Senate Gang Of Six Begin Wrapping Up Talks

Julianne LaJeunesse, University of New Mexico

The "Gang of Six", a number of Finance Committee Senators hesitant to adopt the public option, met today at Chairman Max Baucus's (D-Mont.) office to continue talks on health care reform. According to Baucus, the Senators are close to wrapping up their discussions.

Baucus described the meeting as productive and noted that the six Senators actually have found common ground on a number of policies.

"Today’s meeting was quite useful and we all recognize that there’s so much we agree on," Baucus said. "I want to underline that point. I made that many times... it's true today as well."

Committee Member Kent Conrad (D-N.D.), one of the Gang of Six, said the group covered many subjects, including preparation for a meeting with Governors tomorrow. Conrad said looking at health care reform effects at the state-level is important because state and federal governments could align under the latest draft of health care reform.

Conrad said that while the vast majority of the responsibility for the newly-insured, or at least those eligible for insurance, would lie on the federal government, states will have some role in sharing the financial burden.

"States would be given resources to help them experiment on what works best [under the plan discussed today,] including a certificate of merit program... a whole series of options open to them... on how to best make a determination on what works effectively."

Conrad also said the Senators discussed how to prevent illegal immigrants from receiving health benefits, as well as how to receive assurance from the federal government that abortions would not be financed through the proposed health care reform package.

The Gang of Six includes: Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus's (D- Mont.); Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R- Iowa); Committee Member Olympia Snowe (R- Maine); Committee Member Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.); Committee Member Kent Conrad (D-N.D.); and Committee Member Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.)

N.J. Congressman Worried About Abortion Language In Healthcare Plan

By Travis Martinez, University of New Mexico- Talk Radio News Service

Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) took issue Thursday morning with President Obama's address to Congress. Smith, a member of the Pro-Life Caucus and one of the strongest opponents of abortion in the House of Representatives, argued that the President did not do enough to erase doubts that his admistration's healthcare plan will include funding for abortions.

"Americans do not want to be complicit in the dismemberment or chemical poisoning of unborn children... public funding and facilitating [of abortions] can in no way be construed as health care reform," said Smith.

Smith claimed that Wednesday's address was merely a repeat of an August 19 conference call, when the President told members of the ‘40 Days for Health Reform’ Coalition, "You've heard this is going to be government funding of abortion, not true."

Smith argued that the plan would allow abortions to be covered under the public option and by federally subsidized private plans. Smith cited the Capps Amendment, which would protect abortion coverage and would include federal funding and federal subsidies for the facilitation of abortions.

Rep. Joe Pitts (R-Pa.), who spoke after Smith, said that the amendments he has submitted to the President's plan during the course of the past few months are, "Not about the legality or illegality of abortion... this is [health care reform] keeping the government out of the abortion business."

No Taxpayer Funding For Abortions, Says Bipartisan Group

By Sam Wechsler - Talk Radio News Service

America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 (H.R. 3200) must not include provisions for taxpayer-funded abortions, a bipartisan group of Congressmen led by Rep. Joe Pitts (R-Penn.) said Wednesday morning.

Right now, it's unclear whether or not such provisions are included in the proposed health care plan. “Failure to explicitly exclude abortions under this health plan will mean that they will be included. That, of course, is a de facto mandate to have them,” said Rep. John Fleming (R-La.).

Rep. Mary Fallin (R-Okla.) said she asked President Obama to clarify his position on whether taxpayer money would be used to provide abortion care, but said she has yet to hear from him. On Wednesday, she called upon him once more at the news conference to come forward and specify his intentions.

Fleming stated that 51 percent of Americans are against abortions, and 69 percent are against taxpayer-funded abortions. Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) complained that the proposed health care plan would do more to facilitate abortion than any government action since the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court case, despite the fact that the majority of Americans are against it.

Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) said that he expects at least 39 House Democrats to vote against the bill if it does not explicitly exclude abortion from being funded by taxpayer dollars.“We cannot support any health care reform proposal unless it explicitly excludes abortion from the scope of any government defined or subsidized health care plan,” said Stupak.

Pro-Life Leader Calls Deceased Doctor A Mass Murderer

By Justin Duckham-Talk Radio News Service

Following Sunday’s murder of Dr. George Tiller, one of the few physicians in the U.S. willing to perform partial birth abortions, Randall Terry, founder of the pro-life organization Operation Rescue, issued a statement that garnered controversy for failing to explicitly condemn the attacks. Instead, the statement advised anti-abortion activists to continue the use of provocative language and actions. Today, Terry held a news conference at the National Press Club to reiterate his views.

“President Obama, the pro-abortion groups, their friends on Capitol Hill are going to try to browbeat the pro-life movement into surrendering our rhetoric, our actions, and our images,” Terry stated.

Terry did not mince word when discussing Tiller, referring to the deceased man as a mass murderer and saying that Tiller will go down in history as a villain.

“Horrifically, he reaped what he sowed...he sowed death and then he reaped death in a horrifying way,” said Terry.

Terry, who was recently arrested at a protest taking place during President Barack Obama’s commencement speech at Notre Dame University, denied the notion that the current administration is open to dialogue. Rather, Terry said, they are hoping the pro-life movement will ‘shut up’.

Tiller, who had been a controversial figure for years, was shot leaving church Sunday morning. Police apprehended a fifty-one year old male in relation to the crime.

Clinton Grilled Over Abortion Views At Committee Hearing

By Kayleigh Harvey - Talk Radio News Service

Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton, answered questions for almost four-hours on foreign policy priorities in the Obama administration in a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing today.

Upon entering Clinton was met with protest signs from Code Pink asking the State Department to begin talks with the Palestinian government even if it did include Hamas, as they were democratically elected to their positions. One protester held a sign which read, “It is called the ‘state’ not ‘hate’ department.”

During the hearing Clinton made it clear that talks between the Obama administration and Hamas. She said, “The President’s policy...is very clear, we will not deal with, nor in any way fund, a Palestinian government that includes Hamas unless and until Hamas has renounced violence, recognized Israel and agreed to follow the previous obligations of the Palestinian authority. That is our policy, but we want to leave open the door so that can happen.”

This was Clinton’s first appearance to the House since her confirmation hearings earlier this year. In her opening statement she spoke of the progress she had made nearly 100-days into her new role. Clinton reiterated the Presidents goals in Afghanistan and and Pakistan and stated the administrations “core goal to disrupt, dismantle and defeat Al Qaeda, to prevent their return to safe havens in Afghanistan or Pakistan.”

On Iran Clinton said, “We are deploying new approaches to the threat posed by Iran, and we are doing so with our eyes wide open and with no illusions. We no the imperative of preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons after years, during which the United States basically sat on the sidelines, we are now a full partner in the P5+1 talks.”

Before taking questions Clinton told the committee, “We are in this together. We have to row in the same direction for the benefit of our country and our children.”

From the Republican side, Clinton was asked multiple questions on her thoughts relating to abortion around the world. Congressman Christopher Smith (R-N.J.) led the talk by asking whether “the Obama administration would be seeking in any way to weaken or over-turn pro-life laws and policies in African and Latin American countries either directly or through multilateral organizations.” Clinton told the committee, “It is my strongly held view that you are entitled to advocate and everyone who agrees with you should be free to do so anywhere in the world and so are we. We happen to think that family planning is an important part of women's health and reproductive health includes access to abortion, that I believe should be safe, legal and rare.”

Clinton told the committee that during her time as First Lady helped create the campaign against teen pregnancy which saw the rate of teen pregnancy decrease. She said, “I am sad to report that after an administration of 8-years that undone so much of the good work, the rate of teenage pregnancy is going up”. To which she received applaud from members of the public listening at the hearing.

Congressman Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb.) continued on the topic of abortion stating, “I don’t believe we should use American foreign policy to export abortion.” He feared it would “undermine” foreign relations with other countries. Congressman Bob Inglis (R-S.C.) also asked about abortion, asking Clinton her views on forced abortion in China. To which Clinton repeated her stance as First Lady stating this was “absolutely unacceptable.”

The hearing also saw clear partisan disagreement from the members on President Obama’s handshake with President of Venezuela Hugo Chavez. Congressman Mike Pence (R-Ind.) said he was “not amused” by these pictures and called Chavez a “Catro wannabe in the region”. Congresswoman Shelley Berkely (D-Nev.) addressed Pence’s during her statement, stating, “as an American I would have been mortified if our President had done anything other than what he did.” Addressing this argument Clinton said, “

Another area of partisan division lay in the decision to investigate some detainee tactics used during the Bush administration. Clinton repeated Obama stating, “No-one will be prosecuted who acted within the four corners of the legal advice that was given, following that advice to perform that function, that, that person believed was legal. However those who formulated those opinions and gave those orders should be reviewed and the President has referred that to the Attorney General.”

Asked by Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) whether they she would be in favor of releasing documents that Dick Cheney has requested be released. Clinton responded, “It won’t surprise you that I don’t consider him a particularly reliable source of information.”

Clinton also answered questions relating to safety on the Mexican border, human rights in Cuba, terrorism, and Africa and Iraq amongst other top political issues. -