May 27, 2010

Greetings!

A couple quick updates this week...

• JLI Deadline Approaching!!  Our deadline for students applying for the Joshua Leadership Institute is next week!  Please make one last push for students to apply in your schools, churches, communities, families, and youth groups.  Again, we are taking a bold step to train our new leaders, and your help is needed in reaching them. 
  
  Without an appropriate number of attendees, we will have to cancel the event.  Scholarships are readily available!  Visit www.CampJoshua.org/JLI for more information!

• Opt-Out Moves Forward: Yesterday at the Capitol, our Abortion Insurance Opt-Out bill (HB 1247) passed the always difficult Senate Health and Welfare Committee by a vote of 5-2.  Because of influences out of our control, we were forced to remove the prohibition on private insurance coverage of abortion.  While we wish this could have remained, the provision would have been lagniappe since our research has shown that no insurance plans in Louisiana currently cover abortion.
  
  In its current state, HB 1247 declares that abortion is not health care in Louisiana by opting us out of subsidized abortion made possible by recent health care reform!  Next week, this bill will pass the Senate floor and be signed into law.
  
  We sat at table and answered questions on abortion in cases of rape and incest, and were able to prevent these exceptions from being tacked on the bill.  See the article from the Advocate featuring us.
  

Please spread the word about Joshua Leadership Institute, and have a great Memorial Day!

For a Pro-Life Louisiana,

Benjamin Clapper
Executive Director
Louisiana Right to Life



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P.P.S  If you are in the greater Alexandria area, there will be a free pro-life conference put on by Rapides Right to Life on Saturday June 5th.  Check out the details online, and consider attending!