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July 4, 2005 
VOL.
43, NO. 13Oakland,
CA
Democrats for Life of America
expands to northern California
Lila Martinez was a life-long Democrat who switched
her affiliation to the Republican Party several years ago because of its
pro-life stand. The leave-taking was difficult, because opposition to
abortion was “the only issue I agreed with the Republicans on,”
said Martinez, a non-Catholic who attends Christ the King Parish in Pleasant
Hill with her Catholic husband and children.
But last year, Martinez discovered Democrats for Life of America (DFLA)
in Washington, D.C., and returned to the political party she loved with
a clear conscience. DFLA is a Washington, D.C.-based organization that
is grounded in a consistent ethic of life, championing social issues including
the protection of unborn babies. “ So I decided to go back to the
Democrats and support them in this cause.”
On July 16, at 10 a.m., the Lafayette resident will have an organizing
meeting in her home for other pro-life Democrats living in northern California
who might want to join the organization.
Democrats for Life of America was co-founded in 1999 by Carol Crossed,
a Native American lobbyist for anti-war and hunger issues; David Carlin,
chair of the Democratic Party of Newport, Rhode Island, and a professor
of sociology and philosophy at Community College of Rhode Island; and
Lois Kerschen, a Texas farmer. It is an ecumenical organization.
Its goals have been to help pro-life Democrats support pro-life elected
officials, promote a pro-life plank in the Democratic Party platform,
and work towards legislation that fosters respect for human life.
A number of Democratic congresspersons have affiliated with DFLA, including
Tim Ryan (D-OH), Bart Stupak (D-MI), Lincoln Davis (D-TN), Marcy Kaptur
(D-OH), Collin Peterson (D-MN), Jerry Costello (D-IL), and Jim Oberstar
(D- MN) and Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE).
This past April, a group of pro-life Democrats headed by Ohio’s
Tim Ryan unveiled an abortion reduction proposal called the “95-10”
initiative, a comprehensive package of 15 policy programs that, when fully
funded and implemented in coordination with each other, could reduce the
number of abortions in America by 95 percent over the next 10 years, said
Lila Martinez.
The 95-10 Initiative offers practical alternatives and incentives that
promote family, provide education, support new mothers, and advocate adoption
as an alternative to abortion.
The proposal would make adoption tax credits permanent, ban pregnancy
as a “pre-existing condition” in the health care industry,
provide federal funding for pregnancy prevention education, and require
insurance coverage of contraception approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
It would require pregnancy centers and women’s health centers that
receive federal funding to provide adoption referral information, award
grants to nonprofit tax-exempt organizations for the purchase of ultrasound
equipment to provide free examinations to pregnant women needing such
services, increase federal funding for domestic violence programs, fully
fund the federal Nutrition for Women, Infants and Children;(WIC), require
teaching of parenting skills in maternity group homes, and provide grants
to states to help implement safe haven laws.
95-10 also calls for expanding medical coverage to pregnant women through
Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Programs and
to newborns through the first full year of life.
According to Kristen Day, executive director of DFLA, Congressman Ryan
plans to introduce his legislation next month.
For further information about the “95-10” proposal, go to
the Democrats for Life web site at: www.democratsforlife.org.
For directions to the July 16 organizing meeting, e-mail lilamartinez@comcast.net
