THE RYAN REPORT
Behold the Lord, Jesus Christ, who tries so hard to get our attention
In this issue:
- Planned Parenthood seeking more tax dollars in Idaho
- A quick look at elements of the budget Bush sent to Congress
- Links to recent news items on Planned Parenthood
- Planned Parenthood / Komen connection
- STOPP speaking engagements
- Life saved outside Waco Planned Parenthood abortuary
Planned Parenthood seeking more tax dollars in Idaho
The Idaho Pro-Life News Network reports that Planned Parenthood and the Idaho Women's Network have managed to get a bill introduced in the Idaho Senate that would provide millions in new tax dollars for Planned Parenthood. Sen. Shawn Keogh (R-Sandpoint) and Rep. Margaret Henbest (D-Boise) are sponsoring SB1140 to expand "family planning services." It calls on the Department of Health and Welfare to seek federal matching funds to establish a bigger effort aimed at providing low-income families with "family planning" services like education, contraceptives, counseling and sterilizations.
It calls for state appropriations of $221,000 in the first year, $300,000 in the second, and escalating tax money over five years. But this is just the tip of the ambitious money grab. Once the legislature sets aside the state money-they want the department to go get 90% matching federal funds. That translates into over $2 million the first year, $3 million the second and escalating millions in years out. Given the fact that Planned Parenthood of Idaho's total annual budget is something like $1.3 million - you can see this is a huge new infusion of money with which to expand their empire. We need your help in stopping this raid on Idaho families! Members of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee will soon be considering SB1140 - the "Planned Parenthood Funding Bill." Please call or email these legislators to express your opposition to this abuse of Idaho taxpayers!
In the Boise area, call 332-1000. Or use the toll-free number, 1-800-626-0471
Senate Health & Welfare Committee: (Click on name to send e-mail)
You can also contact these Senate leaders about the bill:
We at STOPP congratulate the members of the pro-life community in Iowa for being involved and for spotting this bill. We encourage all STOPP supporters in Idaho to immediately take action to stop the funding of Planned Parenthood in the state.
A quick look at elements of the budget Bush sent to Congress
Planned Parenthood receives over $265 million annually from federal, state and local tax money. In addition, PP tries to work closely with many government agencies to get its agenda pushed as part of the health programs, particularly women's health programs, in the United States. Of course, Planned Parenthood is very much opposed to abstinence education, as it does not make a dime from children who refrain from all sexual activity. There are several items in the proposed Bush budget that are of interest to Planned Parenthood and, therefore, of interest to us.
- Family Planning dollars:
- Title X family planning program: Level-funded at $286 million in FY2006.
- United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA): $25 million, a $9 million decrease below FY2005. The administration has blocked the release of all UNFPA funds in fiscal years 2002 through 2004.
- International Family Planning: Cut $16 million, or 3.7% less than FY2005.
- Abstinence Education:
- Abstinence Only Education: An increase of $38 million, or 18.4%, for a total of $206 million in abstinence only until married programs. Also requests that the Department of Health and Human Services, "develop research-based standards for abstinence education curricula, and conduct a review of the consistency of messages in all federal programming for youth addressing teen pregnancy prevention, family planning, and STD and HIV/AIDS prevention."
- Health Resources and Services Administration:
- Healthy Start infant mortality initiative: Cut 4.8% below this year's level, a $5 million cut.
- Maternal and Child Health Block Grant: Level-funded, no increase, at $724 million.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
- National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program: A $48,000 or 0.02% increase above FY2005 levels to $204.5 million in FY06. This program helps fund cancer prevention programs, and provides lifesaving screening for low-income women.
- Safe Motherhood/Infant Health Program: An $11,000, or 0.02% increase over FY2005 levels. This program gathers data on pregnancy related deaths, and researches smoking during pregnancy and perinatal depression.
- Department of State:
- Child Survival and Health Programs Fund: Cut $290 million, 18.8%, from FY2005.
- HIV/AIDS: $3.2 billion for HIV/AIDS prevention activities, including $1.97 billion for the Global HIV/AIDS Initiative, a $600 million increase above FY2005.
Links to recent news items on Planned Parenthood
We present here each month links to recent stories about Planned Parenthood. (Note that many newspapers move web pages. The links below were working at time this report was initially sent.)
Planned Parenthood / Komen connection
Pro-Life Waco, the American Life League associate group that successfully fought the connection between the local Girl Scouts and Planned Parenthood, has opened a new offensive in its battle against Planned Parenthood. In a move that may have implications across the country, Pro-Life Waco is going after the Susan G. Komen Foundation to stop its funding of Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood in Waco gets $35,000 from the Komen Foundation. It is estimated that, on a national level in 2003, Planned Parenthood received a reported 21 grants totaling more than $475,000.
Pro-Life Waco has created a web site that should be useful to anyone who wants to fight the Komen/Planned Parenthood connection anywhere in the country. We encourage all our supporters to go to http://www.prolifewaco.org/Komen.htm and use the information to fight in your town.
STOPP speaking engagements
STOPP's directors, Jim Sedlak and David Bereit, regularly give talks around the country on Planned Parenthood. Our current schedule is always posted on our web site. To schedule a talk in your area, please call our offices at 540-659-4171 or e-mail us. We have the following talks coming up in the next month, please say 'hello' if you attend any of these talks:
- March 4, 2005 - Jim Sedlak, St. Jude's Faith Formation Center, Gates, New York
- March 4, 2005 - David Bereit, Chester County Women's Services, Coatesville, Pennsylvania
- March 12, 2005 - Jim Sedlak, rally to support Terri Schiavo, Pinellas Park, Florida
- March 17, 2005 - David Bereit, Huron County Right to Life, Bad Axe, Michigan
- March 19, 2005 - Jim Sedlak, CPC Leaders Meeting, Bronx, New York
- March 31, 2005 - David Bereit, Loving Touch Pregnancy Care Center, Waterloo, Illinois
- April 2, 2005 - Jim Sedlak, Delaware RTL convention, Wilmington, Delaware
Life saved outside Waco Planned Parenthood abortuary
STOPP received the following report from an avid Planned Parenthood fighter in Waco, Texas:
Yesterday at our local Planned Parenthood abortion mill (in Waco, Texas), the faithful came to the gates of hell to stand in the gap and to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. Because of their willingness to reach out to those who find themselves in a place where they ought not be, God moved to spare the life of precious baby made in His image.
This is how it happened. As Christians were making up the hedge around Planned Parenthood, a young Hispanic man pulled up and asked our brothers and sisters, "Is there any other abortion clinic around here?" They replied, "This is the only one." He responded, "The reason why I am here is because I just found out that my sister has a 9:30 appointment to have an abortion. I thought maybe if she sees me here, she might just change her mind." He was visibly upset.
The saints gathered about him to stand with him, pray, and to trust God for a miracle. As they were seeking the Lord about this crucial situation, lo and behold, her car pulled out of the Planned Parenthood parking lot. Seeing his sister leave the young man stated, "I'm just going to wait a little while longer just in case she decides to come back."
A little later on, he received a phone call from his wife relaying the joyous news, "Your sister is at our house and she wants to keep her baby!" With tears streaming down his face he passed the message unto those who stood with him during this trial. He personally shook hands and thanked every person who cared enough to be out there for him, his sister, and her pre-born baby.
Afterwards, Pastor Ronnie had the opportunity to minister to him and give him follow-up information that will help his sister bring the baby to term.
The saints found out later that the main reason why this woman decided to keep her baby was because she didn't want to face all those people who stood on the sidewalk representing Jesus, righteousness, and the plight of her child. Praise be to God!
IN KING JESUS' SERVICE,
Rusty Lee Thomas
STOPP supporters are urged to pray for Rusty's wife Liz Thomas. Liz has been dealing with a series of life-threatening medical problems for several months. She is in the hospital and is in and out of intensive care. Please say a prayer for Liz, Rusty and their 11 children - that God will grant them all the strength to come through their current trials.
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