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June 11, 1997 |
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News From the States Florida - Pro-lifers are furious that Democrat Governor Lawton Chiles vetoed the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban. He based his decision on the lack of a "health of the woman" exception in the law, even though it has been made clear to him, as it has to President Clinton, that a "health" exception essentially nullifies the intent of the ban because the courts construe "health" to mean psychological, emotional, physical, familial and even a woman's age. The veto is expected to be overridden by the legislature, since the ban passed both houses with veto-proof margins. In a move that angered abortion advocates, Governor Chiles did sign into law Florida's Woman's Right to Know Act, which will require doctors to provide a mother with basic information concerning the development of her unborn child, and the risks of undergoing an abortion. Louisiana - Two versions of a partial-birth abortion ban are moving through the Louisiana legislature. Rep. Woody Jenkins (R-Baton Rouge) is working to reconcile the bills. It is expected to pass both houses and to be signed into law by Republican Governor Mike Foster. California - California pro-life groups are working day and night urging legislators to block passage of the state budget unless abortion funding is removed. There is currently $120 million in the 1997-98 California State Budget earmarked for abortions and abortion related services. California Right To Life Education Fund is asking Californians to immediately contact Senate Minority Leader Rob Hurtt and Assemblyman Curt Pringle, both pro-life Republicans, asking them to "provide the leadership to block passage of the budget until abortion funding is removed." CRTLEF says further, "PRO-LIFE means PRO-LIFE, not PRO-COMPROMISE!" Rhode Island - While Rhode Island Republican Senator John Chafee continues to oppose any limitation on abortion whatsoever, and is one of only four Republican Senators who voted against the ban on partial-birth abortions, the Rhode Island Legislature is moving in the opposite direction. On April 29, the Rhode Island House overwhelmingly approved a bill to ban partial-birth abortions by a vote of 73-22. An amendment to add a "health" exception was defeated 62-34 and an effort to remove criminal penalties was rejected 64-30. Four years ago, the Rhode Island House voted 51-42 for a bill that would have given Rhode Island one of the strongest abortion rights laws by allowing abortion "even if the Supreme Court overturned" the Roe vs. Wade decision. With the political tide turning in Rhode Island, efforts to replace Senator Chaffee may bear fruit in the not-too-far-distant future. Pennsylvania - Dr. Kevorkian isn't the only one helping people to kill themselves. A Unitarian minister, Rev. George Exoo, has assisted in six suicides, including people with AIDS, cancer and Lou Gehrig’s Disease, according to a major story in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (5/25/97). Exoo, who is "Chaplain in Dying" for Hemlock of Western PA, assists people who are desperate to end their suffering by advising them on carrying out the instructions in "Final Exit" by Derek Humphrey, founder of the Hemlock Society. He says physician- assisted suicide should be legalized. Otherwise, suffering people will "turn to back-alley assisted-suicides — uncontrolled, unregulated, fraught with fear and risk." SOUND FAMILIAR? | |
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