Barack Obama Pick Bill Richardson Resigns Over Another Pay-to-Play Scandal
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Barack Obama has been plagued by a second administration selection potentially involved in a pay-to-play scandal. First, Obama's White House chief of staff selection Rahm Emanuel was accused of talking with Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich about who to appoint to Obama's Senate seat. Now, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, who Obama chose to become his commerce secretary, withdrew from consideration because of another scandal. Richardson, who is strongly pro-abortion and was a former Democratic presidential candidate against Obama, cited an ongoing federal investigation into his activities as the reason for withdrawing. "I could not in good conscience ask the President-elect and his administration to delay for one day the important work that needs to be done," Richardson said in a statement about his withdrawal. The investigation focuses on whether Richardson urged a state agency to hire a California firm as a result of large contributions from the company and its president to groups with ties to the governor. Richardson insisted that he and his staff "have acted properly in all matters" and predicted that the investigation would exonerate him. But he said the probe could take weeks or months, potentially holding up his Senate approval. Richardson was the energy secretary and a UN ambassador during the Clinton administration.

Pro-Life Sen. John Cornyn Promises Filibuster of Al Franken if Given Senate Slot
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Should the Senate allow pro-abortion Al Franken to take the Minnesota seat away from pro-life Sen. Norm Coleman, then pro-life Sen. John Cornyn plans to filibuster. Cornyn, a Texas Republican, threatened Friday to filibuster any attempt to allow Franken to officially represent the state in what has been a highly disputed election that is still in court and in a recount. Cornyn said he had not counted how many Republican lawmakers would support him in the filibuster -- 60 votes would be needed to stop it -- but he told The Hill he could not imagine any members defecting and seating Franken without a certificate of election. Franken will not have that certificate as long as the election is challenged in the courts, which is considered likely. "This is a very, very serious matter," Cornyn said. "I can assure you that there will be no way that people on our side of the aisle will agree to seat any senator without a valid certificate." Cornyn said with so many votes in court that he thinks the Minnesota Supreme Court will eventually decide the outcome of the race by deciding which ballots are legal or not. "I think it is very clear that the people of Minnesota and the courts in Minnesota should make the decision about who won the Minnesota Senate election, and not political leaders in Washington," Cornyn said. "That process is ongoing and will not be resolved, in all likelihood, for weeks and maybe longer." Whether Franken or Coleman has the seat could have an affect on the outcome of abortion-related legislation or nominees.

Right to Life of New Zealand Concerned Abortion Supervisory Committee Misleading
Wellington, New Zealand (LifeNews.com) -- Right to Life of New Zealand is concerned the Abortion Supervisory Committee has withheld important statistical information from Parliament in their 2008 report. There are ten tables of statistics in the 2008 report, in the 2007 report there were sixteen tables which have been included in the Committee’s reports for many years. The missing tables pertain to the reasons for the abortions -- which have been highly disputed. "This table in previous reports revealed that 98% of abortions were authorized on the grounds of mental health. These statistics were of critical importance in obtaining a favorable judgment of the High Court in the Judicial Review of the performance of the Committee which declared that certifying consultants were using mental health grounds to provide an unlawful abortion on demand in New Zealand," the group told LifeNews.com. Right to Life is also worried that the table listing the number of repeat abortions stopped tracking them after two -- which makes it appear fewer women are resorting to abortion as a means of birth control when the practice is regularly occurring. "We believe that Parliament and the public of New Zealand have a right to the statistical information that has been withheld," the group concluded. Right to Life requests that the Committee urgently present a supplementary report to Parliament to include the statistics withheld.

German Police Issue Restraining Order Against Controversial Suicide Activist
Berlin, Germany (LifeNews.com) -- German police have issued a temporary restraining order against controversial euthanasia advocate Roger Kusch, prohibiting him from helping any more people kill themselves. The former Hamburg justice minister has helped the suicides of five people since June and only one of the five was terminally ill. Hamburg police chief Ralf Meyer said the injunction against Kusch had already been verbally issued during a search of his home at the end of November. Meyer added that Kusch was challenging the restraining order in court. November's search was triggered by several investigations and the former politician and judge is suspected of violating Germany's medical drugs law -- by illegally dispensing and trading in medicines. Kusch does not himself directly assist in the suicides as this would be illegal under German law. But he advertises his services as a "suicide counselor," providing advice and support for those wishing to die. On his Web site Kusch lists a charge of just over $10,000. "I provide a service. It's of value, and in our society such things do not come free," Kusch told AFP news agency in early December. "Some elderly people come to see me because just they are tired of life," he added. "Many people now live longer thanks to progress in medicine. But living on is sometimes seen as senseless. And there are many people over 80 who don't really see the point of going on."

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