The roll call votes on the Brownback  Amendments reveals the usual suspects among Republican Senators – those who almost always side with the pro-abortion Democrats.  Voting against Senator Brownback’s efforts to protect the taxpayers from being coerced into paying for abortions were:

 

            Senators Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe (ME), Lisa Murkowski (AK), Richard Lugar (IN), Gordon Smith (OR), Arlen Specter (PA), Ted Stevens (AK), and John Warner (VA)

 

          John Warner has announced that he will not run for re-election.  Gordon Smith is said to be vulnerable to a challenge. Ted Stevens is under investigation due to charges of corruption.  Opportunities are emerging to replace these people with candidates who respect life, or at the very least, respect the rights of American taxpayers from being forced into complicity with abortion through their tax dollars.

 

Last night the Senate voted to pass H.R. 2764 as amended, Dept. of State/Foreign Ops Approps by a vote of 81-12. The Roll Call vote is posted here: http://senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00325#position

 

As you know, Senator Brownback successfully offered an amendment to reinstate the Kemp-Kasten provision (regarding forced or coerced abortions). That amendment was agreed to by a vote of 48-45.  Roll Call posted here: www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00318.

 

Unfortunately, the bill contained language that greatly undermined the Mexico City policy.  This language makes international family planning “in-kind” contributions available to foreign organizations that promote and/or perform abortions.  Senator Brownback offered a second amendment to strike this language but it failed 41-53.  Roll Call vote is posted here: http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00320.

 

Senator Boxer offered an amendment to provide both “in-kind” and cash grants and contracts to foreign organizations that promote and/or perform abortion.  The Boxer amendment was agreed to by a vote of 53-41. Roll Call is posted here: www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00319.

 

Leader McConnell submitted a statement regarding these important issues for the record reiterating his desire to reinstate the Mexico City Policy so that the President can sign the Foreign Operations Appropriations measure into law.  As you’re all aware, the President has issued a veto threat towards any amendments that undermine the Administration’s pro-life policies.

 

Senator McConnell’s statement appears below.