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*  *  *  TAL UPDATE 11/29/09  *  *  *
(full text below)

Debate on Abortion in National Health Care Insurance Bill Moves to U.S. Senate

Last month the U.S. House of Representatives passed Speaker Nancy Pelosi's national health care insurance plan, HR 3962, but not before adopting the pro-life Stupak-Pitts Amendment to remove abortion coverage. Pro-abortion groups immediately lashed out in anger. Planned Parenthood's president, Cecile Richards, issued a statement saying "the Planned Parenthood Federation of America has no choice but to oppose HR 3962."

Now the debate has moved to the U.S. Senate. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) introduced his own plan that dropped the Stupak-Pitts Amendment and substituted language that would fund abortion on demand in two big new federal government programs. National Right to Life's Douglas Johnson called the bill's abortion language "entirely unacceptable." He was joined by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, including Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Houston, who called Reid's bill an "enormous disappointment."

The Senate is scheduled to begin debating Reid's bill on Monday, Nov. 30. Senate rules require 60 votes to cut off debate (cloture) before a vote can be taken. Debate may continue on the Senate floor in a pitched battle for a number of weeks because, at present, Reid lacks the necessary 60 votes.

Both U.S. senators from Texas oppose cloture. Although Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison supports legal abortion and voted to endorse Roe v. Wade, she opposes tax funding for abortion. Pro-life Sen. John Cornyn also opposes the abortion funding language in Reid's bill.

If and when Reid's bill leaves the U.S. Senate, there will be another major battle in the U.S. House, and Texas Alliance for Life is preparing for it by energizing pro-life citizens. Before the House votes last month, Texas Alliance for Life conducted an extensive campaign to exclude abortion coverage in the bill. TAL focused on contacting pro-lifers across the state -- but especially in the 12 districts occupied by Democrats -- using 16,000 mailed postcards like the one at left, 15,000 phone calls, 19,000 emails, and paid radio ads in south Texas totaling $6,600. The campaign paid off. Of the 32 U.S. representatives from Texas, all 20 Republicans voted for the pro-life Stupak-Pitts Amendment. They were joined by four Democrats.

To fund the next campaign, we will again rely on donations. We need 100 people to donate $50, but any amount is welcome. To help defeat the pro-abortion health care insurance bill, please click on the button to make a donation online. (Click on Texas Alliance for Life, Inc., and type "Health Care" in the "Comments" field.) Or call our office at 512.477.1244.



For updates, visit www.TexasAllianceforLife.org.

Gianna Jessen's Talk at TAL Dinner Now Available on CD and Video

Video and audio recordings of the main presentations from the 2009 Annual Benefit Dinner are now available. Visit our website for the YouTube videos. Please help us share these powerful messages far and wide by emailing them to friends and family and sharing them through your social networks.

TAL's Leadership Circle members will receive a complimentary CD containing talks from Gianna Jessen and TAL's Executive Director Joe Pojman, Ph.D. Copies of the CD are available for a small donation of $5. Request your copy today by calling us at 512.477.1244.

Travis County Healthcare District to Consider Property Tax-Funded Abortions at Dec. 10 Meeting

The Travis County Healthcare District (TCHD) board of managers will meet on Thursday, Dec. 10, to consider continuing to fund abortions with property taxes. The TCHD will consider proposed contracts totaling $450,000 for approximately 1,000 abortions a year with one or more abortion facilities. Despite repeated requests, the TCHD has so far refused to make available the proposed contracts.

Residents of Travis County are urged to express their opposition to the property tax-funded abortions in two ways. First, call or email the TCHD. Second, plan to attend the Dec. 10 meeting. (Bring friends and members of your church.) You do not need to speak. Your presence alone will speak volumes.

Find instructions on contacting the board and attending the meeting here. Your contacting the board will have a huge effect. If you do not live in Travis County, please forward this information to someone who does.

The TCHD is a taxing authority that collects property tax dollars and spends those dollars by contracting for health care for low-income residents of Travis County. The TCHD has funded abortions since its creation in 2004. Contracts with two abortion facilities totaling $450,000 (for approximately 1,000 abortions per year) expire in December. The abortion facilities are Whole Women's Health at 8401 N. IH 35 and Austin Women's Health Center at 1902 S. IH 35.

The abortions are performed on demand on healthy women with healthy unborn babies. No medical reason or referral is required.

In August, the TCHD approved its 2010 annual budget, which includes a $450,000 line item for abortions. The Travis County Commissioners approved the TCHD budget at their Sept. 22 meeting, as required by state law. It is feared that the proposed contracts will include Planned Parenthood, which runs the state's largest chain of abortion facilities. For updates, visit www.TexasAllianceforLife.org.



updated 12/1/09