Stupak dismisses GWU study on effects of amendment
In keeping with the commitment of the Republican party and the far right to ignore any evidence, science, analysis or data inconsistent with their ideological worldview, Congressman Bart Stupak (D-MI) has said he simply does not believe the findings of the George Washington University analysis [3] of the industry-wide effects of the Stupak-Pitts Amendment on coverage for abortion care. RH Reality Check covered this study and another one by the Kaiser Family Foundation last week [4].
Stupak told Talking Points Memo [5] that he takes issue with the GW analysis, which found that his anti-abortion amendment to House health care legislation would have "industry-wide effects" and ultimately cause insurance companies to stop covering abortions altogether.
The report was written by chair of the Department of Health Policy Sara Rosenbaum, research professors Lara Cartwright-Smith and Ross Margulies, professor Susan Wood, and lead researcher D. Richard Mauery.
Republican activists seeking "purity test" for GOP candidates
Conservative Republican Party activists want to withhold money from GOP candidates who stray too far from party orthodoxy, reports the Wall Street Journal [6].
Ten Republican National Committee members are distributing a plan to impose a purity test – calling for money to be withheld from anyone who disagrees with conservative principles on more than two of 10 core issues.
Among the required stances: oppose President Barack Obama’s health care and cap-and-trade proposals as well as his stimulus plan; reject government funding for abortion; vote “no” on legislation to help unions organize; and support keeping the Defense of Marriage Act.
“The problem is that conservatives have lost trust in the Republican Party that we will govern as conservatives,” said James Bopp Jr., an Indiana lawyer and one of 168 RNC members who will debate the idea during the party’s winter meeting in January. “And I think that loss of trust is warranted to a certain extent because of the fact that we in the final several years of the Bush administration were supporting increased government, earmarks and, ultimately, bailouts.”
Bopp and other conservatives have tried in the past to convince RNC Chairman Michael Steele to label Obama a “socialist.” The new resolution brings back the ‘s’ word, arguing that, “Republican solidarity in opposition to Obama’s socialist agenda is necessary to preserve the security of our country, our economic and political freedoms, and our way of life.”
The resolution underscores a simmering tension within the party about how to remake the GOP and regain power in Washington, coming as conservative candidates such as Florida U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio, are challenging establishment Republicans viewed as too accommodating to the left.
Other News:
November 23, 2009
Adoption Study Says Identity Questions Last a Lifetime; Urges Open Birth Records [7] ABC News
Promote adoption [8] Northwest Herald
Adopting A New Attitude [9] Huffington Post
NJ lawmakers may consider legislation that would unseal birth records in adoptions [10] The Star-Ledger
Family planning critical in HIV-ridden Uganda: U of A study [11] Edmonton Journal
Medicaid Coverage of Family Planning Services [12] Kaiser Family Foundation
Bishops reaffirm Natural Family Planning [13] CathNews
Health care will reform birth control choices too [14] Kansas.com
5 Reasons Why Women Should Consider An IUD [15] YourTango
Congressman rejects SPHHS study on abortion amendment [16] The George Washington University Hatchet
Abortion and the capital punishment [17] Examiner.com
GOP slams key Democrats [18] Boston Globe
Senate Bill More Closely Preserves Abortion Status Quo [19] Center For American Progress
A Wake-Up Call for America's Catholics [20] FOXNews
Round Two: The Coming Battle Over Abortion Funding [21] The Nation.
Steele: 'No hypocrisy' on abortion [22] Politico
Abortion-Expanding Senate Health Care Bill Passes Procedural Vote [23] Lifesite
Phill Kline's former chief of staff hit with legal ethics complaint [24] Kansas City Star
Irene Vilar's Impossible Motherhood ... [25] Feminists for Choice
Health Care Debate Revives Abortion Campaigners [26] New York Times
Abortion slaying suspect may use necessity defense [27] The Associated Press
Abortion debate underlies US, state controversies [28] McCook Daily Gazette
Should Bishops Ask Officials to Skip Communion Over Abortion? [29] U.S. News & World Report
Abortion decision painful, personal [30] Knoxville News Sentinel
Tensions Flare Between Religious Leaders and Lawmakers Over Abortion [31] FOXNews
Comprehensive sex ed needed [32] Kansas City Star
Catholics for Choice: Another Courageous Kennedy Shows True Leadership [33] PR Newswire
Pro-life movement regrouping after stem cell defeat [34] Lincoln Journal Star
Follow Jodi Jacobson on Twitter, @jljacobson [35]