Lost in the debate over the legislation funding the federal government is a key victory for pro-life advocates. While most of the focus has been over passing the legislation in the first place and a filibuster from Senator Rand Paul, pro-life advocates have been pushing to repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board — which has been commonly and derisively known as death panels in Obamacare.
Thankfully it appears that those controversial death panels maybe no more.
The board, composed of 15 unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats, was not only directed to limit Medicare spending, but also to limit private, nongovernmental spending on health care to a growth rate below medical inflation. Little attention was given to this more sweeping danger of rationing healthcare paid for with nongovernmental dollars. IPAB’s powers went well beyond an effort to control Medicare spending. IPAB would have created drastic limits for the Department of Health and Human Services to impose on what Americans are allowed to spend out of their own funds to save their own lives and the lives of their families.
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President Donald Trump released a presidential budget request for FY 2019. According to a 2017 article from ThoughtCo, every February, the annual federal budget process begins with the release of a presidential budget request to Congress:
The president’s budget proposal serves as a “starting point” for the Congress to consider. Congress is under no obligation to adopt all or any of the President’s budget and often makes significant changes. However, since the President must ultimately approve all future bills they might pass, Congress is often reluctant to completely ignore the spending priorities of the President’s budget.
Included in the president’s budget request on page 56 is the following section regarding the Title X Family Planning program and Medicaid, in which President Trump requests prohibiting federal funds from going to “certain abortion providers”:
Prohibits Certain Abortion Providers from Receiving Federal Funds. The Budget includes provisions prohibiting certain abortion providers from receiving Federal funds from HHS, including those that receive funding under the Title X Family Planning program and Medicaid, among other HHS programs.”
Last year, for FY2018, President Trump also requested to “eliminate[] funding for Planned Parenthood, including Medicaid reimbursements” — which did not happen — according to a previous Live Action News report. The president has made it clear that he is not a fan of the nation’s #1 abortion profiteer, Planned Parenthood, even signing a bill in 2017 allowing states to defund the organization.
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 February 14, 2018 (LifeSiteNews) – Pro-life activists are asking for a face-to-face meeting with FBI Director Christopher Wray after text messages between two disgraced FBI agents revealed they “truly hate” pro-lifers and wished for an excuse to cancel the 2016 March for Life.
“In light of these offensive texts, the pro-life movement has serious questions concerning the impartiality and credibility of the FBI toward our community,” says a letter the activists sent to Wray.
It was signed by Rev. Patrick Mahoney of the Christian Defense Coalition, Troy Newman of Operation Rescue, Mark Harrington of Created Equal, Father Terry Gensemer of CEC for Life, Larry Cirignano of the Children First Foundation, Lauren Handy of Mercy Missions, and Father Stephen Imbaratto of Priests for Life.
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Pro-life advocates in St. Louis, Missouri soon could lose their free speech rights outside of city abortion facilities.
Facing pressure from abortion activists, the St. Louis Board of Alderman public safety committee voted Wednesday to approve a buffer zone around the city Planned Parenthood, St. Louis Public Radio reports.
The ordinance would put an 8-foot buffer zone around the facility driveway to prevent sidewalk counselors from approaching people with life-affirming information and support.
Brian Westbrook, executive director of the Coalition for Life in St. Louis, said that 8-foot zone really is more like 20 feet.
“The 8 feet starts at the edge of the driveway. And then you add the size of the driveway, that’s another 12 feet to the middle. So you’re at least 20 feet away,” Westbrook told the radio station. “I cannot properly hand them a piece of information that offers free services to them from 20 feet away.”
He said pro-lifers in the city are contacting the aldermen to voice their opposition to the ordinance. Westbrook said the proposal clearly violates the First Amendment, and they will consider a legal challenge if it passes.
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(More info on BB 34)