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Joe Ortwerth's
 Jeff City Update
Missouri Family E-News August 10, 2009
Blunt Leads
Pro-Life Effort
on National
Health Care Bill
 
Missouri Congressman Roy Blunt has championed efforts in Congress to keep abortion coverage out of the proposed national health care plan being pushed by the Obama administration.  Shortly before Congress's August recess, Blunt co-authored an amendment in the House Energy and Commerce Committee that would have prevented mandated abortion coverage in the health care plan's benefits package.  That amendment was initially adopted on a nearly party-line vote.
 
"Again and again, Congress has made clear that federal tax dollars should not be used to fund procedures that are objectionable to the majority of Americans," Blunt said.  "As more and more Americans express their concern over the government takeover of our health care system, we must send a clear message that American tax dollars should not be used to fund abortions."
 
Unfortunately, the House committee reversed its decision on the Blunt amendment when certain members switched their votes.  The commitee subsequently adopted another amendment which explicitly includes abortion in the federal health insurance plan.  That means that the major pieces of legislation being considered in both the House and Senate now include taxpayer funding for abortions.
 
We strongly urge you to contact your Congressman and U.S. Senators to let them know you vehemently oppose the use of taxypayer money to destroy the lives of unborn children.
 
You can contact your Congressman by using this link:
 
You can contact your Senator by using this link:
 
 
 
 
Illinois Parental Notice Law to Take Effect
 
The incidence of abortions in eastern Missouri will hopefully decline as a result of the actions of a federal court.  The U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has lifted an injunction that prevented enforcement of the Illinois parental notification law.  That statute, enacted way back in 1995, required that girls under 18 must give 48 hours notice to a parent, grandparent, or legal guardian before obtaining an abortion.  Enforcement of the law was blocked in state and federal courts for years despite the fact that the U.S. Supreme Court has upheld the constitutionality of such requirements for quite some time. 
 
Missouri law requires that a minor obtain the written consent of a parent or guardian before she can secure an abortion.  For years, teenage girls in Missouri have evaded the state's parental consent requirement by traveling to Hope Clinic in Granite City, Illinois, where no parental involvement was required.  Officials at Hope Clinic have admitted in the past that nearly half of the abortions performed there are provided to out-of-state women. 
 
While the state of Missouri passed legislation to prevent individuals from assisting a minor in circumventing the parental consent requirement, minors could still travel to Hope Clinic on their own in the hopes that they could obtain an abortion without their parents' knowledge.  The Missouri Supreme Court had ruled that Missouri's "interstate transport of minors" law could not apply to conduct that occurred "wholly outside" of the state. 
 
No longer will parents in Illinois and neighboring states be denied the opportunity to discuss with their daughters one of the most important decisions they will make in their lives.  
It is a huge blessing that Missouri girls will no longer be lured and victimized by the insidious marketing of teen abortions by Hope Clinic.
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Bond, Mccaskill Vote to Confirm Sotamayor 
 
 
Republican Missouri Senator Kit Bond joined Democrat Claire McCaskill in voting to confirm Sonia Sotamayor to the U.S. Supreme Court.  President Obama's nomination of Sotamayor to the High Court was approved by a vote of 68-31.
 
"Elections do have consequences," Bond said on the Senate floor.  "Our people's democracy has spoken for change and they are getting it.  I do not believe that the Constitution tells me that I should refuse to support her merely because I disagree with her."
 
Many right-to-life groups and pro-family forces expressed vociferous opposition to her confirmation.  While several of her public statements over the years have been disturbing, the fact is her decisions as a district court and appellate court judge do not reflect the behavior of an activist judge.  Now that she will be in a position to make "supreme" judgements and establish precedent on her own, we will find out whether she truly respects the Constitution and the rule of law. 
 
Please be in prayer for Sonia Sotamayor that she will be influenced not by the opinions of men or the esteem of her peers but by the principles of life and liberty proclaimed in our Declaration of Independence.
 
 
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Prayer Force One Takes Tour of Missouri Communities
 
 
A national prayer ministry known as "Prayer Force One" will be bringing its "Spiritual State of the Union" tour to Missouri during the month of August. 
 
The ministry , headed by former Oklahoma State Senator Ed Moore, will be traveling to seven
Missouri cities with its ministry flagship, the Prayer Force One bus.  The Greyhound-style Americruiser bus has been painted to simulate the presidential airplane Air Force One.
 
"Prayer Force One is a tool, an icon that God has raised up to help our nation to refocus on the need to pray," Moore says.  "When we enter a town, our goal is to get this message to everyone in the city."
 
Prayer Force One will be making the following stops at the following locations:
 
*Joplin - August 23 at 7:00 PM - House of Prayer (4715 E. Newman Rd.)
 
*Springfield - August 24 at 7:30 AM - Bott Radio Network (1111 S. Glenstone)
 
*Rolla - August 24 at Noon - Rolla Chamber of Commerce (1311 S. Kingshighway)
 
*St. Louis - August 24 at 5:00 PM - Gateway House of Prayer (4646 S. Lindbergh)
 
*Columbia - August 25 at Noon - New York Deli (1301 Vandiver)
 
*Kansas City - August 25 at 5:00 PM - Stonecroft Ministries (10121 Grandview Rd.)
 
*Jefferson City - August 26 at 8:00 AM - Missouri State Capitol
 
"Having Prayer Force One come to Missouri is a great blessing for our state," says Tom Otley, the
Missouri coordinator for the National Day of Prayer.  "With the challenges we face as a nation, prayer is needed more today than ever before.  We are delighted that Prayer Force One will be traversing our state.  We are praying for a good turnout at each location.  Heaven rejoices when brothers and sisters in Christ come together in unity and seek His face."
 
Sue Stoltz, the Midwest Area Director for the National Day of Prayer, says that the Prayer Force One tour is the prelude to a major all-day Missouri Christian Festival to be held on the grounds of the State Capitol on Saturday, August 29th.  That event is being sponsored by a Missouri group known as United as One.
 
The Missouri Christian Festival is a free outdoor concert which will include contemporary Christian artists Matthew West and Kathleen Carnali.  Christian author Bill Federer will be the keynote speaker.  In addition to the music there there are information booths on church ministries and Christian organizations, as well as festival food vendors and more.  The festivall will run from 9AM to 9PM.  West and Carnali will perform in the evening.
 
"In today's hectic world it is easy to lose sight of what is important," says United as One President
Steve Meyer.  "The Missouri Christian Festival reminds us of the importance of faith, family and freedom in a relaxed enjoyable way...as the Gospel mixes with music.   It is so great to see families laughing with their children and lifting their hands in worship and praise."
 
Meyer says the Missouri Christian Festival is one of the few Christian events in the United States that is allowed to take place on government property.  He reports that last year's event drew more than 3000 attendees from many backgrounds and denominations. 
 
"We believe Christianity needs to be brought out to the streets on a day to day basis," Meyer observes.  "This festival has grown to become a much anticipated event that honors the core values that this country and this state were built on."
 
Meyer adds, "The theme for United as One this year is 'Antidote."  The antidote to all the problems in our family, community, government and our self is Jesus Christ."
 
United as One needs volunteers to help with the event in terms of manpower and financial support.  If you can assist, you can call Steve at (573) 680-1198.
 
For more information on the Missouri Christian Festival, you can follow this link: UnitedAsOne
 
For more information on Prayer Force One, you can click this link:  PrayerForceOne
 
We encourage you to join other Christian families from around Missouri in Jefferson City on August 29th.  We also encourage you to meet the Prayer Force One bus at the regional stop closest to your community. 
 
 
  
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