well.

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