Members of a newly formed Oregon chapter of the antiabortion group Democrats for Life are calling on other Democrats in the state to join them in voicing their opposition to the party's stance on the issue, the Eugene Register-Guard reports. According to Ward Ricker, the chapter's president, the organization is welcoming members who align themselves with most Democratic Party views except those regarding abortion rights. Carol Crossed, vice president for chapter development and a founder of Democrats for Life of America, last week visited Oregon to help recruit members (Steves, Eugene Register-Guard, 8/22). Crossed said DFLA plans to present to Congress its "95-10 Initiative," which lists several policy changes aimed at reducing by 95% the number of abortions performed in the next decade. The initiative proposes providing government-sponsored health care coverage for low-income pregnant women and infants during their first year of life and mandatory health insurance coverage for contraceptive devices. It also proposes prohibiting the transport of minors across state lines to obtain abortion (AP/Spokane Spokesman-Review, 8/24). Kelly Steele, communications director for the Democratic Party of Oregon, said some of the agenda items will resonate with party members. "The Democratic Party is a big-tent party," Steele said, adding, "There's room in the party for a lot of different voices" (Eugene Register-Guard, 8/22). Democrats for Life-Oregon is still in its early organizational stages, according to Ricker, who is one of five founding members. He added that the group's mailing list consists of about 40 people statewide (AP/Spokane Spokesman-Review, 8/24).