Souder Speaks At Right To Life Forum In WarsawU.S. Congressman Mark Souder addressed the topic of abortion Saturday morning.
Souder spoke for two hours during Kosciusko County Right To Life's annual legislative forum at First Christian Church, Warsaw. Souder gave an update on life-related issues at the federal level.
Sue Swayze, Indiana Right To Life lobbyist and political action committee director, gave an update on legislation being considered at the state level.The forum included a panel discussion allowing for questions and answers from attendees.
Souder said the biggest debate now is the health care debate because it would expand funding for abortions more than anything since the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision.
He said people are going to military hospitals and getting abortions.
"That's a huge issue because in many Muslim countries, abortions are not allowed and people who want them are going to our hospitals," Souder said.
He said there is a significant battle for pro-life issues.
Swayze spoke about pro-life legislation at the state level.
She said a trend she has seen at the state level is that pro-life issues don't get heard often in the House because they are not allowed to the floor.
Swayze said in the Senate there has been a bill introduced to have Indiana adopt a Food and Drug Administration definition of contraception.
"The FDA definition of contraception includes abortions such as the morning-after pill, that's post-ception," Swayze said.
She said to adopt a definition that includes post-ception is not something pro-lifers support.
In Indiana, there is almost $1.9 million of state-controlled funds going to Planned Parenthood for STD and family planning education, according to Swayze.
In 2008, Planned Parenthood profited from $2.9 million, and $1.8 million of that was government funds.
"We are baling out a company that is making millions and doing well on their own and not needing tax dollars," Swayze said.
