Posted by Joel Mathis January 24, 2006 at 9:22 a.m.

Abortion on the agenda

Today the topic is abortion.That's the topic because yesterday thousands of marchers converged on Washington to protest the 33rd anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision that made abortion a Constitutional right. And it's the topic, because abortion will be the subtext of today's Senate Judiciary Committee vote on the U.S. Supreme Court nomination of Judge Sam Alito.We start with the march.[The Wichita Eagle][1] reports: "Tens of thousands of people packed the National Mall before marching toward the Capitol and the Supreme Court. For the sixth year, President Bush was out of town for the rally, though he offered encouragement from Kansas through an amplified telephone line.""'I can see a day when we turn this around,' Todd Tiahrt, R-Goddard, told the crowd. Tiahrt speaks at the rally every year. 'Where not only the Supreme Court rules for the sanctity of life, but each American in their heart knows the value of the sanctity of life.'"Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback and Rep. Jim Ryun, R-Topeka, also usually speak at the rally, but both were in Manhattan on Monday for the president's appearance there."[Catholic News Service][2] adds: "Rep. Todd Tiahrt, R-Kan., told the crowd that the president has 'done his job,' and now it is 'time for Congress to do their job' by passing anti-abortion measures. 'A lot has happened, but a lot still needs to,' he said, reiterating an unstated theme for the day."Brownback will get a chance to do his bit today. He's on the Judiciary Committee, whose approval of Alito could pave the way for an overturn of Roe.In [The Washington Examiner,][3] Daniel Allott ponders "what would happen if Roe goes?""If Roe were overturned, abortion policy would revert to the states to decide, with research showing a negligible difference in the number of abortions," Allot writes."Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., perhaps the strongest defender of life in the U.S. Senate, recently stated: 'The beauty of the issue is it goes back to the states. ... And you get into a system where the people can decide and discuss and it is really where it should be.'"Abortion plays a role in the race to replace House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. Ryun has signed off on an effort to support one candidate, John Shadegg because of Shadegg's toughness on the issue.[The Washington Times][4] reports: "Two Shadegg supporters circulated a letter Friday reminding members that Mr. Shadegg was among a handful of Republicans who stood up to leaders in 2002 and voted against a Republican rule to bring the bankruptcy bill to the House floor because the legislation included a provision that angered the pro-life community. "'It is important to note that while the other two candidates for Majority Leader voted in favor of the rule, John Shadegg stood up under pressure and helped to defeat a bill that would have had terrible consequences for the pro-life movement,' wrote Reps. Mark Souder of Indiana and Jim Ryun of Kansas. How to contact As always, you can find information to contact members of the Kansas congressional delegation [here.][5] [1]: http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/13696984.htm [2]: http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0600402.htm [3]: http://www.dcexaminer.com/articles/2006/01/23/opinion/op-ed/48oped23allott.txt [4]: http://washingtontimes.com/national/20060123-110458-2646r.htm [5]: http://ljworld.com/extra/where_to_write.html#fed