A link to Abramoff

LJWorld.com weblogs Congressional Briefing

Posted by Joel Mathis September 7, 2005 at 9:10 a.m.

Sam Brownback links [(Native Times) Chief criticizes Senator over lobbyist contributions:][1] The leader of an Oklahoma tribe is blasting Kansas Senator Sam Brownback over news that Brownback received money from a controversial lobbyist. Brownback took $42,000 from Jack Abramoff. Abramoff has since come under fire for allegedly bilking tribes out of millions of dollars in fees. Leaford Bearskin, the chief of the Wyandotte Nation, said he was "outraged" and "disappointed" to learn of the contribution.[(FindLaw legal commentary) The Journal of the American Medical Association Says Fetuses Under 28 Weeks Do Not Feel Pain:][2] Recently, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) published an article concluding that a developing fetus does not experience pain prior to 28 weeks of gestation. The study may prove significant not only for pregnant women considering whether and when to terminate a pregnancy, but also for the law. Before publication of this study, Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas sponsored a bill, known as the "Fetal Pain Awareness Act," which would require abortion providers to discuss fetal pain with their patients after 20 weeks of pregnancy and offer to administer fetal anesthesia. Based on the new scientific findings, such counseling would seem completely inappropriate. But what about after the 28th week? Is it then acceptable to mandate such counseling and the offering of fetal anesthesia?Dennis Moore links [(Lawrence Journal-World) National response lacking:][3] Congressman Dennis Moore, D-Kan., returned to Kansas on Tuesday following a three-day tour of the ravaged New Orleans area. Moore said he was convinced that the hurricane showed the need for change in how the federal government deals with natural disasters. He said he believed much of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's ability to rapidly deal with natural disasters had been hampered since it was put under the umbrella of the Department of Homeland Security. "I've got to be honest with you," Moore said, "I don't think the response here was anywhere near adequate or timely."How to contact As always, you can find information to contact members of the Kansas congressional delegation [here.][4] [1]: http://www.nativetimes.com/index.asp?action=displayarticle&article_id=6955 [2]: http://writ.news.findlaw.com/colb/20050907.html [3]: http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2005/sep/07/hurricane_katrina_briefs/?city_local [4]: http://ljworld.com/extra/where_to_write.html#fed