tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37833283Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:12:35 +0000Idaho Pro-life advocacy group.http://idahochooseslife.org/commentaries/noreply@blogger.com (Douglas Case)Blogger262125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37833283.post-1515330863615141073Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:07:00 +00002010-03-11T10:12:35.568-07:00Craneconscience protectionsSB1353The House State Affairs Committee approved SB1353 this morning on a party-line vote, 13-5.After two days of testimony, the committee voted for Rep. Crane's motion to send the bill to the floor with a "do-pass" recommendation. Democrats Higgins and King made substitute motions to kill and/or amend the legislation. Those motions failed both failed 4-14.The legislation will now go to the House http://idahochooseslife.org/commentaries/2010/03/house-committee-approves-sb1353.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Ripley)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37833283.post-858243090865629895Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:57:00 +00002010-03-09T18:09:04.510-07:00Despite the serious threat posed to every Idaho family by ObamaCare, three Idaho Senate liberals joined with their Democrat compatriots in opposing the Idaho Health Freedom Act this afternoon.The legislation is part of a strategic defense of Idaho against the threatened federal take-over of health care called for by Gov. Butch Otter. It authorizes the state to resist federal legislation, and http://idahochooseslife.org/commentaries/2010/03/andreason-stegner-and-coiner-dependable.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Ripley)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37833283.post-5937221887505176588Fri, 26 Feb 2010 20:34:00 +00002010-02-26T13:39:17.751-07:00By a vote of 21-13, the Idaho State Senate gave its approval to SB1353 this morning following lengthy debate.In contrast to the committee hearing, much of the debate this morning was focused on the consequences of acknowledging the conscience rights of providers in end-of-life situations.Sen. Les Bock (D-Boise) made one of the more emotional arguments against the bill by describing the http://idahochooseslife.org/commentaries/2010/02/senate-passes-conscience-protections.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Ripley)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37833283.post-7707325125760001126Mon, 22 Feb 2010 19:12:00 +00002010-02-22T12:14:51.898-07:00The Senate State Affairs committee voted 6-3 to send SB1353 to the Senate floor with a recommendation that it be approved by the full Senate.The legislation will create statutory protections for health care professionals in specific areas of medical practice – including the dispensing of abortifacients and in end-of-life situations.Opposition to the bill came largely from the Abortion Lobby http://idahochooseslife.org/commentaries/2010/02/senate-state-affairs-approves.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Ripley)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37833283.post-14489623866249803Wed, 17 Feb 2010 21:24:00 +00002010-02-17T14:27:58.216-07:00The State Affairs Committee voted Wednesday to approve HB391, the Health Freedom Act on a vote of 6-3.Sen. Joe Stegner (R-Lewiston) was the only Republican on the panel to vote against the measure which seeks to lay a defense for Idahoans, based upon the 9th and 10th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, against a likely federal take-over of the health care industry. While some in media have http://idahochooseslife.org/commentaries/2010/02/senate-panel-approves-health-freedom.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Ripley)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37833283.post-4944808599735380995Wed, 17 Feb 2010 08:53:00 +00002010-02-17T02:22:06.359-07:00assisted suicideeuthanasiaThere has been some real push-back to a guest opinion we published by Mary Ann Kreitzer entitled, "Terminal Sedation: Abortion for the Elderly". There have been some very good points made. It is wrong to cast a wide shadow of condemnation on those many men and women who devote themselves to caring for people as they face death.At the same time, it is just foolish to ignore disturbing trends in http://idahochooseslife.org/commentaries/2010/02/very-disturbing-glimpse-into-medical.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Ripley)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37833283.post-1499178000033979769Tue, 16 Feb 2010 09:47:00 +00002010-02-16T02:51:28.883-07:00Lila RoseHannityPlanned ParenthoodWorldNetDaily carried an important story late last week about fresh evidence of Planned Parenthood’s corporate policy of helping cover up the sexual abuse of teenage girls – as well as a pattern of violating state laws requiring parental consent before an abortion is committed against a girl.The intrepid Lila Rose produced a sting tape of an abortuary run by Planned Parenthood in Alabama. Posinghttp://idahochooseslife.org/commentaries/2010/02/have-our-hearts-grown-cold.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Ripley)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37833283.post-1580561049530254306Sat, 13 Feb 2010 12:04:00 +00002010-02-13T05:05:33.964-07:00On Friday morning, the Idaho Senate State Affairs Committee voted to introduce a revised conscience protection bill, SB 1353, sponsored by Sen. Chuck Winder and nine other members of the Idaho Legislature. It provides for “Freedom of Conscience for Health Care Professionals” working here, in six critical areas of health care.The new bill clarifies some key language and creates an exception for http://idahochooseslife.org/commentaries/2010/02/new-conscience-protection-bill.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Ripley)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37833283.post-471643341033639912Thu, 11 Feb 2010 10:36:00 +00002010-02-11T03:37:55.902-07:00Our dear friend, Judie Brown, published a powerful piece yesterday on the powerful trend in modern medicine to dehumanize the vulnerable, specifically the disabled.Judie focuses on the recent story of a man long dismissed as “brain dead”. New medical tests demonstrated that he is anything but. While unable to communicate with his keepers in the normal fashion, it turns out that he is quite http://idahochooseslife.org/commentaries/2010/02/need-for-greater-humility-in-modern.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Ripley)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37833283.post-1519708909975849973Wed, 10 Feb 2010 08:53:00 +00002010-02-10T01:53:09.819-07:00The Idaho House of Representatives passed HB391 on Tuesday by a lopsided 52-18 vote. Sponsored by Reps. Labrador, Luker & Clark, this legislation lays the groundwork for the State of Idaho to fight ObamaCare should it be shoved through the Congress.Sadly, the vote was a strictly partisan affair. All Democrats voted against it, all Republicans voted for the measure. One would have hoped that athttp://idahochooseslife.org/commentaries/2010/02/idaho-house-passes-health-freedom-act.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Ripley)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37833283.post-8400911470060058762Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:46:00 +00002010-02-09T03:46:03.465-07:00Pollster Scott Rasmussen has new numbers on his website today showing that Obama's approval rating continues its inexorable downward trend. Today's disapproval rating is 54%, his biggest negative number yet.To put that number in perspective, remember that, a year ago, his positive approval was 65%. Now it sits at 46%.While the president's mishandling of the economy is certainly the over-archinghttp://idahochooseslife.org/commentaries/2010/02/manic-drive-for-health-care.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Ripley)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37833283.post-2614910822272272909Mon, 01 Feb 2010 09:48:00 +00002010-02-01T02:50:58.156-07:00Guest OpinionBy Mary Ann KreitzerI spoke to a friend this morning whose father was murdered by terminal sedation (a.k.a. “palliative” care). Her father suffered from Alzheimer’s and his mind was pretty well gone, but physically he was in great shape. He and his wife lived with one of my friend’s children, who took him for a long walk every day and knew how to manage all his grandfather’s moods. http://idahochooseslife.org/commentaries/2010/02/terminal-sedation-abortion-for-elderly.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Ripley)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37833283.post-697756916307325328Thu, 28 Jan 2010 03:09:00 +00002010-01-27T20:12:10.178-07:00In tonight’s State of the Union address, President Obama unambiguously proclaimed that he will “stay the course” on nationalizing health care. Despite public polls, despite massive public demonstrations, despite historic reversals at the polling booth – Obama has called his party to follow him over the cliff and enact “health care reform”.It is so irrational as to be downright scary.Perhaps Rep.http://idahochooseslife.org/commentaries/2010/01/be-very-worried.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Ripley)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37833283.post-6794301300413075622Wed, 27 Jan 2010 08:42:00 +00002010-01-27T01:53:34.068-07:00Nancy Pelosi and President Obama are still working overtime to bring their health care revolution home. While the Massachusetts senate defeat obviously stunned them for a bit – all signs indicate that the grave threat to America’s future has by no means passed.It remains to be seen if they can find a desperate path forward. But we must remain vigilant. One Democrat consultant explained it this http://idahochooseslife.org/commentaries/2010/01/conscience-bill-introduced-in-idaho.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Ripley)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37833283.post-8113799170560100212Wed, 20 Jan 2010 10:35:00 +00002010-01-20T03:36:06.138-07:00The election of Scott Brown yesterday to the U.S. Senate is nothing short of a miracle. History buffs tells us that it has been some 60 years since a Republican was elected to the Senate from that bastion of liberalism. But that is the least of the historic indicators.Start with the fact that this was “Ted Kennedy’s Seat”. Add the overriding dynamic of federalized health care, purported to be http://idahochooseslife.org/commentaries/2010/01/miracle-in-massachusetts.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Ripley)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37833283.post-3044066365032130160Thu, 14 Jan 2010 09:30:00 +00002010-01-14T02:33:57.246-07:00We learned from Chuck Colson today that the Manhattan Declaration project has collected over 370,000 signatories since it was launched by Mr. Colson and some of the nation’s most prominent Christian clergy.The declaration marks one of the (potentially) most important developments in modern American history. Christian leaders from numerous denominations have banded together to pledge that their http://idahochooseslife.org/commentaries/2010/01/manhattan-declaration-reaches-370000.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Ripley)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37833283.post-2053025639055930449Mon, 11 Jan 2010 09:02:00 +00002010-01-11T02:04:05.615-07:00The Central Committee of the Idaho State Republican Party met this weekend to deal with various party matters. We are gratified to report that it took the time to issue a call upon the Idaho Legislature to enact a strong and comprehensive law protecting the conscience rights of Idaho health care professionals.The resolution adopted unanimously by the Central Committee said, in part:“Whereas the http://idahochooseslife.org/commentaries/2010/01/idaho-gop-backs-conscience-rights.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Ripley)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37833283.post-4434168844084557923Fri, 08 Jan 2010 10:31:00 +00002010-01-08T03:32:47.985-07:00The Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer issued a press release this week highlighting new research corroborating the linkage between abortion history and breast cancer. While the corporate media has failed, again, to inform women of the research – it is highly significant that the research comes from Louise Brinton, a researcher with the National Cancer Institute. Perhaps most important is the http://idahochooseslife.org/commentaries/2010/01/medical-skeptic-admits-abortion-breast.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Ripley)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37833283.post-2495693260455791921Wed, 06 Jan 2010 09:59:00 +00002010-01-06T03:02:39.300-07:00Idaho AARP’s Jim Wordelman threatened Governor Butch Otter yesterday for his promises to defend Idaho from the health care boondoggle pending in Congress. In doing so, Wordelman merely seeks to defend the billions his organization is about to receive from Democrat pals in Washington.It is the height of political cynicism for the AARP to attack Otter for “selling out” Idaho when the organization http://idahochooseslife.org/commentaries/2010/01/aarp-earns-its-pay-off.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Ripley)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37833283.post-7704820832270581553Tue, 05 Jan 2010 09:09:00 +00002010-01-05T02:10:44.415-07:00Russell Turnbull lost sight in one eye in 1994 after intervening in a fight aboard a public bus. One of the thugs was squirting ammonia at passengers – some of which burned Turnbull’s cornea. Using stem cells from his healthy eye, doctors in England were recently able to repair his damaged one and restore sight.That story is just one of the miracles associated with developments in adult stem http://idahochooseslife.org/commentaries/2010/01/adult-stem-cell-research-4th-biggest.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Ripley)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37833283.post-3898604749959336551Wed, 16 Dec 2009 10:54:00 +00002009-12-17T14:29:21.186-07:00As global celebrities continue to kibitz in Copenhagen about various schemes to “save the planet”, it would be well to pay attention to the underlying connection between the green movement, socialism and the abortion lobby.China has taken advantage of the summit to justify its forced abortion policies, arguing that its elimination of some 400 million babies is among civilization’s greatest http://idahochooseslife.org/commentaries/2009/12/green-is-new-red.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Ripley)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37833283.post-8326389889891040440Thu, 10 Dec 2009 09:19:00 +00002009-12-10T02:20:54.992-07:00The U.S. Senate took up the Senate version of the Stupak amendment – prohibiting the use of federal tax dollars to pay for abortions – on Tuesday. It was sponsored by Democrat senators Nelson and Casey, along with Utah’s Republican Orin Hatch.Sadly, the language to protect the conscience rights of American taxpayers was defeated on a 45-54 vote.38 Republicans, including Idaho’s Mike Crapo and http://idahochooseslife.org/commentaries/2009/12/senate-democrats-keep-abortion-funding.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Ripley)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37833283.post-7379620376801026577Sun, 06 Dec 2009 22:21:00 +00002009-12-06T15:30:54.117-07:00Obama’s National Institute of Health announced on Wednesday that it was offering up 13 new cell lines for research, after harvesting the cells from preborn children killed for that purpose – presumably by the federal government itself. The embryonic stem cells are the first fruits of the president’s decision in January to use federal tax dollars to harvest and research cells collected from http://idahochooseslife.org/commentaries/2009/12/obama-offers-up-first-batch-of-prenatal.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Ripley)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37833283.post-4856376696074535310Thu, 26 Nov 2009 10:21:00 +00002009-11-26T03:31:06.908-07:00As we gather in our homes with friends and family on this day of remembrance – we pray the Lord’s blessing on your family, our state and nation.This is a day to bring to mind all the blessings God has bestowed upon us as individuals and as a nation. While the present political leadership offers near constant cause for anxiety – we do well to look over America’s long history, to days when our http://idahochooseslife.org/commentaries/2009/11/blessings-to-you-this.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Ripley)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37833283.post-2817552713353099460Sun, 22 Nov 2009 04:12:00 +00002009-11-21T21:15:02.212-07:00The liberal gang running Washington, DC these days staged another health care stick-up tonight, with all Democrats giving Harry Reid enough votes to consider ObamaCare in the weeks ahead.Two “moderate” Democrats staged some drama in order to extort more goodies from Democrat leaders. Sen. Landrieu gained an extra $300 million in Medicaid benefits for her state in exchange for a ‘yes’ vote to http://idahochooseslife.org/commentaries/2009/11/another-saturday-night-stick-up.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Ripley)0