Illinois House passes HB 2486 to penalize
"unlawful interference" with access to health services (03/31/03)

On March 31, 2003, by a 62-49 vote, the Illinois House passed HB 2486.  This bill would penalize anyone who "intimidates or interferes with" people about to enter a "reproductive health services" facility.  Opponents of the bill called it a threat to free speech rights.

Illinois House passes HB 3589 to permit human cloning for research (03/26/03)

On March 26, 2003, by a vote of 60-56, the Illinois House passed HB 3589 to permit human cloning for research purposes.  The bill's proponents denied it, but "somatic cell nuclear transplantation," specified as permitted in this bill, is the technical description of cloning. 

House committee passes ban on partial-birth abortion (03/26/03)

By a 19-11 vote the House Judiciary Committee passed H.R. 760 to ban partial-birth abortions.  The bill now moves to the full House of Representatives for a vote where approval is expected.  The Senate has already passed a similar bill by 64-33.

James Kopp found guilty of murder (03/18/03)

James Kopp was found guilty of second degree murder for killing abortionist Barnett Slepian in 1998.  The Pro-Life movement supports just punishment for anyone who ignores the value of human life and sees killing as a solution to protect preborn children.  Anything else would be inconsistent with Pro-Life values.

U.S. Senate passes S.3 to ban partial birth abortion (03/13/03)

On March 13, 2003, the U.S. Senate passed 64-33 a bill to ban partial birth abortion (S.3).  Last year, while majority leader, Senator Tom Daschle would not allow a vote on a similar bill.  S.3 now moves to the House of Representatives where passage is expected.   President Bush has said he will sign the ban on partial birth abortion into law and praised the Senate vote. 

Choose Life license plate bill stopped in committee (03/12/03)

Democratic leadership in both the Illinois House and Senate prevented Choose Life license plate bills from getting discussed in committee hearings, even though these hearings were scheduled and a number of people came to Springfield to testify in favor of these plates.  House Speaker Michael Madigan has made it clear that he opposes Choose Life license plates, as does Senate President Emil Jones.

Arkansas authorizes Choose Life license plates (03/10/03)

Arkansas Govenor Mike Huckabee signed a bill authorizing a Choose Life specialty license plate, making Arkansas the eighth state to authorize Choose Life plates.

Vote to end filibuster of Estrada nomination fails (03/06/03)

A cloture motion in the U.S. Senate failed to end debate on the nomination of Miguel Estrada to the U.S. Court of Appeals in the nation's capital.  The motion received 55 of the 60 votes needed with Democrats John Breaux of Louisiana, Ben Nelson of Nebraska, Bill Nelson of Florida, and Zell Miller of Georgia joining all 51 Republicans.   Debate will continue because Democratic leaders continue to block a Senate vote on the nomination.

U.S. House passes H.R.534 to ban all human cloning (02/27/03)

H.R.534 to ban all human cloning was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 241-155 and has been sent to the U.S. Senate.  The equivalent Senate bill is S.245 which has not yet been scheduled for debate.

Abortion Protesters Aren't Racketeers (02/26/03)

On February 26, 2003, the U.S. Supreme Court announced their decision in the NOW v. Scheidler case.  By 8-1, they ruled that protests at abortion clinics do not constitute extortion.  This ruling overturns the 1998 jury decision that awarded $258,000 to abortionists and lifts the injunction against protests at abortion clinics.  NOW's case using RICO was dismissed because the court ruled that this Federal racketeering law was improperly applied in this case.  This decision is a tremendous victory for free speech in our nation. 

Appeal of Indiana informed consent law rejected (02/24/03)

The Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal of the Indiana informed consent law that requires a woman to be counseled face-to-face about abortion risks and offered pictures of what her unborn child might look like.  After 8 years in court, this law can finally be fully enforced.

UN report will warn of overall population decline (02/24/03)

LifeSiteNews reported that a United Nations report due later this month warns that the world will soon face overall population decline.   Decline in fertility shows no indication of stopping at the 2.1 replacement rate.   Italy has already fallen to a rate of 1.2 children per woman.

Senate Democrats filibuster Estrada nomination (02/12/03)

Debate on the nomination of Miguel Estrada to the U.S. Court of Appeals in the nation's capital continues in the U.S. Senate.  Even though three Democratic Senators have declared their support for Estrada, Senator Tom Daschle has announced a Democratic filibuster of the nomination.  The Democratic Senators opposed to this tactic include: John Breaux of Louisiana, Ben Nelson of Nebraska, and Zell Miller of Georgia.

Senate Judiciary Committee approves Miguel Estrada (01/30/03)

The Judiciary Committee of the U.S. Senate, now under Republican leadership, approved the nomination of Miguel Estrada for consideration by the full Senate.  In a 10-9 vote strictly along party lines, Estrada moved a step closer to becoming the first Hispanic on the U.S. Court of Appeals in the nation's capital.

"Morning after pills" can cause ectopic pregnancies (01/30/03)

President Bush asks for ban on cloning & partial birth abortion  (01/28/03)

During his State of the Union address, President George W. Bush identified steps to help build a culture that values every life. He stated, "And in this work we must not overlook the weakest among us. I ask you to protect infants at the very hour of their birth, and end the practice of partial-birth abortion. And because no human life should be started or ended as the object of an experiment, I ask you to set a high standard for humanity and pass a law against all human cloning."

Firing pregnant women leads to job discrimination cases (01/24/03)

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) reported a significant increase in job discrimination cases where women are fired because they are pregnant.  In many of these cases, the women are told to get an abortion and when they choose not to, they are fired.  So is abortion the woman's choice or the employer's choice?  In any case, firing pregnant women is against the law.

Over 200,000 people participated in the March for Life on January 22nd in Washington, D.C. while about 150 people attended Planned Parenthood's Rally to Save Roe at 12:30pm in front of the Supreme Court building.  Most press coverage implied similar representation for both sides of the issue -- they must use new math.

Women testify about the impact of abortion (01/22/03)

Nearly 800 women who regret their abortions are speaking out against abortion this week as part of a nationwide campaign called "Silent No More."  The campaign is designed to show that women who have abortions often deal with depression, guilt and shame.

68% favor restoring legal protection for unborn children (01/16/03)

The Washington Times reports that a poll of 1000 Americans taken last month by Wirthlin Worldwide found that 68% favor "restoring legal protection for unborn children."  Also, 66% favor Supreme Court nominees "who would uphold laws that restore legal protection to unborn children."

Democrats end delaying tactics in U.S. Senate (01/16/03)

Last night the U.S. Senate passed resolutions to organize Senate committees with Republican leadership.  This agreement finally overcame delay tactics used by the Democrats.  Republican Senators accused Democrats of launching a "coup to negate November's election results."

Abortions at Planned Parenthood increase 8.1% (01/13/03)

Planned Parenthood released their Fiscal Year 2002 annual report.  The report indicates that the number of abortions they perform annually increased 8.1% to 213,026.  Planned Parenthood generated a profit of $12.2 million on revenues of $692.5 million during the year ended 06/30/02. 

Plan to produce suicide machine (01/12/03)

Philip Nitschke, an Australian assisted suicide advocate, described a suicide machine he developed when he appeared at a euthanasia conference held in San Diego.  He intends to produce and distribute it in the USA.  Nitschke says his suicide machine can circumvent assisted suicide laws because it will allow a person to kill himself without assistance.

Senator Frist intends to push Pro-Life bills (01/12/03)

Senator Bill Frist, now Senate Majority Leader, said he will work for bans on partial-birth abortion and human cloning.  He described partial-birth abortion as "a rogue procedure that is not in the medical textbooks."  On January 8th, HR 234 was introduced in the U.S. House to ban all human cloning.  Frist intends to act on that bill once it is passed by the House.

Claim of human clone likely to be a hoax (01/07/03)

Clonaid confirmed that the parents of their claimed first cloned birth were not willing to allow the DNA tests that would validate that the baby was a clone, and made no comment about testing the second baby claimed to be a clone.  On January 5th, Clonaid had announced the birth of a second cloned baby to a lesbian couple from the Netherlands, saying they expected this baby would undergo genetic testing to show it is a clone.  On January 6th, the journalist who was to oversee the DNA testing said, "this may be an elaborate hoax." 

Bush resubmits appellate court nominees (01/07/03)

On January 7th, President George W. Bush resubmitted appellate court nominees Charles Pickering of Mississippi and Priscilla Owen of Texas for Senate confirmation.  They were rejected last year by the Democrat-controlled Senate Judiciary Committee because of their Pro-Life views.  He also resubmitted 29 other nominees who were never even given a hearing by that committee over an 18-month period since they were nominated.

NARAL changes name to Naral Pro Choice America (01/05/03)

The New York Times reported on January 5th that National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL) is changing their name to Naral Pro Choice America.  They want to focus on "choice" rather than abortion.  They are planning an extensive advertising campaign to warn the nation about the serious threat to "choice" given the results of the November, 2002 election.