Minnesota Independent

Anti-abortion groups target Oberstar with contested statements

By Andy Birkey | 10.21.10 | 4:53 pm

National anti-abortion groups are targeting Rep. James Oberstar with a series of mailings criticizing his support for health care reform. The groups point to Oberstar’s vote for the Affordable Health Care and Patient Protection Act of 2010 to claim he supports federal funding for abortion and therefore is no longer “pro-life.” But as fact-checkers have pointed out, health care reform does not include federal funding for abortion.

Judge: Election law challenged by Emmer backers will stand

By Jesse Zwick | 09.21.10 | 2:59 pm

U.S. District Judge Donovan Frank for the District of Minnesota denied a temporary injunction in a lawsuit brought by supporters of Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer, including an anti-abortion group and an anti-tax organization. They sued to overturn the law on free speech grounds and had asked Frank to suspend the disclosure requirements immediately.

Horner tangles with anti-abortion group

By Andy Birkey | 05.12.10 | 7:38 am

Anti-abortion group Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life went on the attack against Independence Party candidate for governor Tom Horner on Tuesday claiming he’s “pro-abortion.” Horner shot back on Twitter saying the group “misstated” his position and “sacrificed its credibility.”

Abortion foes fund Bachmann, bash Clark

By Andy Birkey | 07.30.09 | 3:39 pm

With more than a year to go until the general election, abortion is already becoming an issue in the 6th Congressional District race. An analysis of anti-abortion campaign donations finds that Rep. Michele Bachmann is one of the country’s top earners — and she’s delivered for her contributors on that issue. At the same time, local anti-abortion forces are already tarring DFL candidate Rep. Tarryl Clark just a day after she announced her candidacy.

Anti-abortion group calls on Franken, Klobuchar to reverse Sotomayor vote

By Andy Birkey | 07.29.09 | 9:42 am

Anti-abortion group Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life called on Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken to reverse their Senate Judiciary Committee votes to approve Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor on Tuesday. In a letter to the senators, MCCL said…

Abortions declined in Minnesota last year

By Andy Birkey | 07.01.09 | 1:46 pm

The number of abortions performed in Minnesota declined in 2008 for the second straight year and marked the lowest number in more than 30 years. Reproductive health advocates said the decline…

Anti-abortion group sees a few successes this session

By Andy Birkey | 05.27.09 | 5:23 pm

Anti-abortion programs and opposition to human cloning fared well under the governor’s watchful eye toward the end of the legislative session — and that has earned Gov. Tim Pawlenty high marks…

University stem cell breakthrough could reignite stem cell battle

By Andy Birkey | 05.05.09 | 4:01 pm

University of Minnesota researchers are reporting a major advance in the field of embryonic stem cell research that undercuts the anti-abortion movement’s — and Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s — chief argument against state funding for the research.

MnIndy Video: Anti-abortion march features Pawlenty, Coleman

By Andy Birkey | 01.22.09 | 10:19 pm

More than 3,000 anti-abortion activists gathered at the state capitol to hear Gov. Tim Pawlenty and former Sen. Norm Coleman at the annual “March for Life.” But one group garnering more attention was Planned Parenthood. Only hours after an anti-abortion activist slammed his SUV into a Planned Parenthood clinic in St. Paul, rally attendees held up signs condemning the reproductive health organization, and MCCL speakers called for the defunding of the group they called the “abortion industry.”

Controversial reproductive privacy bill back at Capitol

By Andy Birkey | 01.19.09 | 9:56 am

A reproductive health bill being considered in the Minnesota Legislature this year states that the government has no business interfering with the constitutionally protected privacy rights set forth in Roe v. Wade. While presumptive gubernatorial candidates Sens. John Marty and Tom Bakk are among the bill’s co-authors, staunchly pro-life Gov. Tim Pawlenty is unlikely to sign the bill should it get to his desk.