House Passes Repeal of Abortion-Funding Obamacare

 

(from The Heritage Foundation)

The House of Representatives voted 245-189 Wednesday afternoon to repeal the abortion-funding Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).

Obamacare represents a historic departure from the federal government’s traditional stance on abortion funding and provides new avenues to promote elective abortion. Since 1976 the Hyde Amendment, which forbids taxpayer funding of abortion except in cases of rape, incest, or threat to the mother’s life. When negotiations to include the full Hyde Amendment language in the PPACA failed, President Obama signed an Executive Order prohibiting federal funding of abortion. Unless Congress acts to make the application permanent, however, this order is subject to reversal by either executive decision or judicial intervention.

 

PPACA includes at least three problematic provisions with respect to the federal role in subsidizing elective abortion. The law:

1. Facilitates massive federal subsidies for private health care plans that are offered through health insurance exchanges and will cover elective abortions.
2. Leaves the decision whether certain appropriated funds not covered by the Hyde Amendment will be used to subsidize elective abortions to the discretion of the Secretary of HHS.
3. Appropriates money not covered by the Hyde Amendment for community health centers, the grants from which could also be used to fund abortions.

As a result of the defects in PPACA, a federal tax credit will be made available to assist in the purchase of private health plans that cover abortion. Additionally, the limited and loose conscience protections outlined in the law, combined with inadequate guidance on conscience rights, may leave pro-life medical professionals with no protection to live by their personal beliefs.

The battle to ensure permanent restrictions on federal abortion funding witnessed a major step forward yesterday as House Speaker John Boehner and a bipartisan coalition of pro-life legislators introduced the "No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act." The act would streamline restrictions on abortion-funding by compiling the numerous annual pro-life riders into one permanent piece of legislation, eliminating the annual risk to these provisions on federal funding of abortion. The bill would also better define conscience protections for pro-life medical professionals. Rep. Joe Pitts, Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, also introduced the "Protect Life Act," that would apply Hyde amendment language to the PPACA, prohibiting the use of federal funds for abortions.  

Rep. Lankford Challenges Abortion, Defends Sanctity of Human Life on House Floor

As we approach the 38th anniversary this week of the infamous Roe. v. Wade decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, Oklahoma's new Fifth District Congressman, Rep. James Lankford (R-Oklahoma City), took to the House floor last night to defend the sanctity of unborn human life and to explain how the right-to-abortion is at odds with our core beliefs as Americans.

Injunction Issued Against Oklahoma's New Ultrasound Law

This morning, Oklahoma County District Judge Noma Gurich agreed with the arguments of New York's Center for Reproductive Rights and issued an injunction to prevent Oklahoma's new ultrasound law, HB 2780, from taking effect at least until after a trial is held in 2011.

The ultrasound bill was passed by large margins in both the state House and Senate, vetoed in late April by Gov. Brad Henry, but then the House and Senate overrode the gubernational veto the following week. The state of Oklahoma defended the new law in court, and wanted it to take effect immediately. However, the judge disagreed, preventing it from taking effect as pro-life supporters and state legislators had fondly hoped..

State legislators have sought since 2006 to pass an Oklahoma law requiring women to have an ultrasound prior to an abortion. The rationale: informed consent by women. (According to research, some 80 percent or more of women who see an ultrasound fetal image of their unborn child will then decide against abortion). However, abortion proponents believe requiring a pregnant women contemplating abortion to have an ultrasound or sonogram presents an "unreasonable" restriction on their access to abortion. Two prior laws which had won legislative and/or gubernatorial approval were later invalidated by two different Oklahoma County judges on a technicality -- a violation of the state Constitution's single-subject rule. HB 2780 was passed by legislators as a stand-alone bill in 2010 to overcome this problem.

Oklahoma House, Senate Override Another Gov. Henry Veto

Yesterday, the Oklahoma State Senate voted to override Gov. Brad Henry's veto of HB 3284, the Statistical Reporting of Abortions Act. The House had done the same thing late Monday.

So, unless the bill is challenged legally, it will take effect in 2012. The law requires that all women seeking an abortion must fill out a 37-question anonymous survey first prior to the abortion. The women's identity will remain confidential at all times. The law also requires abortionists to report to the state any medical complications from abortion which occur, thus shining the light of day on a deadly procedure, which in addition to needlessly taking an unborn child's life, also often harms young women in the process, sometimes causing sterility or even ending their life. What's the purpose behind the law?

This new law will give the state of Oklahoma and public health officials anonymous information about the reasons why women seek abortions. If abortion is truly to become a rare thing, as its supporters suggest it should be, then doesn't it make sense for government officials, policymakers, health officials, and citizens to better understand the demographic information and the various reasons why women seek abortion in the first place? Then, our state can seek to remedy some of those problems women face.

Of course, supporters of abortion rights claim Oklahoma is acting in a draconian way. They say the sky is falling, and women are being targeted unfairly by the ultrasound law and this Statistical Reporting of Abortions Act. The truth is -- Oklahoma is simply following the law as laid down in the 1992 U.S. Supreme Court decision, Planned Parenthood v. Casey. The Court affirmed a woman's right to abortion, but said the various states could, if they so chose, reasonably regulate access to abortion so long as the regulations did not pose an "undue burden" on women seeking abortion.

If a lawsuit against HB 3284 is filed by the Center for Reproductive Rights in New York City, as they did recently against HB 2780, the ultrasound bill, then the litigation will likely center around whether or not what Oklahoma legislators are doing via these laws represents an "undue burden" to a woman's alleged constitutional right of access to abortion.

Injunction to be Issued by Judge Today on Oklahoma's New Ultrasound Law

Oklahoma County District Judge Noma Gurich has told attorneys she will issue an injunction later this afternoon to stall implementation of Oklahoma's new ultrasound law. The law was approved by a three-fourths vote of the Oklahoma Legislature last week, not withstanding the prior veto of Gov. Brad Henry.

Oklahoma's three abortion clinics had reportedly been complying with the law, which required ultrasounds and descriptions to women of the gestational development of their unborn children prior to any abortion, but their compliance will no longer be required once the injunction takes effect later today.

Judge Gurich's injunction will remain in place pending the outcome of litigation by pro-life and pro-abortion forces regarding the constitutionality of HB 2780, to begin later this year.

Oklahoma House Votes to Override Gov. Henry's Vetoes

A bipartisan group of Oklahoma House members voted overwhelmingly today to override two gubernatorial vetoes of pro-life bills.


Gov. Brad Henry vetoed two pro-life bills Friday, and the House voted to override at the first opportunity Monday.

“I am proud that the House moved quickly in support of the sanctity of life by overriding the veto of these important pieces of pro-life legislation. This is clearly not a partisan issue,” said House Speaker Chris Benge, R-Tulsa. “We must move to stop the degradation of human life seen in recent years and stand up for those who cannot defend themselves.”

House Bill 2780, by state Rep. Lisa Billy, requires that doctors provide women information obtained from an ultrasound prior to performing an abortion.

Although ultrasounds are already routinely conducted immediately prior to an abortion, those pictures and the information obtained from the ultrasound are not provided to women.

“This legislation does nothing more than give women as much information as possible before they make the life-altering decision to have an abortion,” said Billy, R-Purcell. “I don’t want a single woman to go through the life-long torture of having an abortion without having all the relevant information.”

Research has shown that many women, after seeing an ultrasound, will opt to have a child. The House voted 81-14 to override the governor’s veto, which was above the three-fourths vote required.

The House also voted to override the veto of House Bill 2656, by state Rep. Dan Sullivan, which makes it illegal to sue a doctor claiming “wrongful birth” because the doctor failed to convince the mother to abort a child.

“This bill simply states that a doctor cannot be sued based on the opinion after birth that a child would have been better off if he or she had been aborted,” said Sullivan, R-Tulsa. “A bipartisan coalition of members supported this bill the first time, and I am pleased they did again today.”

The House voted to override the veto 84-12, again well above the three-fourths of the body required to override.

Both bills will return to the Senate for override consideration.

(Source: Oklahoma House Media Division)

Gov. Brad Henry Considers Pro-Life Bills

Gov. Brad Henry is now considering whether to support or veto several pro-life bills, which recently were passed in the state Senate. The governor's phone number is (405) 521-2342.

Although he recently supported three other pro-life bills in early April, it is unclear what he will do this time. Of course, pro-life Oklahomans hope he will support these bills, too. But, if he chooses to veto the latest round of bills, an attempt to override his veto will be attempted.

The following Senate Democrats voted for the bills, and their support to override any veto may be needed:

Sen. Randy Bass - District 32 - Lawton

Sen. Sean Burrage - District 2 - Claremore
Sen. Kenneth Corn - District 4 - Poteau
Sen. Mary Easley - District 18 - Tulsa
Sen. Jerry Ellis - District 5 - Valliant
Sen. Earl Garrison - District 9 - Muskogee
Sen. Jay Paul Gumm - District 6 - Durant
Sen. Tom Ivester - District 26 - Elk City
Sen. Charlie Laster - District 17 - Shawnee
Sen. Susan Paddack - District 13 - Ada

Oklahomans for Life is encouraging Oklahomans to contact the above legislators to thank them for their past support and to encourage them to support any veto override attempt, should it become necessary.

Thank You, Gov. Brad Henry!

Yesterday, Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry signed three pro-life bills into law.

The new laws will take effect July 1, 2010, unless they are legally challenged by abortion proponents in Tulsa and New York City. They replace previous bills passed in 2009, which were later deemed unconstitutional for violating the state constitution's single-subject rule. The new laws will:

• prevent sex-selection abortions in Oklahoma (and will mandate revoking the license to practice of any abortionist who violates the law)
• require that only licensed physicians administer the RU-486 abortion pill to women (via medical prescription), and
• protect the freedom of conscience and religious beliefs of Oklahomans to not participate in abortion or other bioethical concerns related to human embryos, fetal transplants, and euthanasia.

Other measures now in the Senate, which, if passed, will also be sent to the Governor include:

HB 2780, which would require all women contemplating abortion be given an ultrasound exam of her fetus in-utero. The woman would not be required to view the baby's image, but the ultrasound image would be described to her.

HB 3284, would require that non-identifying statistical information about women who have abortions be reported to the state Health Department. Abortionists would also have to report all complications that occur during abortion procedures.

These last two bills are the most troubling ones to the abortion industry. Whether Gov. Henry will sign or veto them, if passed by the state Senate, remains to be seen.

If you wish to contact Gov. Henry, to thank him for signing the three bills noted above, his office phone is (405) 521-2342.

3 Pro-Life Bills Win House Approval, Now Go to Gov. Henry

Pro-life legislation overwhelmingly passed the House yesterday.

SB 1890, by Rep. Dan Sullivan, forbids abortions based solely on the sex of the child. The bill passed the House with a vote of 95-1.

SB 1891, by Rep. Pam Peterson, creates the Freedom of Conscience Act, which would protect the rights of health care professionals to refuse to take part in the destruction of innocent human life. Her bill passed the House with a vote of 80-13.

SB 1902, by Rep. Skye McNiel, makes it illegal for a person other than a physician to provide or administer the chemical abortion pill, RU-486, for the purposes of inducing an abortion. The bill also requires physicians to file a report under certain circumstances, and provides a civil action for certain fathers and maternal grandparents of unborn children aborted by a physician who knowingly or recklessly violates the provisions of the measure. The bill passed the House with a vote of 91-7.

All three bills now head to Gov. Brad Henry for either approval or veto.

Abortion in the Obama Health Care Bill

It's a huge bill, as we all know. Who can read it?

Thankfully, Chuck Donovan, formerly of Family Research Council, now with The Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C., has done an excellent analysis of how President Barack Obama's newest health care reform bill WILL definitely pay for more federal funding of abortions.

Click here to read his excellent analysis.

Let's pray that pro-life Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) and his House colleagues are successful in stopping this immoral, Progressive bill, which will, over time, end up bankrupting the country and denying medical treatment and care for untold numbers of Americans, including the unborn.

Pro-Life Ultrasound Bill Passes Oklahoma House of Representatives

(from House of Representatives Media Division)

Pro-life legislation further defending the unborn child passed the House today.


House Bill 2780, by Rep. Lisa Billy, expands on pro-life legislation passed in 2006 that required abortion doctors to tell a woman she had a right to a free ultrasound at an off-site location. This legislation would provide an ultrasound at the clinic where the abortion would be performed.

“This legislation is about giving mothers as much information as possible in advance about this irrevocable, life-altering decision. We must do all we can to ensure every woman has all the facts so she can make the most informed decision possible,” said Billy, R-Purcell.

The bill passed the House today with a vote of 87-7 and will now move to the Senate for consideration.

State House to Debate 2 Pro-Life Bills Today

This afternnon (March 1), the state House of Representatives will debate and vote on two pro-life bills, HB 2780 and HB 3110.

HB 2780, by Rep. Lisa J. Billy, would require that all women seeking abortions in Oklahoma be provided with an ultrasound, prior to any abortion. The woman would NOT be required to look at the ultrasound images of her unborn child, but the ultrasound would be required to be performed.

HB 3110, by Rep. Pam Peterson, would create the Freedom of Conscience Act, and would allow certain medical professionals from being required to perform abortions or provide abortifacients as a condition of their employment.

Both of these bills have been passed into law in prior years, but are being resubmitted in light of recent rulings by Oklahoma County judges, as respects the constitutionality of how the legislation was approved in violation of the single-subject rule.

Another bill, HB 3077, by Rep. Rebecca Hamilton, is NOT on today's agenda, but is expected to be put on the calendar in the coming days. Her bill would prevent women from selling their eggs in Oklahoma, thus creating a marketplace for human eggs in violation of moral and bioethics concerns.

State's Pro-Life Media Hold Successful Capitol Luncheon

On Thursday, about two dozen pro-life Oklahoma media and nonprofit organizations hosted an educational legislators' luncheon at the state Capitol centered around the sanctity of human life. Many Oklahoma House and Senate members attended and learned about the work of the Oklahoma Pro-Life Media Coalition (OPLMC), which, through its print and broadcast media members statewide, reaches approximately 81.9 percent of all Oklahoma citizens with pro-life news and information.

The keynote luncheon speaker was Valeska Littlefield, director of Hope Pregnancy Center in Tulsa. Earlier, leaders of Oklahoma's numerous CPC and Pregnancy Resource Centers heard a presentation from Dave Everitt, of Gig Harbor, Wash., who is vice president of advancement for Life International. Everitt and wife, JoAnn, traveled to Oklahoma specifically for this annual event.

At the present time, several pro-life measures are working their way through the state Capitol, many designed to solve alleged state Constitutional deficiencies as determined by Oklahoma County district judges in recent opinions. Regardless of the many nuisance legal challenges brought by abortionists to sidetrack new pro-life laws, Oklahoma continues moving forward to protect unborn life and to safeguard women's medical choices. Our state is now ranked as the fourth most pro-life state in the entire U.S., thanks to the efforts of pro-life Oklahomans and the dilligence of state legislators.

Click here to read one media account of yesterday's OPLMC luncheon.

Judge Says 2009 Abortion Law Violated One-Subject Rule

Oklahoma County District Judge Daniel L. Owens ruled Friday afternoon in Oklahoma City that a 2009 abortion law, HB 1595, is unconstitutional. The court, writing in Davis vs. W.A. Drew Edmondson, said the law violated the Oklahoma Constitution because it dealt with several different subjects, something the Oklahoma Constituion forbids. Laws must deal with only one subject, Owens said.

Oklahoma lawmakers had bundled several abortion-related pieces of legislation together and passed them as an omnibus measure in 2009, but the judge said that wasn't permitted.

Several of the measures Owens has now invalidated are working their way through the legislative process in 2010, this time as separate bills.

Attorney Teresa Collett, who argued in favor of HB 1595's legality, said she may appeal pending a review of Owen's opinion.

Tim Tebow Ad to Air During Super Bowl Tomorrow

Surely we've all heard by now about the controversy surrounding the upcoming pro-life ad from Focus on the Family, which will air on CBS during the Super Bowl tomorrow. Pro-choice advocates are understandably in a tizzy (e.g., Planned Parenthood, in response, came out with its own online ad), but this is a great advance for the cause of life. In the entire 37 years since Roe v. Wade, can you think of even a single time a major TV network has ever broadcast a life-affirming message — even if it's a paid message?

If you'd like to learn a little more of the back story and details surrounding Tim Tebow's birth, click here.

On Yet Another Roe Anniversary, The Manhattan Declaration Reaffirms Life

Tomorrow, January 22nd, is the 37th anniversary of the infamous Roe vs. Wade and Doe vs. Bolton abortion decisions. Since the essentially unrestricted right to abortion was legalized by the U.S. Supreme Court, including for reasons of safeguarding a woman's mental health, an estimated 50 million unborn children have been aborted in the U.S.

On Friday, we remember the untold millions of lives lost in America's national holocaust and contemplate what contributions and impact these lives could have made in our nation, had they only been given the precious gift of life. The right-to-life is, of course, guaranteed as the first unalienable right endowed to us by our Creator. Sadly, our U.S. legal system has violated its own organic law in the misguided pursuit of enshrining a woman's illusory Constitutional right to choose death for her children. May we, in time, overturn this terrible travesty of justice and common decency.

On a related note, The Manhattan Declaration is an eloquent statement by Orthodox, Catholic, and evangelical Christians who have united at this hour to reaffirm fundamental truths about the sanctity of human life, marriage, and religious liberty.

We at OFPC call upon all our fellow citizens, believers and non-believers alike, to join us in supporting and defending them. You can read and add your name in support of the Manhattan Declaration at http://www.manhattandeclaration.org/.