Reviewvolume 48, Number 1 Summer 2020
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NCTIT SA Y E O VERMONT RIGHT TO LIFE H F T H G U N M I A D N L O L REVIEWVolume 48, Number 1 Summer 2020 I H F P E U *John Klar Submits Freedom of New Vermont Information Request for Documents from Abortion Statistics The Vermont Department of Health the VT Office of Attorney General and all recently made the 2018 abortion statistics public. In 2018 the total number of abortions Communications with Planned Parenthood reportedly performed in Vermont was 1,204. Vermont Right to Life Committee in the country. Both proposals directly Abortions performed on Vermont residents lobbyists witnessed first-hand the unusually benefit Planned Parenthood of Vermont, the in 2018 were 986, while the other 218 were close relationship between the Office of provider of 90% of the abortions performed from out-of-state. Minors under the age of 18 Attorney General and Planned Parenthood annually in our state (in 2018, PP of VT having abortions totaled 41, though there is of Vermont throughout the 2019 legislative performed 1,072 of the 1,204 abortions). some question as to whether the clinics ask session. The session was dominated John Klar,* of Brookfield VT, has a legal for identification and we already know that and consumed with passage of both pro- background and volunteered to use his parents of a minor daughter are not required abortion legislation (H 57) and Proposal 5, expertise to formally request the documents to be notified. an amendment to the Vermont Constitution from both the AG’s office as well as As anticipated, the statistics reveal a sharp to include unlimited abortion language. all communications between Planned increase in the number of abortions performed Testifying numerous times before House Parenthood and Governor Phil Scott’s in a hospital setting, presumably at the UVM and Senate Committees, Attorney General office. Medical Center. In the fall of 2017, the UVM T.J. Donavan as well as members of his The article below is the full press memo MC dropped their long-standing policy of staff, devoted time and energy to support released by John Klar on May 5, 2020: performing abortions only in limited cases two of the most extreme abortion measures and instead began engaging in offering and performing “elective” abortions – meaning John Klar Pays $3,244.28 to AG Donovan abortions for any reason or no reason, even in the later months of pregnancy contributing to for Planned Parenthood Records an uptick in the number of abortions performed there. For example, in 2015 there were only Press Memo $861.28 was provided by Vermont Right to 33 abortions performed at the hospital, but Gubernatorial candidate John Klar has paid Life, a pro-life organization that also wishes to $3,244.28 to the Vermont Attorney General’s examine the requested records. in 2018, the first full year of the new policy, Office to view correspondence between that Klar argues that paying large sums for a the hospital reported having performed 122 Office and Planned Parenthood during crucial “Public Records Request” is a travesty that abortions – an increase of more than 3 times legislative wrangling over the passage of mocks the very title under which he asked for the number of abortions. Vermont’s notorious abortion law, H57. Also these documents: “If they are public records, Ten abortions in 2018 were performed in requested are documents relating to Proposal 5, how many times must the public pay for them a physician’s office. As Planned Parenthood a Constitutional amendment to protect abortion in order to see them? AG Donovan argues that is the only “clinic” provider of abortions in procedures up until birth in Vermont. he is saving taxpayers money, by charging Vermont, their clinics are responsible for the Klar, an attorney, was originally quoted a fee taxpayers money. In actuality, he is charging remaining 1,072 abortion deaths. of $7,232.33 to view the records, but amended fees to prevent voters from obtaining the While most abortions are performed on his November 2019 request to shorten the government transparency that Public Records babies who are under 9 weeks of gestation requested time frame and reduce costs. AG Request laws were designed to provide. Mr. (874), babies aborted between 9-10 weeks Donovan has defended the high fees charged Donovan is much too cozy with Planned totaled 149; those aborted between 11-12 by his office for copy requests, arguing he has Parenthood -- an Attorney General should be weeks totaled 55 babies; and those between a duty to save taxpayers money. Klar asserts impartial on important public policy issues, 13-21 weeks gestation totaled 126. The taxpayers have a right to know whether not openly advocating for one side, as AG reports do not include how many babies died important elected officials violate ethics or Donovan has so brazenly done. We will see at or after 22 weeks gestation. campaign finance laws in close relationships what we discover.” You can find the annual reports here: with powerful Political Action Committees https://www.healthvermont.gov/health- like Planned Parenthood’s. *John Klar is currently running as a statistics-vital-records/vital-records-population- Klar raised $2,383.00 of the copy fees candidate for Governor on the Republican data/vital-statistics-reports-and-maps through a GoFundMe effort; the balance of Primary ballot to be held on August 11, 2020. From the Desk of the Executive Director: Be Informed About Ver- Mary Hahn Beerworth mont Political Candidates Trained and Promoted by Pro-lifers continue to Second, the presenters promoted the attend meetings of the acceptance of lethal medication for those “EMERGE VERMONT” Board of Trustees of the who are not facing the imminent end A Burlington based, boot camp training UVM Medical Center to of their lives and who are not suffering program for new candidates to political office remind the trustees that uncontrollable physical pain. Instead, they was founded by former Governor Madeleine their decision to engage said that the time may be “right” for some Kunin for the purpose of recruiting and in elective abortions is people when they can “no longer walk to organizing behind women running for office offensive and to register the bathroom.” in Vermont – but only for those women who objections to that policy. Due to the current Third, Dr. Barnard complained about a take the most far left positions on social issues pandemic, meetings of the Board of Trustee lack of support for the concept of assisted like unlimited abortion. The Emerge Vermont are held online for the time being - preventing suicide from our “own institutions.” To Board of Directors reads like a who’s who of the usual opportunity to speak face to face. quote her directly, “One of the things I pro-abortion women. For now, members of the public are allowed am dismayed about and still hoping to According to their web site: “Emerge to submit written testimony and assurances do is to get more support from our own Vermont is the state’s premier organization were given that the messages would be read institutions……and we should have a more that recruits, trains and provides a powerful aloud. robust supportive program to help providers network to Democratic women who want to Along with the UVM MC elective abortion navigate this law.” run for office.” policy, there are now new concerns for pro- Fourth, the presentation revealed the The organization’s success rate was evident lifers as news of an hour-long presentation experimental nature of the new techniques in 2018 as great numbers of radical women won during Medicine Grand Rounds in February being used to end a person’s life. Dr. Barnard their races and immediately pushed for pro- was a promotion of assisted suicide. Below bemoaned the fact that “lovely” drugs abortion legislation like H. 57 and Proposal 5. is a copy of the letter sent to the new Chair such as Secobarbital and Pentobarbital Elected legislators and other office holders of the Board of Trustee to be read at their that are “very quick acting….put you into who trained with the Emerge program include April meeting. a coma, cause respiratory depression and the following Representatives and Senators: To the UVM MC Trustees, death,” are no longer available in the US Representatives; Sarita Austin As the Executive Director of the Vermont “due to terrible things like being used in (D-Colchester), Mari Cordes (D-Lincoln), Right to Life Committee I want to express executions.” Dr. Barnard also presented Charen Fegard (D-Enosburg Falls), my ongoing concern over the elective new and experimental protocols including Marybeth Redmond (D-Essex Junction), abortion policy adopted by this board in a 4-drug cocktail called DDMP2, as well Carol Ode (D-Burlington), Emilie 2017. I am unaware of any actions taken as G-tube insertion of the drugs and rectal Kornheiser (D-Brattleboro), Kathleen James by the board or the hospital administration insertion, though admitting that she had (D-Manchester Center), Jessica Brumsted in response to this consistent concern. never used the rectal version herself. Dr. (D-Shelburne, Chelsea), Kari Dolan (D-Waitsfield). Jill Krowinski (D-Burlington); I want to further express dismay over the Clough said complications can arise that Senators Rebecca White (D-Windsor), Medicine Grand Rounds held on Friday, include regurgitation or prolonged dying. Debbie Ingram (D-Williston), Becca Balint February 28, 2020. That assisted suicide is being sanctioned (D-Brattleboro), Ruth Hardy (D-East Entitled “An Update on Act 39: Medical at the UVM Medical Center raises Middlebury, and Sarah George, Chittenden additional concerns about the direction in Aid in Dying,” the presentation was County State’s Attorney (Burlington), to name an hour-long promotion of the use of which the hospital is heading and further just a few.* physician-assisted suicide by Dr.