Tony Perkins' Washington Update
December 10, 2004

Pernicious Partisan Politics Caps Conscience in California

One bright point regarding the $388 billion spending package that President Bush signed last month was the Hyde-Weldon Amendment, which protects health care entities from being forced to provide, pay for, or refer for abortions. This week, California Attorney General Bill Lockyer-- backed by California Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, and Planned Parenthood--threatened a lawsuit, calling this conscience clause amendment "an unacceptable attack on women's rights and state sovereignty." This invention of abortion as a "woman's right" completely ignores the rights of both the health care providers and the unborn children. His statement better describes Roe v Wade than it does a measure that seeks to protect those who view abortion for what it actually is, the brutal murder of an innocent, unborn child. The reason Rep. Dave Weldon (R-Fla.), a doctor himself, introduced his amendment was to give conscience protection to health care providers who do not want to be part of the billion-dollar abortion industry. Attorney General Lockyer might not care about the rights of health care providers and children in California, but a majority of Congress and President Bush do. We will fully support the President's Justice Department in defending this important measure.

©Copyright 2004, Tony Perkins' Washington Update, December 10, 2004, Family Research Council.

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