|
|
|
|
NRLC's State Legislative
Strategy Conference Five Days Away Part One of Three By Dave Andrusko Editor's note. Good evening and thanks for reading Today's News & Views. Part Two explains how NRLC's upcoming Strategy Conference will dispel abortion myths. Part Three answers the question "How Many Late Abortions and Abortionists are There?" Over at National Right to Life News Today (www.nationalrighttolifenews.org), we eulogize Carol Franz and celebrate a big victory in Scotland. Please send your comments on Today's News & Views and National Right to Life News Today todaveandrusko@gmail.com. If you like, join those who are following me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/daveha.
The impetus for NRLC's important December 7 State Legislative Strategy Conference were the tremendous, indeed historic, pro-life gains made November 2 in state legislatures around the country. By bringing state right-to-life leaders to the Washington, DC metropolitan area, NRLC is laying the groundwork to take full advantage of a much improved legislative landscape. And as if to remind us why replicating Nebraska's LB 1103--a first-in-the nation measure known as the "Pain-Capable Unborn Children Protection Act"-- is so important, starting next week LeRoy Carhart will begin performing abortions "through the second trimester of a pregnancy" in an abortion clinic in Germantown, Maryland, according to the Baltimore Sun. (See Part Two.) Carhart is said to be pulling up stakes in Nebraska now that the state has a law in place that prevents abortion after 20 weeks gestation based on compelling evidence that by 20 weeks, if not before, unborn children have the capacity to experience pain. He is also reportedly looking to expand his business into Iowa, if not also elsewhere. "There's been a substantial increase in the number of states where pro-life legislation stands a realistic chance of enactment," said Mary Spaulding Balch, J.D., NRLC Director of State Legislation. "The election results have widened the playing field." Balch explained that the goal of the conference is to share information and effective strategies that will assist NRLC's 50 state affiliates to pass protective legislation. With respect specifically to the Pain-Capable Unborn Children Protection Act , Balch said, "We will be suggesting to our affiliates that they use the language that was actually passed in Nebraska," adding, "We think the language is very strong and we think it can be protected if it's challenged in court." Every state is different, which means that next week's Strategy Conference will talk about a range of protective measures, including bills to ensure that women contemplating abortion can see ultrasounds of their unborn children, bills to "opt out" of abortion coverage in state insurance exchanges mandated by the new Obama Health Care Law, and bills to protect the right of patients not to be denied lifesaving medical treatment, food, and fluids against their will.
Part Two -- NRLC's State
Legislative Strategy Conference Will Dispel Abortion Myths |
