October 2003

"The Hand That Touched The World"
Nearly Four Years Later

It was the "hand of hope," a photo of an unborn baby's hand, that made its way around the world within days of appearing in USA Today. Taken by Michael Clancy, the color photo showed Samuel's tiny hand grasping a surgeon's finger during in utero surgery. See story, page 9 about Samuel's visit to a Senate Committee hearing. Photo by John Imbody

MEDICARE RATIONING AT STAKE IN CONGRESSIONAL CONFERENCE COMMITTEE

By Burke J. Balch, J.D., Director, NRLC Department of Medical Ethics

Pro-Life Congressman Pete Sessions (R-Tx.) is asking other Representatives to co-sign his letter to House Medicare Conferees urging the adoption of NRLC-endorsed provisions to prevent rationing of lifesaving drugs and medical treatment.

Five years after the pro-life movement won the ability of senior citizens to avoid rationing of lifesaving medical treatment, food, and fluids under Medicare, this right is again at stake in critical negotiations being conducted by a Senate-House conference committee dealing with bills to add a prescription drug benefit to Medicare. The fundamental question is whether seniors will be prevented from using their own money, if they wish, to gain access to insurance that will not ration prescription drugs - - or medical treatment.

Prescription Drug Benefit in the Private Fee-for-Service Plans:
They Should Be Allowed to Offer It in an UNMANAGED Form

PLEDGES FROM SENATE LEADERS

LETTER (PDF file, opens Adobe® Acrobat in your browser.)

U.S. House Gives Final Approval to Partial-Birth Abortion Ban, But Some Democratic Senators Delay Final Senate Vote

Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner (R-Wi.), chairman, House Judiciary Committee. Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Ohio), lead House sponsor of Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act.

WASHINGTON (Oct. 4, 2003) - - Only a single legislative step - - a final vote in the U.S. Senate - - remains before Congress sends the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act (S. 3) to President Bush for his signature.

The bill represents the first direct national restriction on any method of abortion since the Supreme Court legalized abortion on demand in 1973.

The House of Representatives gave final approval to the bill on October 2 by an overwhelming vote of 281-142.

U.S. House Members Speak Out for Ban on
Partial-Birth Abortion

EDITORIALS

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From the President

Wanda Franz, Ph.D.

GET READY FOR 2004

The 2004 presidential election is more than a year away, but pro-lifers better get ready. The September column informed you about elaborate plans by well-funded groups "to defeat Bush and 'elect progressive officials at every level in 2004,' targeting 17 key states," as one of them declared. As the primary election and nomination process in the Democratic Party is currently constituted, only a candidate strongly favoring abortion rights can expect to be that party's presidential nominee.

The September issue of NRL News also brought a lengthy report by NRLC's Federal Legislative Director Douglas Johnson about old myths and lies relating to partial-birth abortions being recycled by the mainstream press. As the likelihood grows that a federal partial-birth abortion ban will be signed into law by President Bush, the tactics of the pro-abortionists and their helpers in the media are becoming more desperate. So it's back to the old lies.

The falsehoods about partial-birth abortions aren't the only myths and lies that are being recycled. I have already seen the first signs of other old and worn misrepresentations of the pro-life movement being re-polished for public presentation. Elections must be around the corner.