Correction: Our October 5 issue of FaxNotes incorrectly identified Jerry Jones as the coach of the Dallas Cowboys football team. We're glad to know that so many people read our report, as evidenced by the numerous messages pointing out that Mr. Jones is the owner of the Cowboys. We had said that Jerry Jones and his wife Gene and the Dallas Cowboys Community Foundation are listed in the Annual Report of Planned Parenthood and Northeast Texas as contributors of between $5,000 and $9,999.99 to PP's annual $5 million capital campaign . The phone number for the executive offices of the Dallas Cowboys is: 972/556-9900.

Rep. John Porter Will Not Run Again 
Republican Congressman John Porter (R-IL), the powerful Chairman of the Labor/HHS/Education Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee, announced on October 12 that he will not seek another term in office. Mr. Porter has been one of the staunchest supporters of the Planned Parenthood legislative agenda in the House. The news is welcome, since he has been an unremitting adversary of the right to life cause. The 10th District of Illinois has been trending even more liberal in recent years, so replacing Porter with a Representative more open to pro-life views remains in doubt.

Arizona's Prohibition on Fetal Tissue Research Struck Down 
An Arizona statute, enacted in 1975 and revised in 1983, barring any use of any fetal tissue or embryo resulting from an induced abortion for any medical experimentation or scientific or medical investigation, was struck down by a federal judge in Tucson on October 6. Arizona Right to Life president John Jakubczyk said the ruling was likely influenced by the "pro-abortion industry" and its desire to profit from "fetal harvesting." "I'm very disappointed with the federal judge who has chosen to disregard the will of people in Arizona in striking down a constitutional statute," Jakubczyk said. "It is once again an example of how logic is turned on its head when the subject of abortion comes before the court." (The Arizona Republic, 10/6/99)

Republicans Back Off on Pro-Life Legislation  
Republican House Leaders pressured three pro-life leaders in the House to give up their pursuit of pro-life legislation in order to work out so-called "clean" appropriations bills in the hope that President Clinton will not carry out his threat to veto any appropriations bills containing provisions that he considers to be "controversial." The amendments in question were riders to the Labor/Health and Human Services Appropriations bill. Rep. Ernest Istook (R-OK) withdrew his amendment requiring parental notice before a Title X clinic can dispense contraceptives to a minor; Rep. Todd Tiahrt's (R-KS) rider would have required Title X agencies to separate themselves physically and financially from clinics that commit, counsel or refer for abortions; and Rep. Jay Dickey (R-AR) would have prohibited taxpayer funding of experiments on stem cells obtained through the killing of embryonic babies. Clinton scores another win -- by default.

Life Advocacy Briefing  
If you want news in a timely fashion on the full range of life issues and Congressional voting records published when the votes happen, as well as a comprehensive life-issues voting record published at the end of each year, you will want to subscribe to Penny Pullen's Life Advocacy Briefing. A subscription is $39.95 annually for fax or postal mail; $29.95 for e-mail. Call Toll Free: 888-344-LIFE. We rely on it!

Bono Flips, Then Flops 
Rep. Mary Bono (R-CA) widow of the late Congressman Sonny Bono, voted against the Unborn Victims of Violence Act when it reached the House floor recently. The bill, which passed the House, would make it a separate federal crime if a fetus is killed during the commission of a crime against a pregnant woman. The Washington Post (10/11/99) reports that, "Oddly enough, Bono had voted in favor of the bill just two weeks before when it came up in the Judiciary Committee. 'I'm in trouble with both sides, no question,' Bono said. She said that 'at first blush' the bill made sense, but she decided that it had 'implications down the road for a woman's right to choose.'" Sadly, Rep. Bono received support from several pro-life groups and Members of Congress during her campaign to replace her late husband, even though it was well known that she is for a mother's right to choose to kill her unborn baby.

Michigan School Board Drops Abortion Coverage 
Michigan has a law banning public schools from providing insurance coverage for abortions. Citing a potential loss of state funding, the Chesaning Board of Education has dropped abortion coverage from the contract it recently signed with its teachers' union. The Chesaning Education Association is protesting the decision, but the board felt it had no choice but to amend the contract the 129-member union ratified last month. Superintendent Michael Dewey said, " . . . the district stood to lose 5% of our state aid and violate the law." This is just one of many fine examples of pro-life progress in Michigan -- ideas that other states will hopefully consider in the future.

Bradley Continues to Gain on Gore 
Former New Jersey Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan endorsed former N.J. Senator Bill Bradley for the Democrat Presidential nomination last month. He did so in light of the growing feeling that Vice President Gore, weighed down by so much Clinton baggage, cannot be elected President. In New Hampshire, polling numbers show that Gore is running slightly behind Mr. Bradley; in New York they are in a virtual dead-heat, and in New Jersey, which Bradley represented in the U.S. Senate for 18 years, he holds a lead over Gore of 63% to Gore's 24%.

On the Republican side, polls indicate that George W. Bush would beat both Gore and Bradley if the election were held now, but a Wall Street Journal survey found that in key states the Republican's advantage is markedly smaller with a Bradley candidacy. (The Times (UK), 9/29/99) Both Bradley and Gore are ardent pro-abortion advocates. They want abortion to stay legal. Bush's position is, at best, a tepid approach to regulating the practice of abortion. On the over-arching and fundamental right to life, Bush has said the American people are not "ready" for a human life amendment and has indicated no interest in pushing for one. He supports taxpayer-funded abortions for babies conceived through rape or incest, or to save the mother's life throughout all nine months of pregnancy. This view requires not only that abortion remain legal, but that we should pay for it through our taxes. He has yet to answer our questions about the rights of the embryonic baby.

The bottom line is, neither Bradley, Gore or Bush represent any real threat to the abortion industry. Typically, Republicans who win elections are those who draw a clear distinction between themselves and their liberal, pro-abortion opponents.