Video: Bishop Cordileone on Health Care

This was discussed on Catholic Connection this morning.  The good Bishop provides much-needed clarity on the Catholic position.

Democrats May Use Slaughter Rule to Pass Pro-Abortion Health Care Without Vote

As Democratic leaders in Congress plot their next move on how to get the pro-abortion Senate health care bill through the House, a new strategy has developed apart from the reconciliation plan that has pro-life advocates concerned they could pass the bill without taking a vote on it.

House Rules Chairwoman Louise Slaughter has developed an idea she has not yet presented to Speaker Nancy Pelosi but is one that received considerable attention from political observers yesterday.

When the House considers any legislation on the floor, it first adopts a Rule for debate that sets the parameters for debate, amendments and other procedures.

The problem Democrats have in the House is that pro-life Democrats are joining with Republicans to hold up the Senate bill because it contains massive abortion funding and other pro-abortion problems.

To get around that, Slaughter has mentioned proposing a Rule that would "deem" the Senate bill having already passed the House without an actual vote by members of the House.

The Rule would apply to the reconciliation package that makes the changes Democrats need to secure enough votes.

Under the Slaughter Rule, a majority would be needed to approve it and the idea behind adopting it is to give Democrats in tough re-election campaigns the ability to say they didn't vote for what is an unpopular pro-abortion health care bill. Instead, they can say they merely voted on a procedural rule.

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Senator explains how Obamacare will include tax-funded abortions

In this must-see video, Senator Mike Johans from Nebraska explains exactly how tax payers in every state will be funding abortions and how the reconciliation process will not fix this problem. He also warns pro-life House Democrats not to be deceived by the Senate, who will change their position and allow federal funding of abortion.

See Stupak: There's No Deal, And I Won't Agree to a Promise to Fix the Bill in the Future.




H/T: Values Voter News

Catholic Families for America Initiates Novena to St. Joseph to Protect American Families from Obamacare

"While we will continue to fight hard in the legislative process to stop the pro-abortion, anti-family Obamacare debacle, we also understand that we should not forget the 'spiritual warfare' that is equally important. Appealing to St. Joseph, patron of families, especially as we lead up to his feast day on March 19th, makes perfect sense," said Dr. Kevin Roberts, Executive Director of Catholic Families for America.
 
Today a leading organization of lay Catholics announced its sponsorship of a Novena to St. Joseph in order to defeat the radically pro-abortion, anti-family health care legislation being debated in Congress. With St. Joseph's feast day on March 19th, and plans in the House to vote on the legislation at approximately the same time, Catholics should turn to the patron saint of families for his intercession.

"At this point, we believe we are winning this debate, whether we consider the bungled legislative process or the public's awareness of the bill's problems," said Dr. Kevin Roberts, Executive Director of Catholic Families for America. "But as faithful Catholics we must not miss the chance to invoke the intercession of the second most important saint, St. Joseph, considering that his feast day coincides with the voting schedule, and that he is the patron saint of families."

Those interested in joining CFA's network of several thousand members can access the novena prayers at www.catholicfamiliesusa.org.

~ Via Christian Newswire.

Will He or Won't He?

If the House passes the Senate health care bill, we will have Obamacare. There will be NO reconciliation after Obama signs it.

Stupak Says No Abortion Funding Deal in Place, Won't Back Down on Health Care

Bart Stupak, the Michigan congressman whose pro-life Democratic colleagues have the ability to determine whether the Senate health care bill that contains massive abortion funding lives or dies, said in a late Tuesday interview that no abortion deal is in place and he won't back down.

Stupak sparked some concerns with comments that he was optimistic that a deal could be reached on a sidebar bill that concerns some pro-life advocates.

They worry such a bill would enable the pro-abortion Senate bill and Obama would sign it but not the abortion funding limits.

Charles Krauthammer thinks Stupak will cave:

Optimistic Stupak Thinks Dems Will Actually Include Abortion Ban in Health Bill

Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) now says he is "more optimistic" that negotiations with top Democrats in the House could lead to adequate language banning abortion funding in health care reform, the Associated Press reported Monday.

"I'm more optimistic than I was a week ago," Stupak told the AP in an interview in Michigan.

"The president says he doesn't want to expand or restrict current law (on abortion). Neither do I," he said. "That's never been our position. So is there some language that we can agree on that hits both points - we don't restrict, we don't expand abortion rights? I think we can get there."

Stupak, the author of the House health bill's abortion funding ban, maintains that leaders will not have enough votes to pass the Senate bill if it is not fixed to ban government funding of abortion with language reflecting the famous Hyde amendment, which includes an exception for rape and incest.

Although Stupak claims that at least a dozen House Democrats will also vote "no" on a bill without the Hyde-like language, it is unclear how such language could be brought to bear on the measure. In order to avoid sending another version of the bill back to the Senate, where Democrats no longer maintain a supermajority, House leaders have been pursuing avenues to pass the Senate bill in the House unamended.

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Obama's Abortion Mandate in Healthcare Would Increase Breast Cancer Deaths, Premature Births

The Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer today sharply rebuked President Obama, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi and others in Congress for aggressively pursuing an effort to include an abortion mandate in healthcare reform, despite having been informed of overwhelming evidence showing the U.S. National Cancer Institute deliberately misled women with its 2003 workshop that purported to conduct a "comprehensive review" of  an abortion-breast cancer (ABC) link. [1]  On January 20, 2010, the Coalition sent a letter to Obama and members of Congress which notified them of the NCI's misconduct and called for a Congressional investigation of the agency. [2]


"It is despicable that Obama and others in Congress are striving to force taxpayers to pay for abortions, even though an abortion mandate would result in more breast cancer deaths and premature births among women with abortions," said Karen Malec, president of the Coalition. "Obviously, they don't care if women die and babies develop cerebral palsy.

"The NCI has declared the ABC link 'non-existent,' but research last year by NCI branch chief Louise Brinton revealed that she and her colleagues at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center are convinced the link exists (and they found that women using oral contraceptives have a four-fold increased risk of the deadly triple-negative breast cancer). [5] Three studies last year (and dozens of studies since 1957) reported an ABC link. [3-5] Additionally, medical texts admit that childbearing sharply reduces breast cancer risk. No one can deny that abortion causes women to lose that protective effect.

"Three systematic reviews and meta-analyses last year confirmed a link between abortion and premature birth. [6-8] The Institute of Medicine identifies abortion as a risk factor for premature birth. [9] Premature birth puts babies at risk for neonatal death, cerebral palsy, mental retardation, epilepsy and difficulties walking, seeing and hearing."

"Why do Obama, Reid and Pelosi hate women and children? Terrorists have not caused as many injuries and deaths among the American people, as have abortion enthusiasts in our government and the abortion industry," charged Malec.

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