Fall 2016

Vol. 43 / No. 3

www.RTL.org

U.S. SUPREME COURT PROLIFE Justice

Age

Seated

Nominated

Clarence Thomas

68

1991

Bush (H.W.)

John Roberts, Jr. (Chief Justice)

61

2005

Bush (W.)

Samuel Alito, Jr.

66

2006

Bush (W.)

Justice

Age

Seated

Nominated

Anthony M. Kennedy

80

1988

Reagan

Justice

Age

Seated

Nominated

Ruth Bader Ginsburg

83

1993

Clinton

Stephen G. Breyer

78

1994

Clinton

Sonia Sotomayor

62

2009

Obama

Elena Kagan

56

2010

Obama

MIXED RECORD

PRO-ABORTION

As of 8/29/16

25 years, 25 million lives The late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia’s seat on the court bench may still be empty, but it’s casting a long shadow on the 2016 election. On Tuesday, November 8, voters will be deciding the fate of that seat with their votes for president. Scalia’s seat is unlikely to be the only empty one in the next four or eight years. The future of as many as 25 million lives is also at stake when looking at the issue of abortion. The views of the major opposing candidates for president are very clear. Republican Donald Trump has been endorsed by the Right to Life of Michigan Political Action Committee. He has released a list of judges as examples of who he would consider for the U.S. Supreme Court. The list has been praised by prolife groups and other organizations that believe that judges should follow the rule of law, not write laws. He has said his nominees may very well overturn Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion through all nine months of pregnancy. Democrat Hillary Clinton is endorsed by Planned Parenthood, the nation’s

largest abortion provider. She has promised a litmus test requiring all of her judicial picks to support Roe v. Wade. Looking at the ages of the sitting justices and their average life expectancy, the next president may be able to appoint four total justices, locking the court into a path for 25 years or more. The U.S. Supreme Court continues to have an outsized influence on national politics and policies. Some legal thinkers and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg have openly suggested that Roe v. Wade didn’t go far enough in promoting abortion rights, arguing that issues such as requiring tax-funded abortions should be guarantees beyond the realm of legislatures and voters. With more than one million abortions a year, the decisions voters will make could mean the difference between Roe v. Wade being overturned or furthered entrenched for decades at the cost of tens of millions of lives. For more information about the presidential candidates and free educational tools you can use, visit www.RTL.org/election.

Election Prolife Voter Ballots Inside!

2 • Right to Life of Michigan News • Fall 2016

Fall 2016 • Right to Life of Michigan News • 3

The challenge of defending life There I was sitting in the Detroit airport waiting for a flight, when I noticed a man carrying a large sign “Educators for Hillary.” As he got closer and turned into my gate’s waiting area, I saw from his shirt’s insignia, he was from the Michigan Education Association. I thought there’s a chance we’ll be seated together on the plane. Then, as a former teacher, I could discuss with him Hillary’s abortion stance which results in the closing of schools due to the shrinking school-age population. I’ve always been perplexed by the strong pro-abortion position of the National Education Association and its Michigan branch, a position which results in the killing of their future students and a reduction in jobs for teachers. Unfortunately, I didn’t get an opportunity to ask this MEA official any questions about his support for Clinton.

But there will be many opportunities this fall for all of us to talk with friends, relatives and neighbors about this presidential election. What a unique election it is. Has there ever been an election with such high stakes for the prolife movement? Has there ever been an election with two candidates who both cause such strong reactions in their supporters? So why has Right to Life of Michigan PAC chosen to endorse Donald Trump? Our state PAC members had to answer the question: which candidate would more likely as president be the best for our mission of preventing abortions and overturning the U.S. Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade? Our mission as an organization is not to back a political candidate for their positions on the economy, national security, immigration, or any of the other reasons in campaign ads. Our existence is to do everything legally possible to prevent unborn babies from being suctioned apart or cut to pieces or to be killed through a partial-birth abortion.

Vol. 43 No. 3 / Fall 2016 • ISSN 1083-1703 PUBLISHER: Barbara Listing EDITOR: Chris Gast

Right to Life of Michigan is a non-sectarian, non-partisan organization of prolife groups in the state of Michigan, committed to articulating and protecting the right to life of defenseless human beings, born and unborn. This commitment is derived from a belief that each human being, from the time of fertilization to natural death, has an immeasurable dignity and inalienable right to life. The RLM News is a publication distributed to members and supporters of Right to Life of Michigan and its affiliate groups. STATE OFFICE 2340 Porter SW • PO BOX 901 • Grand Rapids, MI • 49509-0901   616-532-2300  [email protected] • www.RTL.org

Another view to consider: the national platforms of the two parties. Unfortunately, this year’s Democrat Party platform is the most pro-abortion ever, a reflection of Clinton. Fortunately, this year’s Republican Party platform is the most prolife ever, a reflection of the party base and its choice of Donald Trump. Clinton will use her party’s platform to push her own pro-abortion philosophy. Trump and Pence will be called to stand for their party’s prolife statements. Throughout her long career in politics, Hillary Clinton has been a strong promoter of abortionon-demand and a supporter of tax-funded abortions. She has publicly stated that her judicial appointments must support Roe v Wade, the court decision that gave us abortion on demand. A Clinton presidency will champion tax-funded abortions, even more taxes going to abortion providers like Planned Parenthood and pro-abortion appointments to every judicial vacancy. Planned Parenthood’s political arm is prepared to spend over $20 million to place Hillary in the White House. If the specter of a Clinton presidency isn’t enough of a motive to vote for Donald Trump, then consider these reasons for our RLMPAC’s choice of Trump. He submitted a prolife questionnaire to National Right to Life. He has shared publicly a list of potential judicial appointees who are praised as being prolife. He has repeatedly said he wants judges like the deceased Justice Scalia on the court. He has campaigned as a prolife candidate. He selected as his vice-presidential running mate Governor Mike Pence of Indiana, a prolife stalwart. He has surrounded himself with prolife advisors. Continued on page 3

As you are “electioneering” for the unborn babies who have no voice, think about the millions more who will never see a birthday if Hillary Clinton is elected to our nation’s highest office. We who have chosen this path of being defenders for the unborn are being called to an even more difficult task this election. Are we up to the challenge of defending and voting for a candidate based solely on the abortion position? I pray so. I know the pro-abortion leaders are counting on complete support for Hillary Clinton. They see a possibility of more and more dollars and more and more abortions. We see a promise of more and more lives saved from the brutality of abortion.

Rigging votes to help Saving a baby on prolife education the island For more than 15 years Livingston County Right to Life has held a precious baby contest as part of their outreach at the Fowlerville Family Fair. Rather than simply count ballots from people who stop by their fair booth, the contest is a fundraiser where people vote by donating. This year’s winner ended up with $1000 in donations going to the affiliate. Joy Applin from Livingston County Right to Life said each vote is 25 cents, though people can “vote” as often as they want. She said they have a lot of kids who like to cast their ballot by donating a few quarters. Joy joked that it’s definitely a fixed contest, but it’s invaluable to their efforts at the annual fair. The contest brings in almost enough money to cover the expenses for their fair booth. It’s a big draw for getting visitors to stop by their booth as well. These benefits create opportunities for them to educate others about the value of every life. This year’s winners were notable demonstrations of the value of every life. Two of the winners were adopted children. “We had two adopted babies, instead of aborted babies,” Joy said.

Livingston County Precious Baby Contest

p

By Barbara Listing, President Right to Life of Michigan

Was he previously “pro-choice?” Yes, but our movement is filled with converts. We rejoice when a former abortionist joins our cause; we applaud former abortion clinic workers as they speak at our functions; we embrace women who come to us in pain from their abortions. We believe in redemption.

One of the adopted children has Down syndrome and was conceived in rape. Roughly 90 percent of children in the womb diagnosed with Down syndrome are aborted, and half of children conceived in rape are aborted. Joy said the biological mother pursued an open adoption and is a part of her child’s life.

Cheboygan Right to Life’s Valerie Porter, like many Michiganders, is drawn to Mackinac Island in the summer. Though widely known as a summer vacation paradise, Mackinac Island isn’t immune to the everyday human experience, including crisis pregnancies. A young unmarried Hispanic woman working on the island began to suspect she was pregnant. Worried that she might lose her job and contemplating abortion, she went with her boyfriend to St. Anne’s Catholic Church on the island to look for help. Valerie lives on the island in the summer and is a volunteer at St. Anne’s. The young couple does not speak English very well, but fortunately Valerie and a fellow prolife volunteer there speak Spanish. The couple was soon taken to the Care Net Pregnancy Center in Sault St. Marie, where a free ultrasound gave the fearful couple a window into the womb. “The sonogram is what did it,” Valerie said. “They immediately decided they were going to keep the baby.” While Mackinac Island’s medical clinic is equipped for medical emergencies for the several hundred residents, it isn’t properly equipped to provide regular prenatal care. Valerie has continued to help the couple, taking mom on the ferry to nearby St. Ignace for regular checkups.

Joy said she was especially happy to finally have a child with a physical disability enter the contest as an opportuity to showcase the value of every life.

Valerie said the expecting parents have completely welcomed the life of their child and have even picked out names already. The baby is scheduled to arrive in December.

“I’ve been waiting for this for years, because all lives are special,” Joy said.

“It is amazing how just a little help goes a long way to save a baby’s life,” she said.

4 • Right to Life of Michigan News • Fall 2016

Fall 2016 • Right to Life of Michigan News • 5

U.S. Supreme Court rebukes abortion clinic health and safety standards in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt In June the U.S. Supreme Court handed down a disappointing decision regarding abortion clinic regulations in Texas. In Hellerstedt, the court struck down two particular provisions of Texas law. The first was that abortion providers must have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of the abortion clinic, and the second required that abortion clinics meet the health and safety standards of an “ambulatory surgical center.” The state of Texas argued that these were common-sense regulations that apply to other providers who perform outpatient surgeries, so they should apply to abortion clinics too. Proponents of the law also argued that states have the right to regulate their medical facilities as they see fit. The abortion clinic owners argued that it

created an undue burden on them and therefore an undue burden on women seeking abortions. They claimed that trying to update their clinics to meet the standards was too onerous and not necessary because abortion complication rates are so low. Statistics used about complication rates are inaccurate but were accepted by the Court. The clinic owners also claimed that getting admitting privileges was not always possible since many clinics were not located within 30 miles of a hospital. The Supreme Court stated that the benefit of these regulations does not outweigh the burden created by them because the law caused many substandard clinics to go out of business. The Court invented yet another judicial standard, the benefit vs. burden standard. The dissenting opinion written by Justice Thomas states it more eloquently:

“First, today’s decision requires courts to consider the burdens a law imposes on abortion access together with the benefits those laws confer,” and “The Court should abandon the pretense that anything other than policy preferences underlies its balancing of constitutional rights and interests in any given case.” Like so many court decisions before it, the Hellerstedt decision opens the door to more judicial activism from the bench. How this court case will affect abortion law going forward remains to be seen, but it is certainly a win for the pro-abortion camp and one more example of how judges control abortion public policy, not the voters or their elected officials.

WHERE THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES

STAND ON LIFE

VIEWS ON ABORTION

“The next president must follow those principles that work best and that reinforce the reverence Americans hold for life. A culture of life is too important to let slip away for convenience or political correctness.”

ROE V. WADE AND THE U.S. SUPREME COURT

In 2011, Right to Life of Michigan produced a 52-page report entitled, Abortion Abuses and State Regulatory Agency Failure. The report highlighted several areas of negligence, improper disposal of fetal remains, disregard for women’s health and failure to report complications arising from abortion. The report was instrumental in the passage of the Prolife Omnibus Act, PA 499.

The report disclosed that on several occasions, aborted babies were discovered in public trash receptacles. If not for the watchful eyes of prolife sidewalk counselors, it is likely that these discoveries would have gone undetected by any state agency since clinics were not monitored by the state. The report also uncovered negligent practices and subpar clinic standards that led to patient injury and death. Lack of oxygen and resuscitation equipment, insufficient recovery wards, lack of basic monitoring and untimely transport to the hospital were also revealed. These discoveries were made because of lawsuits filed by injured patients and investigations by the Attorney General for malpractice. Michigan’s reported abortion complication rate is less than 1 percent for abortions after 20 weeks. In Canada, where abortions

are performed in state run hospitals, the complication rate is over 10 percent! The difference in the complication rates coupled with the known instances of complications that went unreported, clearly indicate that abortion providers and those who treat women for complications are not accurately reporting those complications in accordance with state law. The Supreme Court cited the absurdly low complication rate as a reason for overturning the Texas abortion clinic regulations. The Michigan law has closed the worst clinics and has improved the safety of the remaining clinics. Facilities like the one that was closed by the fire marshal in Muskegon must never be allowed to operate in Michigan again. For the sake of women’s health, let’s hope that Planned Parenthood does not prevail in their goal to overturn our law.

DONALD TRUMP “The Supreme Court in 1973 based its decision on imagining rights and liberties in the Constitution that are nowhere to be found.” Trump released a list of judges he might consider for Supreme Court vacancies, the selections were praised by groups that believe Roe v. Wade was decided wrongly.

Looking back at abortion clinic abuses in MI Emboldened by the recent Supreme Court decision in Whole Womens’ Health vs. Hellerstedt, Planned Parenthood has stated they might challenge Michigan’s clinic licensing law. The 2012 Prolife Omnibus Act requires abortion clinics to be licensed as free standing outpatient facilities. Prior to 2012, Michigan abortion clinics had virtually no oversight by state agencies and most clinics had never been inspected. Since the law passed, all abortion clinics in Michigan have become licensed and inspected.

DONALD TRUMP’S views on abortion changed after seeing close friends experience a crisis pregnancy and keep their child:

LATE-TERM ABORTIONS

TAXPAYER FUNDING OF ABORTIONS

DONALD TRUMP “I support the PainCapable Unborn Child Protection Act and urge Congress to pass this bill. A ban on elective abortions after 20 weeks will protect unborn children. We should not be one of seven countries that allows elective abortions after 20 weeks. It goes against our core values.” DONALD TRUMP has said he would defund Planned Parenthood because they perform abortions: “Public funding of abortion providers is an insult to people of conscience at the least and an affront to good governance at best.”

HILLARY CLINTON served as the U.S. Senator from New York from January 3, 2001 to January 21, 2009. Clinton has a lifetime prolife voting record of 0 percent, as scored by the National Right to Life Committee. At a campaign event in Ohio on August 27, 2015, Clinton compared her Republican presidential opponents to terrorists for their prolife policy views.

HILLARY CLINTON At a town hall debate in New Hampshire on February 3, 2016, Clinton said every judicial appointment she would make must support abortion: “We’ve got to make sure to preserve Roe v. Wade, not let it be nibbled away or repealed.”

HILLARY CLINTON voted against the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003. She believes abortion should be legal up to the moment of birth. On MSNBC on September 28, 2015, Clinton said: “There can be restrictions in the very end of the third trimester, but they have to take into account the life and health of the mother.” HILLARY CLINTON While accepting Planned Parenthood’s endorsement at a New Hampshire rally, Clinton called for repealing the Hyde Amendment. The Hyde Amendment prevents federal tax-funding of abortion and has been in place since 1976.

6 • Right to Life of Michigan News • Fall 2016

Instructions for the November 8 Prolife Voter Ballot It is in politics that the battle for life can have its greatest repercussions. The answer to which political candidate to vote for and how to bring hope and vitality back to our nation, has always been one and the same: Start With Life

• The general election is Tuesday, November 8, 2016. • Identifying prolife candidates is easy. Endorsements are listed by congressional district. To find your congressional district, see the counties listed under each district, or use the map on page 7. A detailed breakdown of district information for Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties is found on the right. • Only Right to Life of Michigan Political Action Committee endorsed candidates are listed. When more than one candidate is listed for a race, that means multiple candidates have been endorsed by the RLM-PAC. • To create your own personalized prolife ballot, visit our website at www.RTL.org/vote. • If you have a question about who is endorsed, e-mail us at [email protected] or call our State Central office at 616-532-2300.

Fall 2016 • Right to Life of Michigan News • 7

District Finder for MACOMB, OAKLAND, WAYNE COUNTIES Community Congressional MI House District District

Addison Twp. 8 46 Allen Park 12 13 Armada Twp. 10 33 Auburn Hills 11 29 Belleville 12 21 Berkley 9 27 Birmingham 11 40 Bloomfield Hills 11 40 Bloomfield Twp. 9 40 Brandon Twp. 8 46 Brownstown Twp. 12 23 Bruce Twp. 10 36 Canton Twp 11 20/21 Center Line 9 28 Chesterfield Twp. 10 32 Clawson 9/11 41 Clinton Twp. 9 24/31 Commerce Twp. 11 39 Dearborn 12 9/15 Dearborn Hts. 12/13 11/13 Detroit 13/14 1-10 East Detroit (Eastpointe) 9 18 Ecorse 13 6 Farmington 11 37 Farmington Hills 14 37 Ferndale 9 27 Flat Rock 12 17 Fraser 9 31 Garden City 13 11 Gibralter 12 23 Grosse Ile 12 23 Grosse Pointe 14 2 Grosse Pointe Farms 14 2 Grosse Pointe Park 14 2 Grosse Pointe Shores 14 1 Grosse Pointe Woods 14 1 Groveland Twp. 8 51 Hamtramck 14 4 Harper Woods 14 1 Harrison Twp. 10 24 Hazel Park 9 27 Highland Park 13 7 Highland Twp. 11 44 Holly Twp. 8 51 Huntington Woods 9 27 Huron Twp. 12 23 Independence Twp. 8 43 Inkster 13 11 Keego Harbor 14 29 Lake Angelus 11 43 Lathrup City 14 35 Lenox Twp. 10 33 Lincoln Park 12 14 Livonia 11 11/19 Lyon Twp. 11 38 Macomb Twp. 10 24/33 Madison Hts. 9 26

Community Congressional MI House District District

Melvindale 13 14 Memphis 10 33 Milford Twp. 11 44 Mt. Clemens 9 31 New Baltimore 10 32 Northville 11 20/38 Northville Twp. 11 20 Novi 11 38 Novi Twp. 11 38 Oak Park 14 27 Oakland Twp. 8 45/46 Orchard Lake 14 29 Orion Twp. 8 46 Oxford Twp. 8 46 Pleasant Ridge 9 27 Plymouth 11 20 Plymouth Twp. 11 20 Pontiac 14 29 Ray Twp. 10 33 Redford Twp. 13 10 Richmond 10 33 Richmond Twp. 10 33 River Rouge 13 6 Riverview 14 14 Rochester 8 45 Rochester Hills 8/11 45 Rockwood 12 17 Rose Twp. 8 51 Roseville 9 22 Romulus 13 12 Royal Oak 9 26 Royal Oak Twp. 14 27 St. Clair Shores 9 18 Shelby Twp. 10 30/36 South Lyon 11 38 Southfield 14 35 Southfield Twp. 9 35 Southgate 12 13 Springfield Twp. 8 44 Sterling Hts. 9/10 25/30 Sumpter Twp. 12 17 Sylvan Lake 14 29 Taylor 12 12 Trenton 12 13 Troy 11 41 Utica 10 30 Van Buren Twp. 12 12/21 Walled Lake 11 38 Warren 9 22/25/28 Washington Twp. 10 36 Waterford Twp. 11 43/44 Wayne 13 16 West Bloomfield Twp. 11/14 39/40 Westland 13 16 White Lake 11 44 Wixom 11 39 Woodhaven 12 23 Wyandotte 12 14

Congressional Districts in Michigan

USING YOUR PROLIFE VOTER BALLOT IS AS EASY AS 1, 2, 3 1. Locate your Congressional District 2. Find your Prolife Voter’s Ballot which matches your Congressional District (pages 8-14) 3. Use your Prolife Voter’s Ballot for election day on November 8. Go to www.RTL.org/vote to create your own personalized prolife ballot.

1 st CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

2 nd CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

3 rd CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

4 th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

Counties: Alcona; Alger; Alpena; Antrim; Baraga; Benzie; Charlevoix; Cheboygan; Chippewa; Crawford; Delta; Dickinson; Emmet; Gogebic; Grand Traverse; Houghton; Iron; Kalkaska; Keweenaw; Leelanau; Luce; Mackinac; Manistee; Marquette; Mason (part); Menominee; Montmorency; Ontonagon; Oscoda; Otsego; Presque Isle; Schoolcraft

Counties: Allegan (part); Kent (part); Lake; Mason (part); Muskegon; Newaygo; Oceana; Ottawa

Counties: Barry; Calhoun, Ionia; Kent (part); Montcalm (part)

Counties: Clare; Clinton; Gladwin; Gratiot; Isabella; Mecosta; Midland; Missaukee; Montcalm (part); Ogemaw; Osceola; Roscommon, Saginaw (part); Shiawassee; Wexford

US President Donald Trump (R) US Congress Jack Bergman (R) Michigan House 101 Curt Vanderwall (R) 103 Daire Rendon (R) 104 Larry Inman (R)* 105 Triston Cole (R)* 106 Sue Allor (R) 107 Lee Chatfield (R)* 108 Beau LaFave (R) State Board of Education [2] Tom McMillin (R) Nikki Snyder (R) University of Michigan Board of Regents [2] Carl Meyers (R) Michigan State University Board of Trustees [2] William Deary (R) Dan Kelly (R) Wayne State Board of Governors [2] Kimberly Shmina (R) Cheboygan County Clerk Karen Brewster (R) Cheboygan County Drain Commissioner Cameron Cavitt (R)*

Mackinac County Clerk Lori Wisner Johnston (R) Judy St. Louis (D)

US President Donald Trump (R) US Congress Bill Huizenga (R)*

NONPARTISAN RACES

Michigan House 72 Steven Johnson (R) 74 Rob VerHeulen (R)* 77 Tommy Brann (R) 80 Mary Whiteford (R)* 88 Roger Victory (R)* 89 Jim Lilly (R) 90 Daniela Garcia (R)* 91 Holly Hughes (R)* 100 Scott VanSingel (R) 101 Curt Vanderwall (R)

Justice of the Supreme Court [1] David Viviano*

State Board of Education [2] Tom McMillin (R) Nikki Snyder (R)

Justice of the Supreme Court (Partial Term) [1] Joan Larsen*

University of Michigan Board of Regents [2] Carl Meyers (R)

Mason County Clerk Cheryl Kelly (R)*

23rd Circuit Court Non-Incumbent [1] David Riffel 46th Circuit Court Non-Incumbent [1] Kevin Hesselink Colin Hunter

Michigan State University Board of Trustees [2] William Deary (R) Dan Kelly (R) Wayne State Board of Governors [2] Kimberly Shmina (R)

Mason County Clerk Cheryl Kelly (R)* Mason County Commission 4 Lewis Squires (R) Ottawa County Commission 1 Frank Garcia (R) 2 Joe Baumann (R)* 3 Don Disselkoen (R)* 4 Allen Dannenberg (R)* 5 Mike Haverdink (R)* 6 Dennis Van Dam (R)* 7 James Holtvluwer (R)* 8 Greg De Jong (R)* 11 Matthew Fenske (R)* NONPARTISAN RACES Justice of the Supreme Court [1] David Viviano* Justice of the Supreme Court (Partial Term) [1] Joan Larsen*

Allegan County Prosecutor Rob Kengis (R)

17th Circuit Court Non-Incumbent [1] Curt Benson Joe Rossi

Allegan County Clerk Bob Genetski (R)

17th Circuit Court New Judgeship [1] Benjamin Symko

Allegan County Treasurer Sally Brooks (R)*

20th Circuit Court Incumbent [1] Kent Engle*

Allegan County Commission 2 Jim Storey (R)*

20th Circuit Court Non-Incumbent [1] Dan Martin Karen Miedema

Kent County Sheriff Larry Stelma (R)* Kent County Clerk Lisa Posthumus Lyons (R) Kent County Treasurer Kenneth Parrish (R)* Kent County Drain Commissioner Ken Yonker (R)

*Incumbent

Kent County Commission 6 Stan Stek (R)* 7 Stan Ponstein (R)* 8 Harold Voorhees (R)* 9 Matt Kallman (R)* 12 Harold Mast (R)* 13 Jessica Tyson (R)

*Incumbent

48th Circuit Court Incumbent [1] Margaret Bakker* 58th District Court Non-Incumbent [1] Vernon Helder Judy Mulder 59th District Court Incumbent [1] Peter Versluis* Muskegon Co. Probate Non-Incumbent [1] Joseph Bush

Paid for by Right to Life of Michigan-PAC, PO Box 901, Grand Rapids, MI 49509-0901. www.RTL.org. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.

US President Donald Trump (R)

Kent County Sheriff Larry Stelma (R)*

US Congress Justin Amash (R)*

Kent County Clerk Lisa Posthumus Lyons (R)

Michigan House 62 John Bizon (R)* 70 James Lower (R) 72 Steven Johnson (R) 73 Chris Afendoulis (R)* 74 Rob VerHeulen (R)* 77 Tommy Brann (R) 86 Thomas Albert (R) 87 Julie Calley (R)

Kent County Treasurer Kenneth Parrish (R)*

State Board of Education [2] Tom McMillin (R) Nikki Snyder (R) University of Michigan Board of Regents [2] Carl Meyers (R) Michigan State University Board of Trustees [2] William Deary (R) Dan Kelly (R) Wayne State Board of Governors [2] Kimberly Shmina (R) Barry County Sheriff Dar Leaf (R)* Calhoun County Clerk/Reg. of Deeds Anne Norlander (R)* Calhoun County Commission 4 Steve Frisbie (R)* 5 Derek King (R)* 6 Victor Potter (R) 7 Gary Tompkins (R) Ionia County Clerk Janae Cooper (R) Ionia County Commission 1 David Hodges (R)* 7 Georgia Richardson-Sharp (R)

*Incumbent

Kent County Drain Commissioner Ken Yonker (R) Kent County Commission 1 Ted Vonk (R)* 2 Tom Antor (R)* 3 Roger Morgan (R)* 4 Diane Jones (R)* 5 Mandy Bolter (R)* 6 Stan Stek (R)* 9 Matt Kallman (R)* 10 Emily Post Brieve (R)* 11 Jim Saalfeld (R)* 18 Dan Koorndyk (R)* 19 Shana Shroll (R)* Montcalm County Prosecuting Attorney Andrea Krause (R)* NONPARTISAN RACES Justice of the Supreme Court [1] David Viviano* Justice of the Supreme Court (Partial Term) [1] Joan Larsen* 8th Circuit Court Incumbent [1] Ronald Schafer* 17th Circuit Court Non-Incumbent [1] Curt Benson Joe Rossi 17th Circuit Court New Judgeship [1] Benjamin Symko 37th Circuit Court Incumbent [1] Brian Kirkham*

US President Donald Trump (R)

Isabella County Commission 3 Jerry Jaloszynski (R)*

US Congress John Moolenaar (R)*

Montcalm County Prosecuting Attorney Andrea Krause (R)*

Michigan House 70 James Lower (R) 85 Ben Frederick (R) 93 Tom Leonard (R)* 94 Tim Kelly (R)* 97 Jason Wentworth (R) 98 Gary Glenn (R)* 99 Roger Hauck (R) 102 Michele Hoitenga (R) 103 Daire Rendon (R) State Board of Education [2] Tom McMillin (R) Nikki Snyder (R) University of Michigan Board of Regents [2] Carl Meyers (R) Michigan State University Board of Trustees [2] William Deary (R) Dan Kelly (R) Wayne State Board of Governors [2] Kimberly Shmina (R) Clinton County Prosecutor Charles Sherman (R)*

Saginaw County Sheriff William Federspiel (D)* Saginaw County Clerk Amy Carl (R) Saginaw County Commission 3 Kirk Kilpatrick (R)* 4 Susan McInerney (D)* 5 Jim Theisen (R)* 6 Kyle Harris (R) 8 Dennis Krafft (R)* Shiawassee County Commission 3 Gary Holzhausen (R)* NONPARTISAN RACES Justice of the Supreme Court [1] David Viviano* Justice of the Supreme Court (Partial Term) [1] Joan Larsen* 8th Circuit Court Incumbent [1] Ronald Schafer*

Clinton County Commission 4 Kenneth Mitchell (R)* 6 Anne Hill (R)* 7 Adam Stacey (R)*

*Incumbent

Paid for by Right to Life of Michigan-PAC, PO Box 901, Grand Rapids, MI 49509-0901. www.RTL.org. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.

5 th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

6 th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

7 th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

8 th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

Counties: Arenac, Bay; Genesee; Iosco, Saginaw (part); Tuscola (part)

Counties: Allegan (part); Berrien; Cass; Kalamazoo; St. Joseph; Van Buren

Counties: Branch; Eaton; Hillsdale; Jackson; Lenawee; Monroe; Washtenaw (part)

Counties: Ingham; Livingston; Oakland (part)

US President Donald Trump (R)

3 Vaughn Begick (R)* 7 Mike Lutz (D)*

US President Donald Trump (R)

Michigan House 51 Joe Graves (R)* 84 Edward Canfield (R)* 94 Tim Kelly (R)* 96 Brian Elder (D) 97 Jason Wentworth (R) 98 Gary Glenn (R)* 106 Sue Allor (R)

Saginaw County Sheriff William Federspiel (D)*

US Congress Fred Upton (R)*

State Board of Education [2] Tom McMillin (R) Nikki Snyder (R) University of Michigan Board of Regents [2] Carl Meyers (R) Michigan State University Board of Trustees [2] William Deary (R) Dan Kelly (R) Wayne State Board of Governors [2] Kimberly Shmina (R) Bay County Clerk Cynthia Luczak (D)* Bay County Treasurer Richard Brzezinski (D)* Bay County Commission 1 Michael Durancyzk (D)* 2 Ernie Krygier (D)*

Saginaw County Clerk Amy Carl (R) Saginaw County Commission 3 Kirk Kilpatrick (R)* 4 Susan McInerney (D)* 8 Dennis Krafft (R)*

Michigan House 59 Aaron Miller (R)* 61 Brandt Iden (R)* 66 Beth Griffin (R) 72 Steven Johnson (R) 78 Dave Pagel (R)* 79 Kim LaSata (R) 80 Mary Whiteford (R)*

Blumfield Township Clerk Lisa Roethlisberger (R)*

State Board of Education [2] Tom McMillin (R) Nikki Snyder (R)

NONPARTISAN RACES

University of Michigan Board of Regents [2] Carl Meyers (R)

Justice of the Supreme Court [1] David Viviano* Justice of the Supreme Court (Partial Term) [1] Joan Larsen* 23rd Circuit Court Non-Incumbent [1] David Riffel Bay County Probate Incumbent [1] John Keuvelaar*

Michigan State University Board of Trustees [2] William Deary (R) Dan Kelly (R) Wayne State Board of Governors [2] Kimberly Shmina (R) Allegan County Prosecutor Rob Kengis (R) Allegan County Clerk Bob Genetski (R) Allegan County Treasurer Sally Brooks (R)* Allegan County Commission 2 Jim Storey (R)* 4 D. Mark DeYoung (R)*

Kalamazoo County Commission 5 Chad Dillon (R) 7 Roger Tuinier (R)* 9 Dale Shugars (R)* 10 Mike Quinn (D) Jerry Whitaker (R) 11 Scott McGraw (R)* St. Joseph County Commission 1 Allen Balog (R)* NONPARTISAN RACES Justice of the Supreme Court [1] David Viviano* Justice of the Supreme Court (Partial Term) [1] Joan Larsen* 1st District Court of Appeals Incumbent [2] Kurtis Wilder* 2nd Circuit Court Incumbent [2] Charles LaSata* 48th Circuit Court Incumbent [1] Margaret Bakker* 7th District Court Non-Incumbent [1] Cirilo Martinez Michael McKay 8th District Court Incumbent [1] Chris Haenicke* Kalamazoo County Probate Incumbent [1] Scott Pierangeli*

Kalamazoo County Treasurer Mary Balkema (R)* *Incumbent

*Incumbent

Paid for by Right to Life of Michigan-PAC, PO Box 901, Grand Rapids, MI 49509-0901. www.RTL.org. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.

US President Donald Trump (R)

Jackson County Treasurer Karen Coffman (R)*

US Congress Tim Walberg (R)*

Jackson County Commission 5 James Shotwell (R)* 9 David Elwell (R)*

Michigan House 56 Jason Sheppard (R)* 57 Bronna Kahle (R) 58 Eric Leutheuser (R)* 64 Julie Alexander (R) 71 Tom Barrett (R)* State Board of Education [2] Tom McMillin (R) Nikki Snyder (R) University of Michigan Board of Regents [2] Carl Meyers (R) Michigan State University Board of Trustees [2] William Deary (R) Dan Kelly (R) Wayne State Board of Governors [2] Kimberly Shmina (R) Eaton County Sheriff Fred McPhail (R) Tom Reich (D)* Eaton County Commission 1 Christine Barnes (R) 3 Jon Shiflett (R) 4 Gina Johnsen (R) 5 Mark Sands (R) 10 Roger Eakin (R)* Jackson County Prosecutor Jerry Jarzynka (R)* *Incumbent

Lenawee County Sheriff Jack Welsh (R)* Lenawee County Commission 8 Ralph Tillotson (R)* 9 Chris Wittenbach (R)* Monroe County Commission 3 Dawn Asper (R) 9 Henry Lievens (R)* Delta Township Trustee Linda Marquardt (R) Rick Olivarez (R) NONPARTISAN RACES Justice of the Supreme Court [1] David Viviano* Justice of the Supreme Court (Partial Term) [1] Joan Larsen* 1st District Court of Appeals Incumbent [2] Kurtis Wilder* 12th District Court Incumbent [1] Joe Filip* 56A District Court Non-Incumbent [1] Shirlee Bobryk Julie O’Neill

US President Donald Trump (R)

Oakland County Prosecutor Mike Goetz (R)

US Congress Mike Bishop (R)*

Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard (R)*

Michigan House 42 Lana Theis (R)* 43 Jim Tedder (R)* 44 Jim Runestad (R)* 45 Michael Webber (R)* 46 John Reilly (R) 47 Henry Vaupel (R)* 51 Joe Graves (R)* 67 Leon Clark (R)

Oakland County Clerk Bill Bullard (R)

State Board of Education [2] Tom McMillin (R) Nikki Snyder (R)

Brighton Township Supervisor Patrick Michel (R)

University of Michigan Board of Regents [2] Carl Meyers (R) Michigan State University Board of Trustees [2] William Deary (R) Dan Kelly (R)

Oakland County Treasurer John McCulloch (R) Oakland County Commission 1 Michael Gingell (R)* 11 Doug Tietz (R)

Brighton Township Clerk Ann Bollin (R)* Brighton Township Treasurer Rose Drouillard (R) Brighton Township Trustee Steve Combs (R) Sam Theis (R)

Wayne State Board of Governors [2] Kimberly Shmina (R)

Genoa Township Supervisor Bill Rogers (R)

Ingham County Commission 1 Victor Celentino (D)* 13 Randy Schafer (R)*

Hamburg Township Treasurer Jason Negri (R)

Livingston County Prosecuting Attorney William Vailliencourt (R)* Livingston County Sheriff Michael Murphy (R) Livingston County Clerk Elizabeth Hundley (R)* Livingston County Register of Deeds Brandon Denby (R) Livingston County Treasurer Jennifer Nash (R)* Livingston County Commission 1 Kate Lawrence (R)* 2 Willliam Green (R)* 3 David Domas (R)* 4 Douglas Helzerman (R) 5 Donald Parker (R)* 8 Dennis Dolan (R)* 9 Gary Childs (R)*

Handy Township Trustee Dave Roddy (R) NONPARTISAN RACES Justice of the Supreme Court [1] David Viviano* Justice of the Supreme Court (Partial Term) [1] Joan Larsen* 6th Circuit Court Incumbent [4] Daniel O’Brien* 53rd District Court Incumbent [1] Suzanne Geddis* Oakland County Probate Incumbent [1] Kathleen Ryan* Oakland Co. Probate Non-Incumbent [1] Karen Geibel *Incumbent

Paid for by Right to Life of Michigan-PAC, PO Box 901, Grand Rapids, MI 49509-0901. www.RTL.org. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.

9 th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

10 th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

11 th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

12 th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

County: Macomb (part); Oakland (part)

Counties: Huron; Lapeer; Macomb (part); Sanilac; St. Clair; Tuscola (part)

Counties: Oakland (part); Wayne (part)

Counties: Washtenaw (part); Wayne (part)

US President Donald Trump (R)

Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard (R)*

Michigan House 24 Steve Marino (R) 26 Randy LeVasseur (R) 30 Diana Farrington (R) 31 Lisa Valerio-Nowc (R) 40 Michael McCready (R)* 41 Martin Howrylak (R)*

Oakland County Clerk Bill Bullard (R)

State Board of Education [2] Tom McMillin (R) Nikki Snyder (R) University of Michigan Board of Regents [2] Carl Meyers (R)

Oakland County Treasurer John McCulloch (R) Oakland County Commission 12 Shelley Goodman-Taub (R)* 16 Wade Fleming (R)* 20 David Harrell (R) Bloomfield Township Trustee [4] David Buckley (R)* Dani Walsh (R)

Michigan State University Board of Trustees [2] William Deary (R) Dan Kelly (R)

NONPARTISAN RACES

Wayne State Board of Governors [2] Kimberly Shmina (R)

Justice of the Supreme Court (Partial Term) [1] Joan Larsen*

Macomb County Treasurer Larry Rocca (R) Macomb County Public Works Commissioner Candice Miller (R) Macomb County Commission 2 Marvin Sauger (D)* 4 Liz Sierawski (D) 5 Robert Mijac (D)* 10 Robert Leonetti (D) Linda Burns Torp (R) 12 James Perna (R) Oakland County Prosecutor Mike Goetz (R)

Justice of the Supreme Court [1] David Viviano*

6th Circuit Court Incumbent [4] Daniel O’Brien* 16th Circuit Court Incumbent [2] Kathy Viviano* 41A District Court Incumbent [1] Stephen Sierawski* Oakland Co. Probate Incumbent [1] Kathleen Ryan*

US President Donald Trump (R) US Congress Paul Mitchell (R) Michigan House 24 Steve Marino (R) 30 Diana Farrington (R) 32 Pamela Hornberger (R) 33 Jeff Yaroch (R) 36 Peter Lucido (R)* 81 Dan Lauwers (R)* 82 Gary Howell (R)* 83 Shane Hernandez (R) 84 Edward Canfield (R)* State Board of Education [2] Tom McMillin (R) Nikki Snyder (R) University of Michigan Board of Regents [2] Carl Meyers (R) Michigan State University Board of Trustees [2] William Deary (R) Dan Kelly (R) Wayne State Board of Governors [2] Kimberly Shmina (R) Macomb County Treasurer Larry Rocca (R)

Macomb County Public Works Commissioner Candice Miller (R) Macomb County Commission 4 Liz Sierawski (D) 5 Robert Mijac (D)* 6 James Carabelli (R)* 7 Don Brown (R)* 8 Phil Kraft (R) 10 Robert Leonetti (D) Linda Burns Torp (R) St. Clair County Commission 2 Karl Tomion (R)* NONPARTISAN RACES Justice of the Supreme Court [1] David Viviano* Justice of the Supreme Court (Partial Term) [1] Joan Larsen* 16th Circuit Court Incumbent [2] Kathy Viviano* 31st Circuit Court Incumbent [1] Cynthia Lane* 41A District Court Incumbent [1] Stephen Sierawski*

Oakland County Probate NonIncumbent [1] Karen Geibel

US President Donald Trump (R)

Canton Township Supervisor Patrick Williams (R)

US Congress David Trott (R)*

Canton Township Treasurer Melissa McLaughlin (R)*

Michigan House 19 Laura Cox (R)* 20 Jeff Noble (R) 38 Kathy Crawford (R)* 39 Klint Kesto (R)* 40 Michael McCready (R)* 41 Martin Howrylak (R)* 43 Jim Tedder (R)* 44 Jim Runestad (R)* 45 Michael Webber (R)*

Canton Township Trustee [4] John Anthony (R)* Geoff Boltach (R) Darian Moore (R) Thomas Yack (R)*

State Board of Education [2] Tom McMillin (R) Nikki Snyder (R)

Plymouth Township Supervisor Kurt Heise (R) NONPARTISAN RACES Justice of the Supreme Court [1] David Viviano*

University of Michigan Board of Regents [2] Carl Meyers (R)

Justice of the Supreme Court (Partial Term) [1] Joan Larsen*

Michigan State University Board of Trustees [2] William Deary (R) Dan Kelly (R)

1st District Court of Appeals Incumbent [2] Kurtis Wilder*

Wayne State Board of Governors [2] Kimberly Shmina (R) Oakland County Prosecutor Mike Goetz (R) Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard (R)* Oakland County Clerk Bill Bullard (R) Oakland County Treasurer John McCulloch (R) Oakland County Commission 1 Michael Gingell (R)* 6 Eileen Kowall (R)* 7 Christine Long (R)* 8 Phil Weipert (R)* 9 Hugh Crawford (R)* 11 Doug Tietz (R) 12 Shelley Goodman-Taub (R)* 16 Wade Fleming (R)* 20 David Harrell (R)

3rd Circuit Court Incumbent [16] Timothy Kenny* 3rd Circuit Court Non-Incumbent [4] Melissa Anne Cox Matthew Evans Thomas Hathaway Kelly Ann Ramsey 6th Circuit Court Incumbent [4] Daniel O’Brien* 51st District Court Non-Incumbent [1] Mary Mara 52nd District Court 1st Division Incumbent [1] David Law* Oakland County Probate Incumbent [1] Kathleen Ryan* Oakland Co. Probate Non-Incumbent [1] Karen Geibel

US President Donald Trump (R) Michigan House 23 Bob Howey (R) State Board of Education [2] Tom McMillin (R) Nikki Snyder (R) University of Michigan Board of Regents [2] Carl Meyers (R) Michigan State University Board of Trustees [2] William Deary (R) Dan Kelly (R) Wayne State Board of Governors [2] Kimberly Shmina (R) NONPARTISAN RACES Justice of the Supreme Court [1] David Viviano* Justice of the Supreme Court (Partial Term) [1] Joan Larsen* 1st District Court of Appeals Incumbent [2] Kurtis Wilder* 3rd Circuit Court Incumbent [16] Timothy Kenny* 3rd Circuit Court Non-Incumbent [4] Melissa Anne Cox Matthew Evans Thomas Hathaway Kelly Ann Ramsey

Wayne County Commission 9 Terry Marecki (R)* 10 Joe Barone (R)* *Incumbent

*Incumbent

Paid for by Right to Life of Michigan-PAC, PO Box 901, Grand Rapids, MI 49509-0901. www.RTL.org. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.

*Incumbent

*Incumbent

Paid for by Right to Life of Michigan-PAC, PO Box 901, Grand Rapids, MI 49509-0901. www.RTL.org. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.

Fall 2016 • Right to Life of Michigan News • 15

13 th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

14 th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

County: Wayne (part)

Counties: Oakland (part); Wayne (part)

US President Donald Trump (R)

US President Donald Trump (R)

State Board of Education [2] Tom McMillin (R) Nikki Snyder (R)

Michigan House 39 Klint Kesto (R)* 40 Michael McCready (R)*

University of Michigan Board of Regents [2] Carl Meyers (R)

State Board of Education [2] Tom McMillin (R) Nikki Snyder (R)

Michigan State University Board of Trustees [2] William Deary (R) Dan Kelly (R) Wayne State Board of Governors [2] Kimberly Shmina (R) NONPARTISAN RACES Justice of the Supreme Court [1] David Viviano* Justice of the Supreme Court (Partial Term) [1] Joan Larsen* 1st District Court of Appeals Incumbent [2] Kurtis Wilder* 3rd Circuit Court Incumbent [16] Timothy Kenny* 3rd Circuit Court Non-Incumbent [4] Melissa Anne Cox Matthew Evans Thomas Hathaway Kelly Ann Ramsey

*Incumbent

University of Michigan Board of Regents [2] Carl Meyers (R) Michigan State University Board of Trustees [2] William Deary (R) Dan Kelly (R) Wayne State Board of Governors [2] Kimberly Shmina (R) Oakland County Prosecutor Mike Goetz (R) Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard (R)* Oakland County Clerk Bill Bullard (R)

NONPARTISAN RACES Justice of the Supreme Court [1] David Viviano* Justice of the Supreme Court (Partial Term) [1] Joan Larsen* 1st District Court of Appeals Incumbent [2] Kurtis Wilder* 3rd Circuit Court Incumbent [16] Timothy Kenny* 3rd Circuit Court Non-Incumbent [4] Melissa Anne Cox Matthew Evans Thomas Hathaway Kelly Ann Ramsey 6th Circuit Court Incumbent [4] Daniel O’Brien* Oakland County Probate Incumbent [1] Kathleen Ryan* Oakland County Probabe NonIncumbent [1] Karen Geibel

Oakland County Treasurer John McCulloch (R) Oakland County Commission 7 Christine Long (R)*

*Incumbent

Paid for by Right to Life of Michigan-PAC, PO Box 901, Grand Rapids, MI 49509-0901. www.RTL.org. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.

Youth infographic contest winner The Right to Life of Michigan Educational Fund is excited to announce the winner of our 3rd annual Youth Infographic Contest: Leah Boerkel from Ada, Michigan. See Leah’s winning submission below. All of our contestants did an excellent job and we look forward to seeing their work again next year. Congratulations to Leah and all of our finalists! The Infographic Contest is for youth ages 13 to 22 and is a simple way share the prolife message with others. What is an infographic? It is a graphic or visual representation of information intended to present information clearly and quickly.

16 • Right to Life of Michigan News • Fall 2016

Fall 2016 • Right to Life of Michigan News • 17

Choosing life even when it’s hard Jamie Kwiatkowski put a hand on her swollen belly. How was she going to take care of another baby? Working two jobs while attending school barely left time for her one-year old son, let alone another baby. Conflicted, she considered her options. After the past year of raising her son by herself, Jamie wanted to weep when she discovered she was pregnant again. She wanted to give this child the world, but knew she didn’t have the ability to do that. Contemplating her options, she decided abortion was the answer. She scheduled her appointment and began preparing for the procedure. A few days before her appointment, Jamie walked into her son’s room. There she saw the extra crib she had set up and the stack of diapers she bought whenever she had a few extra dollars. It was then that she realized she couldn’t have an abortion. Even though she had no idea how she would care for her baby, she knew this baby deserved life. Tears fell as she begged God for help and asked for answers. Once she made her decision, every doctor’s appointment brought her child closer to her heart. Jamie could feel this baby alive and well within her. She decided to figure out the sex of her baby and when she heard the news her heart sank. A baby girl. A dream come true, only she thought she couldn’t give her the life she deserved. “The little girl I always wanted, that I dreamed of doing her hair and painting her nails was going to come into this world,” she said.

Jamie already struggled with her son not knowing his father. She didn’t want her baby girl to grow up with a father Jamie couldn’t trust, one intermittently in trouble with the law. Knowing that she couldn’t parent her baby girl, the only option left was adoption. She researched open adoption and found the perfect family to adopt her baby girl. “This precious child deserved a life with a loving family, who, by reading their bio online, was everything I would want for a baby,” Jamie said. Jamie spent the next few months meeting the family and getting acquainted. The day finally came for Jamie to give birth. Jill, the adoptive mom, was in the room when the precious, newborn baby girl took her first breath. Jamie and Jill shared exhausted, but joyful smiles. “Thousands and thousands of families are out there waiting to adopt, with so many stories and situations,” Jamie said. “I could make a difference to them and to my child, and I did.” Ten years later, Jamie found herself pregnant again. This time she was ready to parent her son. Walking into the hospital to deliver her baby brought back many memories and emotions. With so many feelings rushing in, Jamie kept reminding herself that everything was different now. Her support system and husband helped her through her fears and she gave birth to a healthy baby boy. Even though still deals with the grief of placing her child for adoption, she knows it was the right decision.

Pregnant? Need Help? Call 800-57WOMAN Call 800-579-6626 or text “HELPLINE” to 313131

Confidential unplanned pregnancy options counseling and assisance; adoption information; and post-abortion counseling

“A child needs more than love to raise him or her,” Jamie said. Working two jobs and attending school while caring for a young child at home wasn’t the life she wanted for her daughter. Jamie wanted the best for her and knew she couldn’t provide the life she wanted. Jamie chose to give her to a family that could offer her everything. Jamie is still close to the family that adopted her baby and they attended her youngest son’s birthday celebration. She had dreamed of this family and is grateful for them. Jamie said other women considering adoption should reach out to someone immediately. A support system is essential to walk you through this decision and help you be strong. In times of doubt you will need someone to remind you of how strong and smart you are for choosing to give your child a better life. “You can do it,” Jamie said. “Be someone’s hero.”

David Daleiden exhonerated for undercover investigation of Planned Parenthood On July 26 all charges were dropped against the Center for Medical Progress team that exposed Planned Parenthood’s fetal organ trafficking schemes. David Daleiden and Sandra Merritt were charged with felonies in Texas for their investigative journalism. In August 2015 the Center for Medical Progress released a video showing Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast (PPGC) in Texas willing to sell the organs of aborted babies and change abortion procedures to harvest higher-quality organs, both illegal. A grand jury in Harris County, Texas was impaneled to look into the allegations. Instead of investigating PPGC, the office of Harris County District Attorney Devon Anderson turned the grand jury on the people exposing the potential crimes. It was later admitted her office even illegally colluded with PPGC, the original target of their investigation. The grand jury never voted on charges against PPGC, but instead indicted Daleiden for engaging in organ trafficking, and indicted both Daleiden and Merritt on felony charges for using false identification. The ridiculous organ trafficking charge against Daleiden was dropped on June 14. On July 26 the felony charges against Daleiden and Merritt for using false identification was dropped. While they will serve no jail time, the process was the punishment for Daleiden and Merritt. PPGC will likely escape any consequences. PPGC is no stranger to skirting laws, however. Just a few years ago PPGC was forced to reach a $1.4 million settlement over a Medicaid fraud case.

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election season Visit

www.RTL.org/election to find free resources for churches, candidate records on abortion, and more! To order business cards that help people get their own personalized prolife ballot, e-mail [email protected].

18 • Right to Life of Michigan News • Fall 2016

You can remember a deceased loved one or honor one of the special people in your life through a tax-deductible memorial or honorary contribution to the Right to Life of Michigan Educational Fund. A thoughtful acknowledgment will be sent to the family or person you designate, while the gift amount will remain confidential. Visit www.RTL.org and click on the “Giving” tab. Or, send a check with information about the memorial or honorarium to: RLM Educational Fund P.O. Box 901 Grand Rapids, MI 49509

In Memory Of

Given By

Martin Gembrowski...............................Doug & Mary Sandula D. Brown Wilhelm M.K. Zolinski Catholic Men’s Fellowship of Saginaw Jacob Glas...............................................................Grace Mulder Pamela Rhodes General James W. Hoerner..................Don & Bridget Bittner Jim & Ruth Popiel George Kobryn.......................................Michael & Vita LaMora

Bill Marsh........................................Brian & Pam Cusack Family Russ Mills........................................................Luane Feldpausch Irene C. Koza-Natali....................................Mike & Vita LaMora Barbara Olevenick...............................................Carin Garfield Board of S.E. Macomb RTL Marlene Kaczorowski George Patrick..................Board of Southern Downriver RTL

Joanne Ales...................................................Paul & Joan Moses

William & Elaine Pierson.......................Daniel & Mary Gettel

Judith A. Amon................................................Noreen Casciani Mr. & Mrs. Michael Zemke

Marion & Anne Reiminski................................Dolores Brown

Donald & Helen Anderson...........................Donna Anderson JoAnne Price & Gene Hetzel Ruth Plocharczyk Diane & Kim Slayer Bob & Jeanne Stille

Stewart Siegel.........................................Tom & Leila Riddering Paul Sobonya..............................................................Joy Applin Barry & Carolyn Davis Otto & Barbara Listing Walter & Kathleen Ogorek

Carol Ankley......................................................Elly Smyczynski

David & Mary Sonsmith........................Joseph & Mary Myers

Barbara Armstrong......................................Robert Armstrong

Tabitha Lynn Vear........................Brian & Pam Cusack Family

Rev. James A. Bultman...................................Debbie DeVries Casey Bunce...........................................Michael & Vita LaMora Bernard Damitio...........................Bentley, Cain, Carmichael, Pellerio, & Thull Families Patricia Deuling...........................................Pat & Urszula Firlik Susan LaBarge Martin Gembrowski........................Peter & Rosemary Alfano Helen Chernich Jim & Doris Doepker Jennifer Elmer Daniel & Katheryn Fitzpatrick Heather & Lonnie Gallegos Cindy LeRoux Rick & Doreen LeVasseur Kathy Lorentzen Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Osmond Joe & Judy Ursuy

Cree Erwin, a 24-year-old resident of Battle Creek, was found dead on July 4 following an abortion at Planned Parenthood in Kalamazoo.

Nancy Laier........................................................The Laier Family George W. Lucas....................................................Felicia Landa

In Honor Of

Given By

Vera Hurd (90th Birthday)...........................Donald Matteson Little Baby Zaina..........................Brian & Pam Cusack Family

How it all adds up

Battle creek woman dies following an abortion

She leaves behind a one-year-old son. Erwin traveled to Kalamazoo to have an abortion on June 30. Sometime after the abortion Erwin began to complain of abdominal pain. On the evening of July 2, Erwin’s mother took her to the emergency room at Bronson Battle Creek Hospital. She was discharged after midnight with a prescription for pain medication. Erwin then traveled to her mother’s house, which is near the hospital. She crawled into bed and slept throughout the day. Erwin’s mother periodically checked on her, but found no cause of alarm until discovering Erwin unresponsive and not breathing in the early morning hours of July 4. A gut-wrenching 911 call has been released, showing Erwin’s mother wailing as she is unable to help her daughter, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

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For more information on this developing news story, please visit our website at www.RTL.org.

That certainly may be accurate if we’re talking about funds we have at our immediate disposal. But the truth of the matter is that one day we won’t need money any longer. It’s a fact that when we die, we can’t take it with us. The bottom line is this: we can donate to one or more organizations that we love and want to support through our will or living trust. In addition to your heirs, you can also provide for the organizations you supported during your lifetime.

Here’s an example of what a bequest gift directive might look like for an estate worth $250,000: Gift to: % of estate $ Amount Son 25% $62,500 Daughter 25% $62,500 Grandchildren 20% $50,000 Church 10% $25,000 RLM Ed Fund 10% $25,000 Hospital 5% $12,500 Soup Kitchen 5% $12,500 TOTAL 100% $250,000 You don’t have to be a millionaire to take care of both your family, and take care of others God has placed in your path through organizations you support during your lifetime. It’s easy to name several people and/or organizations in your will or trust. Leave a legacy and continue doing good work.

Information provided above is for the purpose of providing general answers to commonly asked question. Please contact an attorney for specific legal advice.

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PLEASE CHECK ALL THAT APPLY • CLIP & SEND o Send me a FREE Will Information Kit. o Send me a FREE listing of prolife estate planning attorneys in my area. o Send me information about leaving a charitable gift to Right to Life of Michigan, or RLM Educational Fund, or the RLM Educational Endowment Fund in my will or living trust.

No autopsy information has been released yet at the time of printing. Despite the story first being reported on July 7, it wasn’t until August 31 that her abortion was confirmed to have taken place at the Kalamazoo Planned Parenthood abortion clinic. Erwin’s death comes at a time when Planned Parenthood in Michigan has threatened to sue the state to block abortion clinic health regulations.

Have you noticed the frequency of organizations adding articles or tag lines to their newsletters which go something like this? “Please consider making a bequest gift to XYZ in your will or living trust.” You’re probably thinking, “Holy smokes … I can’t possibly donate to all of these organizations even if I had a ton of money to do so.”

#

Thinking of others, supporting life

Fall 2016 • Right to Life of Michigan News • 19

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GENERAL ELECTION:

November 8, 2016

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