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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) insisted on Friday that the Senate health care bill does not allow tax-funding of abortion, and added that she had spoken with “Catholic bishops” about the issue. However, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops told CNSNews.com that anyone who had spoken to the bishops about the legislation should know that it does fund abortion and that the bishops oppose the bill. At a press conference on Friday, Pelosi was asked whether Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), who opposes President Obama’s health proposal which uses the Senate bill as its foundation, was wrong in stating that the...

NOTE: HERE IS THE NEWS YOU'VE BEEN HEARING REGARDING THE 23RD DISTRICT IN NEW YORK -----Democrats win New York congressional race, but conservatives claim victory too Posted: November 4th, 2009 02:06 AM ET From CNN Political Producer Rebecca Sinderbrand (CNN) – The three-way race in New York's 23rd congressional district ended Tuesday night with a surprise Democratic win - the first for the party in the reliably-Republican district since the 19th century. Democrat Bill Owens defeated Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman to claim victory in a race where an internal GOP fight drew national attention - and forced the party's...

Saturday's decision by Republican Dede Scozzafava to drop out of tomorrow's special Congressional election in upstate New York is a potentially big political moment that could help to return the GOP to first principles—or could lead to internecine ruin. Much will depend on how GOP leaders and conservative activists respond. Picked by GOP elites without a primary and with a voting record to the left of many Albany Democrats, Ms. Scozzafava faced a revolt by local and national conservatives in favor of businessman Doug Hoffman, who was nominated on the Conservative Party line. The longtime GOP assemblywoman saw herself falling...

Dierdre K. Scozzafava's decision to suspend her campaign for the 23rd Congressional District seat is a shocking development in what had already been an extraordinary race. In her statement Saturday morning, the assemblywoman explained the reasons behind her decision: "It is increasingly clear that pressure is mounting on many of my supporters to shift their support. Consequently, I hereby release those individuals who have endorsed and supported my campaign to transfer their support as they see fit to do so." During the day Saturday, she began to quietly and thoughtfully encourage her supporters to vote for Democrat William L. Owens.

The Nov. 3 election to replace longtime Rep. John McHugh, a Republican appointed by President Obama to be Secretary of the Army, has especially drawn the attention of conservatives in recent weeks. That's mainly because the New York GOP leadership picked liberal state assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava as their candidate, sparking a struggle that pits the Republican establishment against grassroots activists ... Given his hardscrabble upbringing, Hoffman's sympathies are clearly with the conservative grassroots. He was able to get a college education only because his excellent academic record in high school inspired local businessmen to establish a scholarship fund to assist...

The media is all over the new Siena poll which shows Dede Scozzafava's support collapsing in New York's 23rd Congressional District. This is a special election in November in a district that has elected a Republican since 1871. But party bosses saw fit to nominate a woman who is not only pro-gay marriage and pro-abortion, she has an economic record that has lead the Club For Growth and the American Conservative Union to target her and endorse the Conservative party candidate Doug Hoffman, in spite of Newt Gingrich's endorsement.... What's at stake in this race? As Michelle Malkin has written,...

Jim Kelly, a retired New York City police officer and Conservative Party activist who managed Republican John Spencer's unsuccessful 2006 U.S. Senate run against Hillary Clinton, e-mailed media Thursday saying he will run as a Conservative and that Scozzafava is too liberal, pointing to her support for abortion and same-sex marriage. "As soon as (state Conservative Party Chairman Mike Long) gives me the green light, I'm going to jump into this thing," Kelly told the politickerny.com blog. "I'm going to bring newspaper reporters with me, and we're going to trash the Republicans on this for running a RINO (Republican in...

Obama's Twentythird Week in Office "The List" for 7/03/2009 The White House says health insurance coverage valued at more than $17,240 for families and $6,800 for individuals might be taxed as incomeRussian Prime Minister Putin will use next week's Moscow talks to relieve President Obama of mistaken impressions he remains mired in Cold War thinking, Putin's spokesman said Russian President Medvedev and US counterpart Obama are next week planning to sign a framework declaration replacing a key Cold War-era missile treaty The Obama administration is planning to use the National Security Agency to screen internet traffic between government agencies and...

The 1962 Missal Mass Readings for the 23rd Sunday after Pentecost Colors:  Green   INTROIT  Jeremias 29: 11, 12, 14 The Lord saith: I think thoughts of peace, and not of affliction: you shall call upon Me, and I will hear you; and I will bring back your captivity from all places. -- (Ps. 84. 2). Lord, Thou hast blessd Thy land: Thou hast turned away the captivity of Jacob. V.: Glory be to the Father . . . -- The Lord saith: I think thoughts of peace . . .   COLLECT - O Lord, we beseech Thee,...