Right to Life of Michigan's Blog

Researchers discover “vegetative” patients with brain activity

noreply@blogger.com (David) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 20:08:00 +0000

Research published in the New England Journal of Medicine used brain scans to show that some patients who were diagnosed as being in a vegetative state were actually aware.

In a study certain to rekindle debate over life-sustaining care for those with grievous brain injuries, researchers report that five patients thought to be in a persistent vegetative state showed brain activity indicating awareness, intent and, in at least one case, a wish to communicate.

Of 54 unresponsive patients whose brains were scanned at medical centers in England and Belgium, those five appeared able, when prompted by researchers, to imagine themselves playing tennis, and four of them demonstrated the ability to imagine themselves walking through the rooms of their homes.

One of those patients -- a 22-year-old man who had been unresponsive for five years after an automobile crash -- went on to respond to a series of simple questions with brain activity that clearly indicated yes or no answers, researchers said.

FULL STORY

Pro-choice columnist rips pro-abortion organizations for attacking prolife Super Bowl ad

noreply@blogger.com (David) — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 17:22:00 +0000

Washington Post sports columnist Sally Jenkins calls herself "pro-choice" but doesn't think much of pro-abortion organizations, including the National Organization for Women, who are opposed to CBS airing an advertisement featuring the prolife story of Heisman winning quarterback Tim Tebow. She writes,

Tebow's 30-second ad hasn't even run yet, but it already has provoked "The National Organization for Women Who Only Think Like Us" to reveal something important about themselves: They aren't actually "pro-choice" so much as they are pro-abortion....

Tebow's ad, by the way, never mentions abortion; like the player himself, it's apparently soft-spoken. It simply has the theme "Celebrate Family, Celebrate Life." This is what NOW has labeled "extraordinarily offensive and demeaning." But if there is any demeaning here, it's coming from NOW, via the suggestion that these aren't real questions, and that we as a Super Bowl audience are too stupid or too disinterested to handle them on game day.

FULL STORY

Tell U.S. House lawmakers: Keep abortion out of health care

noreply@blogger.com (David) — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 13:01:00 +0000

Calls needed to Congress

White House and top congressional Democrats are not giving up on passing a pro-abortion health care bill.

The Obama White House and top Democratic congressional leaders, although shaken by the January 19 election of Republican Scott Brown to the U.S. Senate seat previously held by Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.), are attempting to push broad health care legislation through Congress within a matter of weeks. This means that the lives of unborn children remain in grave jeopardy!

On January 25, the Associated Press reported the emergence of a new plan which would allow the U.S. Senate to pass health care legislation with a 51-vote majority. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif) may revise the Senate health care bill (H.R. 3590). If the U.S. House makes changes to the U.S. Senate health care bill and passes the bill, the bill will then be returned to the U.S. Senate. The U.S. Senate could use a procedure known as reconciliation and circumvent the need for a 60-vote majority. In this scenario, a majority of 51 Senators could amend their bill to address House concerns sending the bill to President Obama.

National Right to Life notes that the enactment of the abortion-related provisions of the health care bill passed by the Senate (H.R. 3590) would constitute the biggest expansion of abortion by Congress since Roe v. Wade.

Action Item

Time is short! Please telephone the office of your U.S. House member. The Washington offices of your representatives can be reached through the Capitol Switchboard, 202-224-3121. Or, for direct and local numbers, see the Congressional Contact Information.

Sample message: "I strongly urge you to oppose any health care legislation that does not contain explicit and comprehensive protections against federal subsidies for abortion and federal pro-abortion mandates. I am strongly opposed to the bill passed by the Senate on December 24 (H.R. 3590), which would result in funding of abortion, subsidies for private insurance plans that cover abortion, and pro-abortion federal mandates. The language of the Stupak-Pitts Amendment, approved by the House on November 7, 2009, is absolutely necessary in any health care bill."

Pro-abortion groups upset with Heisman winner Tim Tebow's prolife Super Bowl commercial

noreply@blogger.com (David) — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 17:22:00 +0000

A group of pro-abortion organizations are upset with CBS after learning that CBS will air a commercial during the Super Bowl featuring former Heisman winning quarterback Tim Tebow and his mother. When Pam Tebow was pregnant with Tim, doctors advised her to have an abortion.

Tim Tebow defended the commercial by saying,

"I know some people won't agree with it, but I think they can at least respect that I stand up for what I believe," Tebow said. "I've always been very convicted of it (his views on abortion) because that's the reason I'm here, because my mom was a very courageous woman. So any way that I could help, I would do it."

FULL STORY

Right to Life of Michigan affiliates’ Sanctity of Human Life events featured in local news

noreply@blogger.com (David) — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 18:45:00 +0000

Right to Life of Michigan affiliates Holland Area Right to Life, Jackson Right to Life, North Oakland Right to Life and Lenawee County Right to Life all had their prolife events featured in articles in their local newspapers.

Read about these events at the links below:

Holland Right to Life’s March for Life

Jackson Right to Life’s motorcade

North Oakland Right to Life's Life Chain

Lenawee County Right to Life’s March for Life

How will we treat the unborn?

noreply@blogger.com (David) — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 12:20:00 +0000

The Traverse City Record-Eagle recently published a guest editorial by Right to Life of Michigan President Barbara Listing.

For decades, our country has struggled with a pivotal question: How will we treat the unborn?

Will we accept them as fellow human beings worthy of respect and protection? Or, will we treat them as depersonalized entities whose rights are conjured up when they reach some arbitrary point of development or exit the birth canal? Or, maybe, we'll view the wanted ones one way and the unwanted ones another.

37 years. 50 million lives and counting.

noreply@blogger.com (David) — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 15:51:00 +0000

January 22, 2010, marks 37 years since the Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton U.S. Supreme court decisions were handed down. These rulings legalized abortion in the United States through all nine months of pregnancy. In the past 37 years, more than 50 million unborn children have tragically lost their lives to abortion in our nation.

Abortion, sadly, relies on a lack of hope for the future. You see, a woman's decision to abort her child can only seem plausible when giving birth seems impossible.

Right to Life of Michigan refuses to accept abortion as a solution. In fact, every day we work to restore legal rights for the unborn and to offer women real life-affirming options. We ask you to join us on this 37th memorial of the U.S. Supreme Court decisions that have brought such pain to women and divisiveness to our nation. Your donation of $37, one dollar for every year abortion has been legal in the U.S., will help us work toward our goal of a day when all are welcomed in life and protected in law.

Right to Life of Michigan is the coordinating and unifying body for local affiliates throughout our state, allowing members of the prolife movement in Michigan to speak with one voice on abortion and related life issues. These gifts are used to support Right to Life of Michigan's programs to protect the unborn and other threatened members of the human family. Thankfully, we have been successful. The work of Right to Life of Michigan has played a key role in Michigan's staggering 47.4 percent decrease in abortions over the past 20 years.

Thank you for your past support. Please consider a gift today of $37 to help us promote life in Michigan.

To donate online, click here.

Stupak editorial on health care reform

noreply@blogger.com (David) — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 15:27:00 +0000

In today's Detroit News, Congressman Bart Stupak has an editorial explaining his prolife amendment, his position on abortion and health care reform and his opposition to the abortion language in the Senate's version of health care reform.

He writes,

There continues to be a great deal of discussion surrounding abortion language in the health care bill and the Stupak-Ellsworth-Pitts amendment specifically. Let me be clear: Our amendment maintains current law that says no federal funding for abortion.

Further, not one person has been able to show where the actual language in our amendment is different from language in the Hyde amendment that has been in effect for the past 33 years.....

Though our amendment maintains current law and is squarely in line with public opinion, the Senate failed to pass similar language. Instead, the Senate bill includes an amendment that would implement a dramatic shift in federal policy that would allow the federal government to subsidize insurance policies with abortion coverage and recognize abortion as a benefit in a federal health plan.

It would also segregate funds to pay for abortion coverage in a way that has never been allowed under the Hyde language.

FULL STORY

National Right to Life lists six problems with Senate version of health care reform

noreply@blogger.com (David) — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 12:35:00 +0000

National Right to Life Committee has sent this letter to members of Congress listing six prolife criteria which the Senate version of health care reform fails to meet.

In conclusion: NRLC believes that enactment of the abortion-related provisions of the Senate-passed health care bill would ultimately result in substantial expansions of abortion, driven by federal administrative decrees and federal subsidies, and a vote to advance such legislation would be described in those terms in the NRLC congressional scorecard for the 111th Congress.

In contrast, inclusion of the substance of the House-passed abortion language, on the six points cited above, would preserve long-established federal policies on abortion, and would fully address our concerns regarding the abortion policy issues.

FULL STORY

Teleseminar on Tuesday, January 12

noreply@blogger.com (David) — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 20:41:00 +0000

A teleseminar featuring Right to Life of Michigan President Barbara Listing has been planned for Tuesday, January 12, at 1 p.m. Barbara will provide an update on national health care reform. In addition, Right to Life of Michigan Legislative Director Ed Rivet will highlight the decision issued on December 30 by the Montana Supreme Court, essentially legalizing physician assisted suicide in that state. Pam Sherstad will wrap up the teleseminar with a quick highlight of Sanctity of Human Life educational material available on the Right to Life of Michigan web site, www.rtl.org.

We are looking forward to connecting with you on Tuesday, January 12, at 1 p.m.

You can take part in this Web Simulcast by visiting the following web site or by calling in to (616) 712-3139.

http://attendthisevent.com/?eventID=10734726

Show Your Support for Life

noreply@blogger.com (David) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 21:19:00 +0000

Attend a local prolife event

The 37th memorial of Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton on January 22 gives individuals the opportunity to consider real hope for our communities, state and country. While thousands of Michigan prolifers will be heading to Washington, D.C., to take part in the March for Life on January 22, the majority of us won't be leaving the state. That doesn't mean we can't take part in prolife events which mourn the more than 50 million unborn children our nation has lost since Roe v. Wade and celebrate the sanctity of human life.

Throughout Michigan, local Right to Life of Michigan affiliates have organized and planned a plethora of events for Sanctity of Human Life Sunday. Events include prayer services, rallies, vigils, marches and motorcades. These events are an important time for prolife people to come together, get to know other prolifers in their community and renew their commitment to life. Please take the time to look at these events and find an event to attend in your area.

Sanctity of Human Life events in Michigan can be viewed at the Right to Life of Michigan's affiliate events page. To find Sanctity of Human Life events, put "January" in the "event month" space and click on "search." You can also search for events by affiliate and city.

Find a local prolife event in your community! Events will continue to be added, so keep checking back.

Michigan native saves life with adult stem cells

noreply@blogger.com (David) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 20:20:00 +0000

The Livingston Daily Press and Argus recently ran a story on Chris Kelly, a graduate from Brighton High School, and how his donation of adult blood stem cells saved a man’s life.

Chris Kelly saved a man's life earlier this year.

Kelly didn't push him out of the way of a speeding bus or pull him out of a lake.

Instead, the 2000 Brighton High School graduate laid in a hospital bed for a couple of days and allowed himself to be hooked up to a dialysis-like machine that recycled his blood. During this process, doctors were able to take away extra peripheral blood stem cells.

He donated those peripheral blood stem cells to a 68-year-old man suffering from a disease that causes bone-marrow failure and often leads to leukemia. Two weeks later, Chris Kelly said the recipient, whom he'd never met, was released from a hospital and is doing well. He said the man, who lives on the West Coast, should live a long life without any further complications.

FULL STORY

National Right to Life opposes Senate version of health care reform because of abortion coverage

noreply@blogger.com (David) — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 12:21:00 +0000

National Right to Life Committee has issued a statement noting their opposition to the U.S. Senate's health care reform legislation.

The manager’s amendment is light years removed from the Stupak-Pitts Amendment that was approved by the House of Representatives on November 8 by a bipartisan vote of 240-194. The new abortion language solves none of the fundamental abortion-related problems with the Senate bill, and it actually creates some new abortion-related problems.

NRLC will score the upcoming roll call votes on cloture on the Reid manager’s amendment, and on the underlying bill, as votes in favor of legislation to allow the federal government to subsidize private insurance plans that cover abortion on demand, to oversee multi-state plans that cover elective abortions, and to empower federal officials to mandate that private health plans cover abortions even if they do not accept subsidized enrollees, among other problems.

They have also issued a detailed critique of the abortion language in the Senate's health care reform legislation, clearly explaining why this legislation is unacceptable to prolifers.

Adult stem cells save injured climber’s leg

noreply@blogger.com (David) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:34:00 +0000

Doctors in Britain successfully treated a man named Andrew Kent with stem cells from his bone marrow after a boulder fell on him and broke his leg in five places.

Surgeons warned that he was likely to lose his leg unless they tried the new stem cell technique.

"Receiving that news is pretty devastating," Kent said.

Orthopedic surgeon Anan Shetty removed stem cells from the bone marrow in his patient's hip.

These were mixed with a new collagen gel called Cartifill to make a paste or glue, which was smeared into the fractures. They finally fixed his leg in a metal cage to gently squeeze the bones together.

The cage was removed at the beginning of December, six months after the stem cell procedure.

Shetty described how he had put all his weight on Kent's leg, but the bones remained solid.

"He has really surprised us. This is an amazing technique," the surgeon said of Kent. "He won't be able to run for about a year, but after 18 months his bones will have healed completely. I'm sure he'll be able to go back and rock climb again."

FULL STORY

Video exposes how Planned Parenthood lies to patients

noreply@blogger.com (David) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 15:03:00 +0000

Recently, the prolife organization Live Action released a new undercover video which shows how some Planned Parenthood counselors deceive their patients and attempt to talk them into having abortions. On the video, a Planned Parenthood counselor in Wisconsin falsely claims that an unborn child at 10 weeks gestation doesn’t have a heartbeat and the abortionist says, “It's not a baby at this stage or anything like that.”

You can view the video online here.

U.S. Senate continues to debate health care reform

noreply@blogger.com (David) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:25:00 +0000

Battle is far from over

President Obama and top congressional Democratic leaders are stepping up their efforts to include abortion in "health care" legislation, before the end of the year.

On December 8, the U.S. Senate rejected the Nelson-Hatch-Casey Amendment to remove abortion subsidies from the sweeping health care restructuring bill proposed by Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), the "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act" (H.R. 3590).

The prolife amendment was defeated by a vote of 54 to 45.

During the days immediately ahead, the Senate may cast votes that will determine the fate of the legislation. The bill cannot emerge from the Senate unless 60 senators vote to end debate ("invoke cloture") on the bill. If a bill does emerge from the Senate, it must also go before the House of Representatives. The House passed a different version of the bill on November 7, but only after first adopting the Stupak-Pitts Amendment to remove subsidies for abortion.

National Right to Life Committee and Right to Life of Michigan are strongly opposed to the Senate bill because of multiple provisions that would promote abortion and the rationing of lifesaving medical care.

Time is short! Please telephone the offices of your two U.S. senators. Urge them to oppose the Reid health care bill (H.R. 3590), and to vote no on "cloture" (ending debate) on the bill. It doesn't matter if you have called your senators before and received a response; please call again. It is not too late!

For detailed information, please visit the Right to Life of Michigan Prolife Action Center.

Action Items:

Listen to the national web cast update

Sign On-Line Petition

Share with Sen. Levin and Sen. Stabenow your desire to keep the government out of the abortion business.

Sample message: "I urge you to vote no on cloture and the health care legislation proposed by Senator Reid unless direct and indirect federal funding of abortion is eliminated. I am strongly opposed to government funding of abortion."

Senator Carl Levin (D)
Washington, D.C., Phone: (202) 224-6221

District Offices:
Detroit (313) 226-6020
Escanaba (906) 789-0052
Grand Rapids (616) 456-2531
Lansing (517) 377-1508
Traverse City (231) 947-9569
Warren (586) 573-9145

On-line Contact Form

Senator Debbie Stabenow (D)
Washington, D.C., Phone: (202) 224-4822

District Offices:
Detroit (313) 961-4330
East Lansing (517) 203-1760
Flint (810) 720-4172
Grand Rapids (616) 975-0052
Marquette (906) 228-8756
Traverse City (231) 929-1031

On-Line Contact Form

U.S. Senators Kill Prolife Amendment

noreply@blogger.com (David) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 17:46:00 +0000

Battle is far from over

By a vote of 54 to 45, the U.S. Senate on Tuesday, December 8, tabled (a.k.a. killed) an amendment to remove elective abortion from a sweeping health care restructuring bill proposed by Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), the "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act" (H.R. 3590). Both Senator Carl Levin and Senator Debbie Stabenow voted to table the amendment which would have kept federal funds from paying for elective abortions in the Senate health care reform bill.

A majority of senators voted to keep abortion covered in the proposed federal government health care program; however, now the vote on cloture on the bill itself will become the key vote on whether to put the federal government into the abortion business. Right to Life of Michigan opposes cloture on the bill, which would require 60 affirmative votes, if federal funding of abortion is included.

The prolife amendment, which was rejected, was sponsored by Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE), Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Robert Casey (D-PA). It contained the same substance as the Stupak-Pitts Amendment, which was adopted by the House of Representatives on November 7, 240-194. Both amendments would prevent the federal government insurance program (the "public option") from paying for abortion (except to save the life of the mother or in cases of rape or incest). In addition, both amendments would prevent federal subsidies from being used to purchase private health plans that cover elective abortion but would not restrict the sale or purchase of such policies with private funds.

Talk from Washington, D.C., is that the U.S. Senate has dropped the "public option" from its bill. The result of this change and the impact of federal funding of abortion is yet unknown. Right to Life of Michigan is following the debate closely.

While the vote yesterday killed an amendment to remove elective abortion from the pending Senate health care reform legislation bill, the battle is far from over.

While this is a setback, it is only step one. The key vote focuses on cloture -- whether to cut off debate. Again, Right to Life of Michigan opposes cloture on the bill if federal funding of abortion is included.

Thankfully, a number of prolife Democrats in the U.S. House who supported passage of health care legislation on November 7 will not vote for the Senate bill in its current form.

For detailed information, please visit the Right to Life of Michigan Prolife Action Center.

Prolife and church leaders sign Manhattan Declaration

noreply@blogger.com (David) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 12:56:00 +0000

Numerous church and prolife leaders have signed the Manhattan Declaration, a document which in part affirms and defends the sanctity of human life. Here’s a portion of the Declaration:

We will be united and untiring in our efforts to roll back the license to kill that began with the abandonment of the unborn to abortion. We will work, as we have always worked, to bring assistance, comfort, and care to pregnant women in need and to those who have been victimized by abortion, even as we stand resolutely against the corrupt and degrading notion that it can somehow be in the best interests of women to submit to the deliberate killing of their unborn children. Our message is, and ever shall be, that the just, humane, and truly Christian answer to problem pregnancies is for all of us to love and care for mother and child alike.

Visit the web site of the Manhattan Declaration to read the full document.

MI Senate Committee to vote on Embryo Package on Dec. 9 - Call your state senator!

noreply@blogger.com (David) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 13:59:00 +0000

The passage of Proposal 2 by a narrow margin in 2008 left many unanswered questions regarding human embryonic stem cell research. A package of bills titled the Embryo Research & Fertility Clinic Transparency Act was introduced in the Michigan House and Senate to address these questions.

The Michigan Senate Health Policy Committee will take up the Embryo Research Transparency Package on Wednesday, December 9, where a vote to report the bills to the full Senate is expected.

Please take 5 minutes to contact your state senator and urge them to support this legislation.

ALL SENATORS IN LANSING should receive calls/emails/faxes either asking for, or thanking co-sponsors for, their support on the Embryo Research package. There are 18 Senators who have co-sponsored the bills and Majority Leader Mike Bishop has put his full support behind it. The list of lead sponsors and co-sponsors to thank and urge their YES vote include:

Mike Bishop, Tom George, Roger Kahn, Jim Barcia, Dennis Olshove, Jud Gilbert, Mark Jansen, Ray Basham, Patty Birkholz, Nancy Cassis, Alan Cropsey, John Gleason, Bill Hardiman, Wayne Kuipers, Michelle McManus, Alan Sanborn, Tony Stamas, Randy Richardville, Jerry VanWoerkom

The message for those senators not listed should be:
“PLEASE VOTE YES ON THE EMBRYO RESEARCH TRANSPARENCY PACKAGE. THE VOTERS EXPECT PROPOSAL 2 TO BE IMPLEMENTED AND ENFORCED.”

Because Proposal 2 was a constitutional amendment no law can reverse it, only another constitutional amendment. This package is designed to close the potential loopholes in the amendment's language. It will make sure the limitations in Proposal 2 are put into statute along with definitions and penalties. It will also clarify that other types of human embryo research were NOT authorized by Proposal 2.

For more information about the bills, please go to the Right to Life of Michigan's legislative center.

U.S. Senate to Address Key Prolife Amendment

noreply@blogger.com (David) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 17:31:00 +0000

Afghanistan, unemployment and the economy are topics which have been making the headlines. But in Washington, D.C., the U.S. Senate is chipping away at health care reform. The U.S. Senate is engaged in consideration of numerous amendments to a sweeping health care restructuring bill proposed by Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), the "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act" (H.R. 3590). Right to Life of Michigan is strongly opposed to the Reid bill because of the federal funding of abortions and potential health rationing provisions.

Soon, perhaps as early as the week of December 6, prolife Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Ben Nelson (D-NE) will offer an amendment that will incorporate the same policy as the Stupak-Pitts Amendment. The Stupak-Pitts Amendment prohibits both direct federal funding of abortion by the "public option" and the use of federal subsidies to purchase private plans that cover elective abortion.

The U.S. House Democratic leadership version of health care legislation (H.R. 3962) originally contained pro-abortion provisions very similar to those now found in the Reid bill. However, on November 7, the House approved the prolife Stupak-Pitts Amendment on a roll call vote of 240-194. The House then passed H.R. 3962, as amended, by a vote of 220-215.

At this time, the Reid bill establishes a big new federal health insurance program, the public option. The bill authorizes (on page 118) the federal Secretary of Health and Human Services to require coverage of any and all abortions throughout the public option program. This would be federal government funding of abortion, no matter how hard they try to disguise it.

For detailed information, please visit the Right to Life of Michigan Prolife Action Center.

Action Item

Sign On-Line Petition

Call and e-mail Senator Carl Levin and Senator Debbie Stabenow and let them know abortion and abortion funding must be "explicitly excluded " from any health care/insurance reform legislation.

Sample message: "I urge you to support the Hatch-Nelson amendment which would prohibit direct federal funding of abortion and prohibit the use of federal subsidies to purchase private plans that cover elective abortions. I am strongly opposed to government funding of abortion."

Senator Carl Levin (D)
Washington, D.C., Phone: (202) 224-6221

District Offices:
Detroit (313) 226-6020
Escanaba (906) 789-0052
Grand Rapids (616) 456-2531
Lansing (517) 377-1508
Traverse City (231) 947-9569
Warren (586) 573-9145

Web Site (you can use the web site to send an electronic message):
www.levin.senate.gov/

Senator Debbie Stabenow (D)
Washington, D.C., Phone: (202) 224-4822

District Offices:
Detroit (313) 961-4330
East Lansing (517) 203-1760
Flint (810) 720-4172
Grand Rapids (616) 975-0052
Marquette (906) 228-8756
Traverse City (231) 929-1031

Web Site (you can use the web site to send an electronic message):
www.stabenow.senate.gov/

NIH reveals new federally-funded embryonic stem cell lines

noreply@blogger.com (David) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 13:11:00 +0000

Today, the National Institutes of Health revealed which new human embryonic stem cell lines have been approved for federally funded research. In March, President Barack Obama overturned President Bush's policy which prevented federal funded research on human embryonic stem cell lines created after August of 2001.

Right to Life of Michigan opposes any research which requires the intentional destruction of human life.

The National Institutes of Health announced it will make 13 new embryonic stem cell lines will be available for federally funded research, and will consider adding 20 more new embryonic stem cell lines to a national registry on Friday.

For eight years, scientists using federal grants had to vie for access to just 21 approved lines, or colonies of stem cells --derived from a human embryo. The Bush administration imposed a moratorium on federally-funded research on new embryonic stem cell lines created after August 9, 2001....

The 13 lines are the fist in what the government promises will be hundreds of new embryonic stem cell lines approved for federally funded research....

All told, the NIH is reviewing 96 pending applications (including the 20 up for review on Friday) from scientists to make their stem cell lines available to researchers through a national registry.

Collins said the government has 21 million dollars in grant money allotted for research on the new lines and the NIH is expecting at least 10 million dollars more next year from Challenge Grants under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

FULL STORY

Right to Life of Michigan responds to erroneous stem cell editorial

noreply@blogger.com (David) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:16:00 +0000

In response to a recent editorial by the Grand Rapids Press on prolife legislation, Right to Life of Michigan legislative director Ed Rivet submitted the following editorial to respond to some of false claims in the Press editorial. The response editorial, which was published on November 27, is below.

When the voters passed Proposal 2 more than one year ago, they approved an amendment to the Michigan Constitution allowing embryos remaining from fertility treatments to be destroyed for their stem cells. The amendment does not allow buying or selling embryos, the embryos must be less than two weeks into development and the parents donating their embryonic children must give their written consent. The problem with the amendment is that it has no enforcement mechanisms, no definitions and no penalties for anyone caught violating these provisions.

In nearly every instance when voters approve a broad amendment to the Constitution, the Legislature must subsequently enact a framework of laws to implement it. Prior to 1996, California had no laws governing embryo research. When some UC-Irvine researchers were caught transferring embryos without proper consent, they had to be charged with mail fraud and tax evasion because there were not appropriate laws in place to charge them. The legislation being offered in Lansing to implement Proposal 2 will avoid this type of legal blunder.

Nothing in the proposed legislation prevents couples from donating embryos or researchers from using them. Researchers would be required to fill out a half-page form once a year that lists from where they received embryos, how many they used, and how many are retained in storage – That's it! No inspections of their facilities, no limits on what they can do with the embryos, no bureaucratic licensing process, just a half-page form once a year.

The Press' editorial against this legislation included several erroneous claims. First, it misleads readers about what Proposal 2 did. It did not “allow research using stem cells from human embryos.” That was already legal and occurring in Michigan prior to Proposal 2. Proposal 2 allowed researchers in Michigan to experiment on and kill human embryos for their stem cells.

Second, if research directors at Michigan's big three universities claim Proposal 2 is “working as intended,” they are grossly misstating the case. As a November 7 Press article indicated, the University of Michigan, the state's leading stem cell research university, “has not started projects to derive human embryonic stem cell lines” a year after Proposal 2 passed. If a year later they haven't even done what Proposal 2 legalized, how necessary was Proposal 2 after all?

Which is why the Press' claim that Proposal 2 is responsible for the $7 million in stem cell research grants is all the more misleading. Only one grant is for research using human embryonic stem cells. All the rest of the research projects are using adult stem cells, cancer stem cells or animal stem cells. The University of Michigan's own press release on the grants notes that the one embryonic stem cell study would have been legal before Proposal 2 because it doesn't require researchers to kill any embryos.

Press editorial writers are entitled to their own opinions on this research and legislation, but they're not entitled to their own facts.

Nothing in the proposed legislation will reverse or undermine Proposal 2 nor will it hinder any embryonic stem cell research. The bills simply provide the framework for Proposal 2 to be properly carried out and its provisions enforced. Voters expect that anyone caught violating Proposal 2 will be punished. But without this legislation, there are no defined penalties, no oversight or enforcement agency in charge, no accountability.

Abortion Funding Remains in U.S. Senate health care bill

noreply@blogger.com (David) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:28:00 +0000

On November 21, the U.S. Senate barely cleared an initial 60-vote procedural hurdle, setting the stage for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's (D-NV) 2,074-page health care bill to move forward. The debate and amendment process is scheduled to begin Monday, November 30.

As Right to Life of Michigan has previously noted, Senator Reid's bill [on page 118] would authorize the federal government to pay for any and all abortions through a huge new federal health insurance program, commonly known as the "public option," and also to subsidize purchase of private plans that cover abortion on demand. President Obama and Sen. Reid know that the substance of these abortion-promoting policies is deeply unpopular, so they seek to conceal the reality with layers of contorted definitions and money-laundering schemes.

President Obama and Sen. Reid are also seeking to block the enactment of the bipartisan Stupak Amendment, which was adopted by the U.S. House of Representatives on November 7. This amendment would prevent government funding of elective abortion through the proposed “public option," and would also prevent federal subsidies from paying for private insurance plans that cover elective abortion.

During the weeks ahead, Right to Life of Michigan will continue to fight the efforts of President Obama and congressional Democratic leaders who seek to cover abortion on demand in two huge new federal health programs. The Senate bill faces additional 60-vote hurdles in the future. Moreover, a courageous group of prolife Democrats in the House of Representatives will oppose final approval of health care legislation if the Stupak Amendment is gutted or removed.

Learn more by visiting the Right to Life of Michigan Prolife Action Center. A sample message for our senators and helpful links, which include the U.S. Senate health care legislation and Stupak Amendment, are available in the Prolife Action Center.

Senator Reid’s Health Care Plan Rejects Stupak Amendment and Pushes for Abortion Funding

noreply@blogger.com (David) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:28:00 +0000

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has rejected the bipartisan Stupak amendment and has substituted completely unacceptable language that would result in coverage of abortion on demand in two big new federal government programs.

The Stupak amendment would prevent federal subsidies for abortion by applying the principles of longstanding federal laws such as the Hyde Amendment to the new programs created by the health care legislation. Those principles prohibit both direct funding of abortion procedures and subsidies for plans that cover elective abortions, in existing federal programs such as Medicaid, the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program and the military.

Unfortunately, Senator Reid has rejected the bipartisan Stupak amendment and sought to appease pro-abortion organizations who demand abortion be funded through federal programs.

The Reid bill establishes a new federal health insurance program, commonly referred to as “the public option” and referred to in Reid's bill as the "community health insurance option." The bill allows (on page 118) the federal Secretary of Health and Human Services to require coverage of any and all abortions throughout the public option program. This would be federal government funding of abortion, no matter how hard they try to disguise it.

In addition, the bill creates new tax-supported subsidies to purchase private health plans that will cover abortion on demand.

Right to Life of Michigan will continue to fight for the Stupak amendment and oppose the attempts to establish new federal government programs that will pay for or coverage of elective abortions.

Helpful Links:

Text of Reid's Health Care Bill

Text of Stupak Amendment

Health Care Reform Focus Shifts to U.S. Senate

noreply@blogger.com (David) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:26:00 +0000

Calls to Sen. Levin and Sen. Stabenow are needed

Since the U.S. House of Representatives has passed health care reform legislation, including the prolife Stupak amendment which prevents the government from funding abortion or subsidizing abortion coverage, the debate over health care reform now moves to the U.S. Senate. It has been reported that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) may attempt initial procedural steps to bring health care legislation to the Senate floor this week.

After the passage of the Stupak amendment in the U.S. House, pro-abortion groups have ramped up their efforts against the Stupak amendment and urged their members to lobby their senators to remove prolife language from the Senate version of health care reform. Some pro-abortion legislators have promised to oppose the final version of health care reform legislation if it includes the Stupak amendment.

Despite their pro-abortion positions, Senator Debbie Stabenow and Senator Carl Levin need to hear your voices on this crucial issue. They need know the people of Michigan strongly believe that abortion is not health care.

Please take the time to call Senator Levin and Senator Stabenow to let them know that Michigan citizens want the government funding of abortion explicitly excluded from health care reform legislation.

There is no time to delay; please make your call today!

Sample Message:

"I urge you to oppose the 'motion to proceed' to the House passed health care bill unless the Senate substitute offered by Senator Reid contains the Stupak-Pitts amendment to ensure abortion is not funded by U.S. taxpayers in the health care bill. I do not support federal funding of abortion."

It is important to note that the Stupak-Pitts amendment doesn't expand any restrictions on abortion. It merely prevents the government from funding abortion and from subsidizing health insurance plans which cover abortion. The language of the Stupak amendment is clear and it mirrors the Hyde amendment and the health care insurance program for federal employees. Federal funds are not to be used to pay for elective abortions and federally subsidized insurance plans can't pay for abortion.

Senator Carl Levin (D)
Washington, D.C., Phone: (202) 224-6221

District Offices:
Detroit (313) 226-6020
Escanaba (906) 789-0052
Grand Rapids (616) 456-2531
Lansing (517) 377-1508
Traverse City (231) 947-9569
Warren (586) 573-9145

Web Site (you can use the web site to send an electronic message):
www.levin.senate.gov/

Senator Debbie Stabenow (D)
Washington, D.C., Phone: (202) 224-4822

District Offices:
Detroit (313) 961-4330
East Lansing (517) 203-1760
Flint (810) 720-4172
Grand Rapids (616) 975-0052
Marquette (906) 228-8756
Traverse City (231) 929-1031

Web Site (you can use the web site to send an electronic message):
www.stabenow.senate.gov/