Conservative Democrats Warn Against Funding Abortion in Healthcare Reform
By Dan Gilgoff, God & Country
The Family Research Council isn't usually in the business of praising Democrats. But it's giving props to 19 House Dems for writing to Speaker Nancy Pelosi to say that healthcare reform must avoid ushering in government-funded abortion.
It will be fascinating to watch how the abortion-rights community responds as more and more abortion opponents raise the issue, now that President Obama's healthcare reform drive is running full-tilt.
Here's the letter:
June 25, 2009
Dear Honorable Pelosi:
As the debate on health care reform continues and legislation is produced, it is imperative that the issue of abortion not be overlooked. Plans to mandate coverage for abortions, either directly or indirectly is unacceptable.
We believe in a culture that supports and respects the right to life and is dedicated to the protection and preservation of families. Therefore, we cannot support any health care reform proposal unless it explicitly excludes abortion from the scope of any government-defined or subsidized health insurance plan. We believe that a government-defined or subsidized health insurance plan, should not be used to fund abortion.
Furthermore, we want to ensure that the Health Benefits Advisory Committee cannot recommend abortion services be included under covered benefits or as part of a benefits package. Without an explicit exclusion, abortion could be included in a government subsidized health care plan under general health care. The health care reform package produced by Congress will be landmark, and with legislation as important as this, abortion must be addressed clearly in the bill text.
Furthermore, funding restrictions save lives by reducing the number of abortions. The Guttmacher Policy Review, a leading pro-choice research organization noted "that about one third of women who would have had an abortion if support were available carried their pregnancies to term when the abortion fund was unavailable."
Thank you for taking the time to consider our request. By ensuring that abortions are not funded through any health care reform package, we will take this controversial issue off the table so that Congress can focus on crafting a broadly-supported health care reform bill.
Respectfully yours,
Reps. Dan Boren (D-OK); Bart Stupak (D-MI); Colin Peterson (D-MN); Tim Holden (D-PA); Travis Childers (D-MS); Lincoln Davis (D-TN); Heath Shuler (D-NC) Solomon Ortiz (D-TX); Mike McIntyre (D-NC); Jerry Costello (D-IL); Gene Taylor (D-MS); James Oberstar (D-MN); Bobby Bright (D-AL); Steve Driehaus (D-OH); Marcy Kaptur (D-OH); Charlie Melancon (D-LA); John Murtha (D-PA); Paul Kanjorski (D-PA); and Kathleen Dahlkemper (D-PA).
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Tags: abortion | Congress | Democrats | Senate | religion
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Stupak Says He'll still vote for the Bill Even If It Has Public-Funding for Abortion
At a recent town-hall meeting, Rep. Stupak stated that if he is unsuccessful in getting the public funded abortion option removed from the health care bill, he'll still vote yes to the bill.
Check out the video:
http://www.lucecountygop.org/healthcare/stupak-will-vote-for-obamacare-even-with-public-funded-abortion
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Federally Funded Abortion on Demand is on its way
Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 31, 2009 CONTACT: J.P. Duffy or Maria Donovan, (866) FRC-NEWS
Once Again, House Rejects Amendment Preventing Taxpayer Funding for Abortion
WASHINGTON, D.C. - After adding abortion coverage and funding last night to the Democratic leadership's health care bill, H.R. 3200, the Energy and Commerce Committee today rejected an amendment to prevent government funding for abortion or health plans that provide abortion coverage. Family Research Council President Tony Perkins had this to say regarding this latest Committee action:
"Once again the Democratic Majority has demonstrated it fully intends to fund or subsidize abortion services in their health care plan. Four amendments in two other committees to prevent funding or mandates for abortion have been rejected. Last night, the Committee rejected an amendment to prohibit mandating abortion coverage before explicitly inserting abortion coverage into the legislation. Today, the Democratic majority rejected another amendment by Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI) and Rep. Joe Pitts (R-PA) to prevent funds from paying for abortion coverage.
"The House action last night and today do not shift the current policy on funding abortion, they destroy it. With the majority of Americans, we believe that health care legislation should not cover abortion. The actions of the House Committee demonstrate beyond any doubt that it intends for the federal government to fund coverage of abortion on demand.
"Whatever their position on the legality of abortion, we should all agree that abortion should not be funded by the federal government. I applaud pro-life Members, especially those five Democrats led by Rep. Stupak, who voted to keep abortion out of the health care bill."
"We will continue to work with members of both parties to remove abortion from the government health care plan when this legislation moves to the House floor," said Tony Perkins.
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