Life Links 12/18/09

The Associated Press is reporting that Senator Nelson isn’t on boardwith new attempts to mollify his concerns about abortion funding in the health care reform bill.

Nelson, the most conservative Democrat in the Senate, was vague throughout the day about his intentions, eventually telling reporters, "I hope we're getting closer" to agreement.

"Without modifications, the language concerning abortion is not sufficient," he said earlier in the day in a written statement that summarized the results of days of private negotiations. The second-term Nebraskan opposes the procedure and wants tighter restrictions written into the overhaul.

The article also notes how liberals aren’t happy with changes being made to the Senate version of the bill.

ABC News has more on attempts to persuade Senator Nelson and briefly summarizes Senator Casey's "compromise" language.

Here’s Rick Santorum’s take on Senator Casey’s attempt to sway Senator Nelson on health care reform.

“It’s deeply disappointing that a man who ran in 2006 as a pro-life Democrat under his father’s banner now is leading the subterfuge on Capitol Hill,” adds Santorum. “It was remarkable how the late Governor Casey stood up to Bill Clinton on this important issue. Here we are again debating health care and there is nobody like him left. Bob Casey Sr. was for national health care. He was a liberal. But he didn’t compromise on his principles just to pass a bill. That’s what Senator Casey is doing.”

A woman who apparently has some mental health issues has been sentenced to two years (10 years minus 8 years suspended) in jail after giving birth on a toilet and letting the child drown in the toilet.


In Virginia, a man has been charged with attempting to kill “a pregnant woman, knowing that the victim was pregnant and with the intent to cause the involuntary termination of the pregnancy without a live birth."

The charge stems from a Dec. 4 incident in which U.S. Air Force Maj. Vanessa Stone was thrown from a BMW convertible when 41-year-old John Van Lease allegedly stomped on the gas as she tried to get out near the intersection of South Van Dorn and South Pickett streets in Alexandria, a criminal complaint filed in Alexandria General District Court said.