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LifeTree Information About 2002
Congressional, Legislative & Judicial Elections

To: Friends of LifeTree
From: LifeTree
Subject: "Pass it Along" regarding NC State Elections on November 5, 2002

We have been gathering some information on the candidates to help educate the friends of LifeTree about the upcoming elections. Please pass this information along to your friends, or they may visit us on the web at www.burtonsys.com/ltree.html. If you would like to receive legislative updates by email, send your email address to lifetree@lifetree.org.nospam

First and foremost, as the election draws near we ask that you pray for a change in the approach to life issues by elected officials in North Carolina.

We have tried to collect information on each major candidate in the Sept. 10 primary and Nov. 5 general elections. As part of that process, LifeTree sent a questionnaire to all candidates in early August, 2002. We also gathered information on some key votes, sponsorships of important bills, and other items of public record. We have tried to be as thorough and accurate as possible but apologize if there are any inaccuracies.

Information is presented district by district. You may want to cut and paste the races that pertain to your geographic area and omit the others.

This symbol   [t]   indicates endorsement by a pro-life PAC, which is evidence of opposition to abortion.
This symbol   [n]   indicates endorsement by (or contributions to) a "pro-choice" PAC, which is evidence of support for abortion.
This symbol   [t]   indicates other evidence of opposition to abortion, euthanasia, etc..
This symbol   [n]   indicates other evidence of support for abortion, euthanasia, etc..

I. From the web site of the North Carolina chapter of the National Organization for Women (NC NOW) to explain their purpose:
"We envision a world where patriarchal culture and male dominance no longer oppress us or our earth" ... "We are committed to a feminist ideology and reaffirm our historic commitment to gaining equality for women, assuring safe, legal and accessible abortion and full reproductive freedom" ... "NOW holds that access to safe and legal abortion, to effective birth control, and to reproductive health and education are matters of life and death, not mere matters of choice" ... "Through its political action committee (PAC), North Carolina NOW endorses political candidates and supports women and men who support our goals."   (see http://www.rtpnet.org/ncnow/)   [n]

II. From a statement submitted by Lillian's List of North Carolina to the State Board of Elections to explain their purpose:
"We support pro-choice Democratic women for public office in North Carolina"   (see http://www.lillianslist.com/)   [n]

III. From the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League (NARAL) web site, "[It is] essential to American freedom [to have] access to safe and legal abortion, effective contraceptive options, and quality reproductive health care."   (see http://www.naral.org/)   [n]

IV. From the Emily's List web site, "EMILYs List [raises] campaign contributions for pro-choice Democratic women candidates running for the House, the Senate and for governor."   (see http://www.emilyslist.org/)   [n]

V. From the Wish List web site, "The Wish List... is a nationwide political network created to raise funds for Republican pro-choice women candidates."   (see http://www.thewishlist.org/)   [n]

VI. From the web site of the North Carolina Right to Life (NCRTL) to explain their purpose:
"We support the legal protection of all innocent human life from fertilization until natural death. We therefore oppose abortion, infanticide and euthanasia."   (see http://www.ncrtl.org/)   [t]

SOME BILL HISTORY (North Carolina State Legislature):

--- In 2001, a record number of pro-life bills were introduced – eight in the House and three in the Senate. None of these bills were calendared for discussion by the committee chairs in either 2001 or 2002. However, there was a procedural vote in the NC House on the "Choose Life" License Plate bill in August, 2002 when Rep. Ellis (R-Wake) attempted to place this bill as an amendment to another license plate bill. His amendment failed. All of these bills were opposed by the abortion industry.

--- In 1999, several pro-life bills were introduced including Abortion Clinic Certification (H1063), which was a bill to upgrade the certification standards of abortion clinics, a Woman's Right to Know (Informed Consent) Bill (H1064), and two bills to Ban Partial Birth Abortions (S349 and H1066). Only the clinic certification bill was discussed in committee and all were held up in committee until the end of the biennium. All of these bills were opposed by the abortion industry.

--- In 1999, a bill (S90 and H103) to Mandate Coverage of Contraceptive Drugs and Devices (which act as abortificients at times) became law. This bill was supported by the abortion industry

--- In 1997, a Woman's Right to Know (Informed Consent) Bill (H536) and a bill to Ban Partial Birth Abortions (H303) passed the NC House, but both were held up in a Senate committee until the end of the biennium. The Senate introduced their own version of a Ban on Partial Birth Abortions (S536), which also died in committee. These bills were opposed by the abortion industry.

--- In 1995, a Parental Consent Bill (H481) passed both the House and the Senate. Parental Consent (S735) and Informed Consent (S734) bills were also introduced in the Senate but were held up in committee. Only H481 became law. These bills were designed to reduce the number of abortions in North Carolina. The bills were opposed by the abortion industry.

--- In 1993, a No Obstruction of Health Facilities Bill (S873), making it illegal to conspire to block access to facilities which perform abortions, became law. The bill created special legal obstacles for pro-life demonstrators, which do not apply to people protesting other issues. This bill was supported by the abortion industry.

LifeTree gathered information about several indicators of NC Legislative candidates' positions and record on abortion and related issues. They include:

1. Candidates' answers to a questionnaire sent to all legislative candidates by Lifetree on August 9-10, 2002.
2. Votes for [t] (click) or against [n] (click) a key procedural motion in the NC House in August, 2002 which, if it had been successful, would have attached the "Choose Life" License Plate Bill (H795) to another bill, for likely enactment.
3. Votes for [t] (click) or against [n] (click) the Woman's Right to Know (Informed Consent) Bill (H536) in the NC House in 1997.
4. Sponsorship of the following pro-life bills: [t] (click)
1. Parental Consent (H481) in the NC House in 1995 (this bill is now law), and (S735) in the NC Senate in 1995
2. Woman's Right to Know (Informed Consent) (H1280) in the NC House in 2001, (H1064) in the NC House in 1999, (H536) in the NC House in 1997, and (S734) in the NC Senate in 1995
3. Partial Birth Abortion Ban (H1066) in the NC House in 1999, (S349) in the NC Senate in 1999, (H303) in the NC House in 1997, and (S536) in the NC Senate in 1997
4. No Abortions in State Health Plan (H1038) in the NC House in 2001, and (S980) in the NC Senate in 2001
5. Refuse to Abort/ Extend Conscience Protection (H1011) in the NC Senate in 2001
6. Conscience Protection / Contraceptive Mandate (H1010) in the NC House in 2001, and (S1083) in the NC Senate in 2001
7. Parental Consent Notarized (H526) in the NC House in 2001, and (S913) in the NC Senate in 2001
8. Born Alive Infant Protection Act (H662) in the NC House in 2001
9. "Choose Life" License Plate (H795) in the NC House in 2001
10. Abortion Clinic Certification (H1259) in the NC House in 2001, and (H1063) in the NC House in 1999
5. Sponsorship of the following anti-life bills: [n] (click)
1. Insurance Cover/Contraceptives (S90) in the NC Senate in 1999 (this bill is now law), and (H103) in the NC House in 1999
2. No Obstruction of Health Facilities (S873) in the NC Senate in 1993
6. Contributions to, receipts from or endorsements from NC NOW, Lillian's list, Emily's List, or Wish List [n] (click)
7. Endorsements from NC Right to Life [t] (click)
8. Assorted historical information on decisions of Committee Chairs, Sponsors of Amendments, Statements to LifeTree, Information on the Web, etc.

Guide to the Questionnaire results: http://www.burtonsys.com/2002_lifetree_questionnaire_memo.html

Updated 11/2/2002:
Click here for the NC House: 2002_NC_House_General_candidates.html
Click here for the NC Senate: 2002_NC_Senate_General_candidates.html
Click here for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives: 2002_US_Congressional_General.html
Click here for Judicial races: 2002_NC_Judicial_General_candidates.html
Click here for (old) 2002 Primary election info: 2002_lifetree_primary_candidate_info.html
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