California ProLife Council News 

TWO PRO-LIFE LAW FIRMS FILE PARTIAL-BIRTH ABORTION BRIEFS AT SUPREME COURT
Washington, DC -- Two more pro-life law firms, including the Thomas More Society and the Christian Legal Society have filed legal briefs in the second partial-birth abortion case to arrive at the Supreme Court. They urge the high court to reverse its 2000 decision declaring bans on partial-birth abortion unconstitutional. Thomas More indicated it was hopeful that the Supreme Court would take a new position on partial-birth abortion thanks to new Justice Samuel Alito, who replaces Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. O'Connor wrote the 5-4 majority opinion in the 2000 case saying that a Nebraska ban on partial-birth abortion was unconstitutional because it lacked a health exception, even though the three-day long abortion procedure is never necessary to protect a woman's health. Source: Life News, August 7, 2006

CALIFORNIA LABOR GROUP ASKS NATIONAL AFL-CIO LABOR UNION TO BACK ABORTION
Washington, DC -- When California's state labor coalition voted to oppose a parental notification measure on the ballot this November, they did more than just take a stand on a one-time vote. The group, which represents 2.1 million workers affiliated with 1,100 unions, approved a policy statement calling on the national AFL-CIO to endorse abortion. The national labor union has not typically weighed in on the abortion debate but the California Labor Federation voted to ask the AFL-CIO ''to reconsider its position of neutrality on the issue.'' The most recent version of the AFL-CIO policy statement on abortion, adopted in 1990, leaves it up to individual union members to arrive at their own conclusions on the matter. Source: Life News, August 7, 2006

INVESTMENT ANALYST RECOMMENDS ADULT STEM CELL RESEARCH FIRMS, NOT EMBRYONIC
Irvine, CA -- Though politicians are criticizing pro-life groups and lawmakers for opposing taxpayer funding of embryonic stem cell research, one investment relations analyst says investors wanting to put money into biotech firms should focus on those working with adult stem cells because they show better prospects. Based in California, SmallCap Sentinel has been issuing investment information for 23 years and analyst D.R. Clark says adult stem cell research firms are a better buy. "As the headline- grabbing battle regarding embryonic stem cell research rages, adult stem cell sources continue to provide an ever-broadening array of life-improving possibilities," Clark said in a statement. Source: Life News, August 7, 2006

PRO-LIFE WOMEN'S ADVOCATE BUYS BIRTHPLACE HOME OF SUSAN B. ANTHONY
Adams, MA -- A pro-life advocate has purchased the historic home that was the birthplace of suffragist organizer Susan B. Anthony. In a move that fits in with her consistent opposition to abortion, Feminists for Life of America (FFL), a leading pro-life women's group will manage the home. Carol Crossed, of Rochester, New York, purchased the two-story, 1,566-square foot home at auction on Saturday for $164,500. Crossed is a vice-president for Democrats for Life and a longtime supporter of FFL. She indicated an FFL member will live in the home and she hopes to eventually open it up to the public. Source: Life News, August 7, 2006

NEW CONGRESSIONAL BILL WOULD RESTRICT DRUGS USED IN ASSISTED SUICIDES
Washington, DC -- A leading pro-life senator has introduced new legislation to restrict the use of federally controlled drugs in assisted suicides. If Congress approves the bill and President Bush signs it into law, it would stop the use of drugs in all of the assisted suicide cases in Oregon, the only state to legalize the practice. The new legislation, the Assisted Suicide Prevention Act, follows on the heels of a Supreme Court decision in January prohibiting the Bush administration from restricting the use of the drugs. In a 6-3 decision, the high court ruled that the Bush administration could not use the Controlled Substances Act, which governs illegal narcotics, to stop the use of such drugs in assisted suicides. Source: Life News, August 6, 2006

CALIFORNIA AGENCY BLASTED FOR ONLY FUNDING EMBRYONIC STEM CELL RESEARCH GRANTS
Sacramento, CA -- This week, the California stem cell research agency announced it would fund $151 million in grants. However, the agency announced the funding would go only to those working with embryonic stem cell research and it's coming under fire from researchers who say that decision was misguided. Pro-life advocates have been the leading opponents of embryonic stem cell research because it involves the destruction of human life to be done. But, numerous scientists and other groups join them in saying that adult stem cell research has done more to advance science and holds out more hope for patients. Source: Life News, August 6, 2006