Senate Bill Calls Abortion “Constitutional Right,” Invalidates State Laws

Late last year U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D – CT) introduced S. 1696, the so-called “Woman’s Health Protection Act of 2013.”

Recently, there has been a buzz about this bill and what it would do.

The bill purports to protect women’s health. In reality it invalidates state laws regarding abortion, names abortion a constitutional right, and opens the door for unsafe abortion practices. Here is how.

S. 1696 Would Likely…

S. 1696 would likely:

  • Overturn Arkansas’ ban on taxpayer-funded abortion;
  • Challenge Arkansas’ ban on partial-birth abortion;
  • Affect Arkansas’ “fetal-pain” law preventing abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy;
  • Undermine our informed-consent and parental-consent laws;
  • Prevent surgical abortions from being regulated in a sensible manner; and
  • Increase access to abortifacients, despite the fact chemical abortions carry significant health risks.

Additionally, the bill

  • Repeatedly describes abortion as a constitutional right; and
  • Fails to acknowledge abortion may be regulated to protect healthcare providers’ rights of conscience or religious convictions.

S. 1696 Calls Abortion “a Constitutional Right”

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Starbucks, American Express Still Support Planned Parenthood

In 2012 we published a list of companies who support Planned Parenthood. Today we are expanding that list with additional information we have found.

Corporations commonly match employees’ gifts to charities; if an employee gives money to a charity, the employer will give the same amount of money to the same charity. However, companies often decline to match gifts to organizations that engage in controversial activities (e.g. abortion).

Nevertheless, a surprising number of companies match employees’ donations to Planned Parenthood. If someone who works for Starbucks, for instance, gives money to Planned Parenthood, Starbucks will match their gift.

It isn’t just Starbucks, either; American Express, Allstate, Bank of America, AT&T, Chevron, Microsoft, Charles Schwab, and Kraft Foods are just a few of the companies supporting America’s largest abortion provider.

Many pro-lifers prefer not to do business with companies that back abortion. If that’s you, you’ll want to check out the lists below:

The Pro-Life Legacy of Bishop McDonald

The Catholic Diocese of Little Rock announced today that former Bishop Andrew McDonald passed away at the age of 90.

Bishop McDonald served in Little Rock from 1972 to 2000. While he may be remembered for his years of ministry as a Catholic priest and bishop, I want to highlight an important legacy he leaves behind: His pro-life work.

Bishop McDonald stood for life during a time when many believed abortion “on demand and without apology” was inevitable. He organized the Respect Life office at the diocese, and he helped lead the annual March for Life in Little Rock.

Bishop McDonald was also a supporter of the Unborn Child Amendment—now Amendment 68 to the Arkansas Constitution—preventing public funds from being used to pay for abortion. In 1988 I helped lead the effort to pass the Unborn Child Amendment, and was able to start Family Council in part because the amendment campaign succeeded.

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