Contact your state senator and state representative NOW!

The budget-writing Joint Committee on Finance (JFC) is scheduled to vote this Wednesday, May 18, on two pro-life provisions proposed by Governor Walker in his biennial budget bill. Governor Walker’s 2011-2013 biennial budget proposal eliminates state family planning funding under the Title V Maternal and Child Health Block Grant Program and removes men aged 15-44 from the BadgerCare Family Planning Program. (Note: Governor Walker’s budget provision to repeal the current law mandate forcing public and private health insurers to cover contraceptives was unfortunately removed by JFC as a “policy item,” and may be introduced as separate legislation.)

Pro-Life Wisconsin applauded Governor Walker for these common sense budget provisions that respect the consciences of Wisconsin taxpayers. And we again urge you to contact your state representative and state senator NOW and encourage him or her to support the following two provisions in the Governor’s biennial budget bill:

1)  Eliminating Title V state family planning funds
As it confronts an over $3 billion structural deficit, the state of Wisconsin can no longer afford the controversial business of “family planning.” All money is fungible. Family planning funds free up resources within receiving organizations, like Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, to engage in the surgical abortion business. Confidential family planning services also include the provision of chemically abortifacient birth control drugs, such as the morning-after pill and the patch, to adults and minor children. Governor Walker’s budget eliminates state family planning funding under the Title V Maternal & Child Health Block Grant Program ($1.9 million in annual general fund spending). Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, the state’s largest abortion provider, annually receives over $900,000 in Title V state family planning funding. Polls consistently demonstrate that Americans are opposed to taxpayer funding of abortions.

2)  Removing boys/men from the BadgerCare Family Planning Program
The Governor’s budget removes men aged 15-44 from the BadgerCare Family Planning Program (formerly known as the Medicaid Family Planning Waiver Program before the Obama Administration made the program permanent in Wisconsin last year). This state/federal program provides free, taxpayer-funded birth control to 15, 16 and 17-year-old boys and girls without their parents’ knowledge or consent. This undermines parental authority in the sensitive area of teen sexual health and increases underage pregnancy, abortion, and sexually transmitted diseases by encouraging sexual promiscuity. We thank the Governor for removing boys from this program, and we encourage the Wisconsin Legislature to also remove minor girls by requesting a federal waiver to raise the program’s minimum eligibility age from 15 to 18.

TAKE ACTION NOW!

Please CALL or EMAIL your state representative and state senator NOW and urge him or her to support the following two pro-life items in the Governor’s biennial budget bill:

1)  Eliminating Title V family planning funds. Defund Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin and other organizations that perform or refer for abortion by eliminating Title V family planning funds.

2)  Removing boys/men from the BadgerCare Family Planning Program. Don’t force Wisconsin taxpayers to pay for birth control for 15, 16 and 17-year-old boys without their parents’ knowledge or consent.

To find out who your state legislators are, go to www.prolifewisconsin.org and scroll over the Legislative Affairs menu item at the top of the page. A drop down menu will appear. Click on the Speak Up icon and then scroll down the page and click on Who Are My Wisconsin Lawmakers? Type in your street address, city and zip code. The names and contact info of your state senator and state representative will appear.

Once you know who your state legislators are, go back to the Speak Up page and use the links listed under Email Your Government Officials to send your email to your state senator and state representative. That way PLW will receive a copy of your email which will enable us to monitor the activity of our grassroots advocacy campaign.

If you prefer to leave a telephone message with your state legislator, call the toll-free State Legislative Hotline at (800) 362-9472. Or call the legislator’s office directly. Thank you!

Yesterday, the Wisconsin Senate voted on and approved Senate Joint Resolution 28, which Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin has lobbied against. The  legislation honors pregnancy care centers and proclaims October 2011 as Pregnancy Care Month.

The resolution passed, 28-5; it is co-sponsored by Senator Dan Kapanke and Representative Andre Jacque, both 100% pro-life legislators endorsed by Pro-Life Wisconsin.

Text of the resolution:
Resolved by the senate, the assembly concurring, That the members of theWisconsin legislature strongly support pregnancy care centers in their unique, positive contributions to the individual lives of women, men, and babies– both born and unborn; and, be it further

Resolved, That the Wisconsin legislature commends the compassionate work of tens of thousands of volunteers and paid staff at pregnancy care centers in Wisconsin and across the United States; and, be it further

Resolved, That the Wisconsin legislature disapproves of the actions of any national, state, or local groups attempting to prevent pregnancy care centers from effectively serving women and men facing unplanned pregnancies; and, be it further

Resolved, That the members of the Wisconsin legislature proclaim October 2011 as Pregnancy Care Month in the state of Wisconsin, and commend this observance to all citizens.

Pro-life groups, students, churches, and pregnancy centers throughout Wisconsin are joining together for an outreach event featuring pro-life Christian music artist and actress Rebecca St. James, who stars in the newly-released movie, Sarah’s Choice.

Through Rebecca’s music and powerful movie, Sarah’s Choice, you will be inspired by her life-affirming message and her passion for youth. Pro-Life Wisconsin is one of the sponsors of this great event. Join us!

Date: May 14; doors open at 6pm and event begins at 7pm
Location: Appleton West High School Auditorium, 610 N Badger Ave., Appleton
Tickets: $10 at the door or online here.

Pro-life dinners are the best kind. You’re among friends who hold the same belief – that all life is sacred and should be protected.

Friday, May 7 was no different in Green Bay. A & A Alexandrina Center, a crisis pregnancy center in Green Bay, held their annual dinner auction fundraiser at the KI Convention Center.

The theme of the evening was courage, and that theme was manifested through the whole event — the special awardees, the speakers, and a very special surprise that was saved until the end. Pro-life superstar Jill Stanek gave the keynote address, and the Bishop of Green Bay, Bishop David Ricken, delivered a powerful speech to on courage and staying true.

Mayor Jim Schmidt of Green Bay was the auctioneer. The most popular item auctioned off was an autographed Green Bay Packers helmet, signed by Super Bowl MVP Aaron Rodgers. The helmet had a special message on it — Rodgers wrote, “I am pro-life!” For all you Packer fans, be proud of your team!

We will have a picture of the autographed helmet to share with you soon. For now, thank you to all who attended and all who stand in defense of the preborn.

Photo, above: Interior of St. Mary’s of Pine Bluff [photo credit: St. Mary's].

The Miracle of Life Rosary Garden, constructed on the grounds of St. Mary of Pine Bluff (3673 County Road P, Cross Plains, WI), will be consecrated as a sacred place to bury babies lost before birth. The Rosary Garden will be dedicated on Tuesday, May 24, at 5:00 p.m. by Bishop Robert Morlino.

Bishop Morlino will dedicate the Rosary Garden followed by consecration prayers and a family potluck cookout (please bring a dish to pass).

Click here for the event site.

We hope to see you there! Join Pro-Life Wisconsin in ordering a brick to go into the rosary garden.

Special general elections were held yesterday, May 3, for three vacant state Assembly seats left by Republicans joining the Walker Administration.

The PLW Victory Fund PAC endorsed candidates in all three races. Of those three, two won their election bid — Dave Craig won the 83rd District [parts of Waukesha, Racine and Walworth counties]; and Duey Strobel won the 60th District [parts of Ozaukee and Washington counties].

The 83rd District [parts of La Crosse and Monroe counties] will have a Democrat, Chris Lautz, take over the seat formerly held by a Republican.

Congrats to the newest 100% pro-life Assembly members! Thank you to everyone who voted.

A May 3 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article focused on an effort by United Way of Greater Milwaukee to reduce teen pregnancy in Milwaukee.

Eliminating teenage pregnancy is something we’re all in favor of, but mixing United Way, Planned Parenthood, sex ed and Disney princesses into the mix is hardly the solution.

United Way is tied very closely to Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin (click here for a 2010 pledge form, listing PPWI as a “Community Health Charity”). In addition, United Way and PPWI are members of a “Healthy Youth Alliance,” pushing comprehensive sex ed across Wisconsin. The list of ties goes on and on.

The point is this: United Way refers these young girls to PPWI for treatment or “services.” PPWI has been shown willing to cover up purported statutory rape, sending these young girls right back to their abusers. It’s a vicious circle, rather than a deplorable societal injustice moving toward an end point.

Since when was molesting a child and leaving that child with a child not a major felony? Why aren’t all these hit-and-run sperm donors in prison instead of sexually abusing numerous underage female children?

Continuing to push “comprehensive” sex ed on young girls starting at age 8, and then wondering why the teenage pregnancy rate is so high, is akin to holding a lighted match next to a piece of paper and then wondering why it catches on fire. Cause and effect manifested.

In mid-April, the Cardinal Newman Society released the results of an investigation detailing a staggering number of connections between abortion giant Planned Parenthood and Catholic universities in America. Five Wisconsin colleges were on that list — Edgewood College, Marian University, Marquette University Law School, Alverno College and Cardinal Stritch University.

Of those five Wisconsin colleges, all except one — Alverno — have removed the Planned Parenthood links/references. Read the updated report here [PDF]. Changes listed below.

The following has been removed as of May 2, 2011:
The Edgewood College (WI) Health Service offers a “sexual health” page that refers students to Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin for “confidential reproductive health and family planning services including pregnancy testing, contraceptive supplies.” The site also refers students to an “emergency contraception” hotline and informs students, “Plan B is available at pharmacies/stores staffed by a licensed Pharmacist. To buy Plan B, you must present identification showing proof that you are at least 18 years old. It is available to both women and men.”
http://my.edgewood.edu/sites/services/hth/Shared%20Documents/HIV,%20STI%20and%20Sexual%20Health%20Information.aspx

The following has been removed as of May 2, 2011:
The website of Marquette University Law School (WI) includes a “Milwaukee Survival Guide,” which recommends “services” including Planned Parenthood and the National Organization for Women.
http://law.marquette.edu/s3/site/images/current/orientation/pdfs/survivalGuide.pdf

The following has been removed as of May 2, 2011:
The Latino Nonprofit Leadership Program (LNLP) of the Stritch Leadership Center at Cardinal Stritch University (WI) helped develop leaders of Latino-serving nonprofit organizations to promote “social change” and improve “the quality of life to the community at large.” The program served a Planned Parenthood employee in 2005 and then two employees of Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin in 2007. The university no longer collaborates in the program.
http://www.stritch.edu/uploadedFiles/Community_Ties/Leadership_Center/Class%20of%202007.pdf
http://www.stritch.edu/uploadedFiles/Community_Ties/Leadership_Center/Class%20of%202005.pdf

As of May 2, websites about “Sex” and mentions of Planned Parenthood and SmarterSex.org had been removed from this webpage.
The Counseling Center at Marian University (WI) offers links to websites about “Sex” including the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and SmarterSex.org.
http://www.marianuniversity.edu/counseling/