Crist’s ultrasound veto not based on facts
Gov. Charlie Crist disregarded the facts in his message vetoing the bill giving a woman the choice — she may decline — of seeing an ultrasound image of her child before she OKs an abortion.
He claimed ultrasound is a “burden” on women and an unnecessary medical test. However, a Florida Senate staff analysis says, 82% of abortion facilities in Florida already require it, as standard medical practice to determine the gestational age and position of the baby, check for life-threatening ectopic pregnancy and other medical concerns, and for the safety of the patient.
As with many tests done for other elective surgeries, it also gives the patient vital information so she can make a fully informed choice whether to undergo the surgery. Why do opponents want to keep medical information from women?
Planned Parenthood claimed the bill “robs a woman of the right to choose.” Untrue. She still could chose whether to see the ultrasound image, and whether to abort the baby or continue her pregnancy.
The governor said ultrasound violates a right to privacy. Yet, the bill doesn’t require that any private information be revealed.
The ultrasound cost normally has been included in the cost of an abortion. If a woman decides not to abort, she could be required to pay an ultrasound cost. That is no different than the current situation. And if she can afford an abortion, currently starting at around $450, she certainly can afford the lesser cost of an ultrasound.
In vetoing this bill, Gov. Crist also turned down a ban on using federal healthcare funds for abortion in Florida. Yet a broad majority of the public object to using their tax money for abortion. Crist avoided mentioning this issue in his veto message.
When this comes up again next spring, may the principals and the media base their positions on facts rather than distortions.
The bill would help both the woman and the baby.
Help save babies, support moms and dads
Join us in prayer for unborn babies and their moms and dads, in front of Sarasota Planned Parenthood any Friday, any time you wish between 10am and noon. It’s on Central Avenue between 7th and 8th streets (five blocks north of Fruitville, west of Orange).
(Don’t park in business or private lots or drives. Use only city-designated street parking.)
Babies are being saved from abortion by prayer and sidewalk counseling there. And support is offered to the moms. If you can’t be there, pray for the babies wherever you are.
Pro-life videos on YouTube
An informal group of citizens presented a pro-life counter message on US-41 outside Planned Parenthood’s recent annual dinner. Two of the pro-life representatives were interviewed. The video segments are on YouTube, about 9 minutes each, concluded by a wrap-up commentary by interviewer Nate Buckley. To see these two videos go hereand here
Who we are:
Sarasota-Manatee Right to Life, Inc., an affiliate of the National Right to Life Committee, is a non-profit, secular community organization established to educate the public through peaceful means regarding life issues such as abortion, infanticide, euthanasia, stem cell research and assisted suicide.
SMRTL promotes the protection of the right to life of the unborn child, the elderly and the disabled by promoting legal, political, social and cultural reforms designed to ensure both the right to life and the human dignity of each person from the moment of fertilization until natural death.
Read more here
Help out the pro-life cause
Annual dues are $15 individual or $20 family. Send to
Sarasota-Manatee Right to Life
P.O. Box 2835 Sarasota 34230
With your request to join, please include your name, address, phone and e-mail address.
Separately,you also can get a regular local pro-life e-mail letter, “Pro-Vita.”
If you would like to get further involved, just call or write us, or visit one of our regular board meetings.
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Where the candidates stand
This year’s primary election is Tuesday, Aug. 24. Early voting starts Monday, Aug. 9.
We sent e-mail to candidates 4 times, asking if they’re pro-life or pro-choice and asking one life question. Responses are in quotation marks. Some didn’t respond. Other indications of their positions are given where known and verified. Right to Life (RTL) and Planned Parenthood (PP) ratings are shown if available, based on questionnaires and/or legislative votes.
Candidates are listed alphabetically, Dems first, then Republicans. (In.) = incumbent, listed before challengers. This information includes candidates for the Sarasota County hospital and charter review boards.
Please share it with other voters. Send questions to SMRTL@comcast.net.
– Executive Board, Sarasota-Manatee Right to Life
FEDERAL
For all U.S. and state-wide offices: Are you for or against public funds for organizations that provide abortion or related services?
U.S. SENATE (Succeeds George LeMieux)
Jeff Greene (D) — No response. Against ultrasound bill. Web site says, “Abortion should be safe, legal and rare.”
Kendrick Meek (D) — No response. Pro-choice. Opposed ultrasound bill. Sponsors bill to end US ban on foreign aid for abortion. RTL 25%. PP & NARAL endorsed.
William Escoffery (R) — “100% pro-life. Life begins at conception. This country has murdered 50 million unborn citizens. Against tax funds for abortion and related services. I favor funding to dissuade women from abortion, show them ultrasounds and promote abortion alternatives.”
Marco Rubio (R) – “Pro-life. Opposes taxpayer-funded abortions. Supports ultrasound bill. Wants Roe v Wade overturned. Will support pro-life candidates for the Supreme Court. Supports 24-hour waiting period before abortion.” RTL 94%. State and national RTL endorse him for an “unweavering commitment to renewing a culture of life in Florida and throughout the nation.”
U.S. CONGRESS: 13th DISTRICT
Rick Eaton (D) — “I like to see everything live. But abortion is an individual choice. The government and outsiders should have no input on what a person chooses to do with their body. Public funding should not be used.”
James Golden (D) — “Not pro-life or pro-choice. I don’t condemn or condone any reproductive choice an adult woman makes. If funds for effective aid aren’t enough, give every woman as much latitude as possible to make the best decision for herself, even if I don’t agree.”
(In.) Vern Buchanan (R) — “Pro-life without exception. I’ve maintained a record against public funding for abortion, related services or abortion providers. I co-sponsored HR708 to restore a ban on funding international groups that provide abortions. I supported the Stupak-Pitts amendment which sought to ensure taxes wouldn’t fund elective abortions under the health care program.” Sponsoring a bill to ban such funding. RTL 98%, endorsed.
Don Baldauf (R) — No response.
STATE
GOVERNOR (Succeeds Charlie Crist)
Brian Moore (D, formerly Socialist Party) — “Pro-choice. I support public funding (for abortion services).”
Alex Sink (D) — No response. Endorsed by pro-choice Emily’s List. Opposed ultrasound bill.
Bill McCollum (R) — “Pro-life; life begins at conception. In Congress, I voted to ban partial-birth abortion and to make it illegal to transport minors across states to avoid parental notification. I voted repeatedly to ban abortion funds and to oppose embryonic stem cell research funds.” Asked by Florida RTL if he supports banning such funds, he said “no” in 2006, “yes” in 2010. Opponent Rick Scott says McCollum took money from a Planned Parenthood lobbyist; PolitiFact says that was before the lobbyist was linked to PP. Scott said American Hospital Assn., which has members that do abortions, gave money to McCollum; Fla. RTL called the connection tenuous. McCollum backed the ultrasound bill. Florida RTL: 100% on questionnaire.
Richard Scott (R) — “100% pro-life. Unequivocally oppose public funding for abortion and abortion-related services. Back ultrasound bill, and a permanent ban on embryonic stem cell research.” Columbia/HCA admits some hospitals did abortions while Scott was CEO. Scott said some HCA-acquired hospitals demanded “local control” pacts, but HCA agreed to ban abortions “when the opportunity presented itself.” Pro-life stock funds won’t invest in HCA. Florida RTL: 100% on questionnaire.
ATTORNEY GENERAL (Succeeds Bill McCollum)
Dave Aronberg (D) — No response. Voted against ultrasound bill. RTL 44%, PP 100% pro-choice.
Dan Gelber (D) — No response. Voted against ultrasound bill. RTL 9%, PP 100% pro-choice.
Holly Benson (R) — “Pro-life. I don’t support public funding for abortion or related services.” RTL 97%.
Pam Bondi (R) — “Pro-life; endorsed by the Susan B. Anthony List. I am firmly against federal funding of abortion in any health care program, and no federal funds for any abortion-related group.” Supports ultrasound.
Jeff Kottkamp (R) — “Pro-life. Against public funding of abortion. Sponsored parental notification. Urged governor to sign ultrasound.” Life awards from Christian Coalition, Florida Catholic Conference. RTL 99%, endorsed.
STATE HOUSE
Are you for or against a law requiring a woman to be given the chance to see an ultrasound before abortion?
DISTRICT 55 (Newtown, northward into Manatee)
(In.) Darryl Rouson (D) — No response. RTL 0%. Voted against ultrasound law.
April Sheffield (D) — “Pro-choice. Pro-life means we must not allow abortion in all cases; I can’t take choice away from a woman in case of rape or incest. I’d rather teach the beauty of abstinence. Back ultrasound. A woman should be taught all options before choosing abortion.”
DISTRICT 67 (Western Manatee and NW Sarasota counties. Succeeds Ron Reagan)
Jeremiah Guccione (R) — No response. Pro-life. His non-profit group seeks adoptive homes for foster children.
Robert K. McCann (R) — “Pro-life’ life begins at conception. I was against the morning-after pill and RU486; both destroy life. The only reason for abortion is imminent loss of the mother. For ultrasound law: seeing life may deter the decision to carelessly take a life.” RTL 100%.
Greg Steube (R) — “Pro-life. For ultrasound law. No tax funding of abortion.” RTL: 100% on Fla. questionnaire.
SARASOTA COUNTY
County Commission, District 4
Are you for or against public funds for organizations that provide abortion or abortion-related services?
(In.) Nora Patterson (R) — “I don’t like this type of survey. If you would like me to talk to a group, I’d be glad to.” Voted for funds to Planned Parenthood in 2008 and before.
Mark Smith (R) — “Pro-life; life starts at conception. I was raised, and still am, Roman Catholic. Aborting a life is murder. Against abortion funding.”
School Board, District 1
Are you for or against school involvement by Planned Parenthood (PP) or other groups with “comprehensive sex-ed” approaches?
(In.) Carol Todd – No response. Voted in 2004 to let Planned Parenthood teach sex-ed, supported it in 2006.
Joseph Neunder – “As a proud father and devout Catholic, I could only be for the right to life. I’m very much against Planned Parenthood involvement in schools, not only as a father but also as a health-care provider.”
Barry Woolf – No response.
School Board, District 4
(ln.)Shirley Brown – No response. In 2006, backed PP sex-ed in the schools. RTL 0% in state house 1992-2000.
Cathy Hodgson — Pro-life. Had to withdraw late for family reasons. Thus Brown is elected without opposition, but Hodgson’s name will remain on the ballot.
School Board, District 5 (Succeeds Kathy Kleinlein)
Jane Goodwin – “Pro-life. Parents should be educating children, not the schools. The health curriculum is available to those who wish (biological/medical info only). I don’t recommend involvement by outside groups, including PP.”
Kathryn James – “I’m Catholic, raised pro-life. Sex education, and morals and values must first be taught at home. Health education in the schools must be abstinence-based, age-appropriate, and without the use of outside special interests groups.”
Hospital Board
Southern District Seat 2 (Succeeds Gerald Phillips)
Are you pro-life or pro-choice? Are you for or against involvement in elective abortion by a hospital that receives public funds?
Darryl Henry (R) — “I am pro-life. I do not support the use of public funds to support elective abortion regardless of any connection to a publicly funded hospital.”
Levko Klos (R) — “I’m Catholic and pro-life in all cases. I was told that SMH does not do abortions; therefore, I see no the need to change policy. I’ve been an active supporter of SMH for over 10 years and have attended monthly meetings and workshops. My commitment to SMH is genuine and real.”
Charter Review Board
Are you pro-life or pro-choice? How do you see this affecting the way in which you would carry out the duties of your office?
Charter Review Board, District 2 (Succeeds Dan McLeroy)
Frederick Farmer (D) — “I am a life-long member of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) and oppose violence in all forms including war and the death penalty.”
Diana Harrington (D) — No response.
Robert W. Copeland (R) — No response.
Steven R. Fields (R) — “Pro-life. The charter is the blueprint for the structure and scope of our county government. It does not address individual issues or statutes.”
Charter Review Board, District 3 (Universal primary, on Dem ballots too.)
(In.) Adam Miller (R) — No response. Said in 2006 that he would allow abortions, but was unsure about funding Planned Parenthood.
Kathy Bolam (R) — “I am pro-life and a member of the Sarasota Life Network. I will always protect life, at any age, and would oppose any charter amendment that would violate that position. I will work to preserve our republic and oppose all charter changes that would further restrict First Amendment rights.”
Dawn Moore (R) — No response.
MANATEE COUNTY
County Commission, District 2 (On all ballots)
Are you for or against public funds for organizations that provide abortion or abortion-related services?
(In.) Gwendolyn Brown (D) — “Pro-choice. Because of the teen pregnancy increase, we need a strong education program for men and women. Older men who get under-age girls pregnant should be arrested. Young men shouldn’t be allowed to play sports if they got a girl pregnant.”
Michael Gallen (D) — “My wife and I are pro-life, Catholic, with three beautiful children. But I also support individual rights as interpreted by our Supreme Court, including a right to choose abortion. I don’t support tax funding of abortions, but public funding that assists with questions about contraceptives or other parenthood advice.”
County Commission, District 4 (Succeeds Ron Getman)
Robin Sue DiSabatino (R) — “Proudly pro-life. Human life is a miracle, and the most precious of gifts which needs to be protected. I’m against public funding for abortions or related services.”
Norm Luppino (R) — “I’m pro-life and do not support county funding for abortion or abortion-related services.”
Tim Norwood (R) — “Pro-life; against abortion in every way. I will never support public funding of abortion or related services. Life begins at conception. Rape, incest and mother’s health represent less than 2% of abortions and shouldn’t be used as an argument to kill children.”
School Board, District 1
Are you for or against school involvement by Planned Parenthood (PP) or other groups with “comprehensive sex-ed” approaches?
(In.) Barbara Harvey – “All individuals have the right to life, including unborn children. It’s not the job of schools to teach the concepts presented by Planned Parenthood.”
David M. Bailey – “Pro-life. I’m not in favor of Planned Parenthood involvement in schools. No one has been able to explain just what ‘comprehensive sex-ed’ is.”
School Board, District 3
(In.) Jane Pfeilsticker – “I agree with pro-lifers that a baby’s death is the most tragic occurrence. But I support comprehensive sex-ed; data shows it’s effective in preventing pregnancy and delaying sexual activity. I support prevention of unwanted pregnancy, not termination. I support letting parents opt their child out of these programs.”
Julie Aranibar – “Pro-life. The schools are already involved with PP in Manatee County. I don’t favor PP, and favor of a health and wellness initiative that deals with health, nutrition, disease prevention, sexual development, healthy relationships and faith-based program.”
Albert Yusko – “Pro-life. In schools I oppose PP, whose final solution is abortion, which I oppose. Sex-ed starts at home. Teach our children ‘say no to sex’ instead of passing out condoms. Abstinence and purity oaths are a much better solution.”
School Board, District 5 (Succeeds Walter Miller)
Karen Carpenter – “I don’t support abortion as a means of preventing pregnancy. Parents should teach children about sex and loving relationships, abstinence and the dangers and consequences of sex, including pregnancy. If parents fail, other responsible, caring adults, from schools, churches and community organizations can help protect children from abuse and abusive relationships.”
Jennifer Radebach – “Pro-life. We need to educate youth about their bodies, how they work and how they change. We need to promote and teach abstinence. We can do this with the qualified teachers we already have.”
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