Satcher Nomination for SG
Satcher Approved as Surgeon General.
On Tuesday, February 10, the Senate voted 63-35 to confirm Dr. David
Satcher to the position of Surgeon General. Unlike past surgeon generals,
Satcher will also hold the position of Assistant Secretary for the Department
of Health and Human Services. Sen. John Ashcroft (R-MO) led a filibuster
against the nomination, so senators had to *invoke cloture* (garner at
least 60 votes in favor of ending the filibuster) before the final confirmation
vote could occur. A filibuster is a procedural technique in the Senate
to stall legislation or nominations. Dr. Satcher is on record supporting
partial-birth abortion and abortion on demand, giving free taxpayer-funded
needles to drug addicts, and opposing parental consent for abortion. Unfortunately,
many senators chose to ignore his positions, and the protests of many Americans
who don*t want America*s family doctor advocating far less than the healthiest
choices. If you would like a copy of the confirmation vote, please call
1-800-225-4008. [emphasis mine]
[Source: Family Research Council’s LEGISLATIVE HOTLINE, Friday,
February 13, 1998]
Surgeon General Nomination: On Tuesday, February 10, the Senate will likely vote on the nomination of Dr. David Satcher to become U.S. Surgeon General. Dr. Satcher, current director of the Centers for Disease Control, is on record supporting partial-birth abortion and abortion on demand, giving free taxpayer-funded needles to drug addicts, and opposing parental consent for abortion. Sen. John Ashcroft (R-MO), who is leading the fight against Dr. Satcher's confirmation, stalled the nomination during the week of Feb. 2. Sen. Trent Lott (R-MS) filed a cloture petition to cut off debate and force a vote on the nomination. On Tuesday, pro-family groups will need 41 votes against cloture to maintain the filibuster and thus prevent Dr. Satcher from becoming the first Surgeon General since Joycelyn Elders' resignation in 1994. If cloture is approved, the Senate then will vote on the final confirmation of Dr. Satcher where 51 "no" votes will be needed to defeat the Surgeon General nominee. The country does not need another national voice undermining the rights of parents and the sanctity of human life. Many otherwise pro-life senators are indicating they might vote to confirm Dr. Satcher unless they hear from more constituents. Please call your senators and ask them to vote AGAINST cloture and AGAINST final confirmation. The Capital switchboard number is (202) 224-3121.
[Source: Family Research Council’s LEGISLATIVE HOTLINE, Friday, February 6, 1998]
Senate Vote on Satcher.
In mid-October, committee hearings were held on the latest nominee for Surgeon General, Dr. David Satcher. Hearings were initially non-controversial. Following the hearings, Sen. Dan Coats (R-IN) and Sen. Tim Hutchinson (R-AR) submitted written questions to the nominee. Satcher's responses made it clear that his positions on abortion and parental rights issues are essentially no different from the last Surgeon General, Dr. Jocelyn Elders, who was forced to resign. Satcher supports partial-birth abortions and he maintains the president's faulty logic of keeping abortion "safe, legal and rare." In his current post as director of the Center for Disease Control (CDC), he advocates condom distribution in schools and is against parental consent for minors' access to abortion and contraception. He also supports needle giveaways for drug addicts. Far from offering the healthiest possibilities to either teens or adults, Dr. David Satcher is not the man America needs in the public health "bully pulpit." Dr. Satcher's nomination has been approved by a Senate committee, and a confirmation vote is expected to take place early the week of February 2. Please call your senators and urge them to OPPOSE the Satcher nomination. The Capitol switchboard number is 202-224-3121.
[Source: Family Research Council’s LEGISLATIVE HOTLINE, Friday, January 30, 1998]
Statement on the Satcher Nomination by Family Research Council President Gary Bauer