Lots happened yesterday

I’m sure you’re all aware by now that the Pence Amendment passed! H.R. 1, the continuing resolution, also addresses a number of other pro-life topics. Jill Stanek has a summary. In addition, the House decided not to fund Title X, which provides legitimate, non-life-taking women’s health care. (My guess? It’s a bargaining chip. The Senate still has to sign on to H.R. 1. The Susan B. Anthony List writes that defunding Planned Parenthood is “non-negotiable.” House Republicans will restore Title X in return for the Senate keeping Planned Parenthood ineligible. But we’ll see.)

Also yesterday, the pro-life movement suffered a setback in the form of weakened conscience protections for doctors. Although it appears that pro-life physicians are still protected as far as abortion is concerned, other procedures and medications (most notably Plan B and ella) are no longer covered. Medical Students for Life director Dominique Monlozun issued a statement calling the revisions “a direct attack on the entire medical community’s conscience.” There is also a concern that weak conscience protections will cause some physicians to leave their practices, which could be devastating for people in underserved areas.