In the Health Care debate one issue always seems to bubble to the top.
Abortion funding.
Why is the abortion funding so important?
A June 2009 Guttmacher Institute (a pro-abortion research arm) commissioned a study that found that one in 4 that would seek a taxpayer-funded abortion don’t have one if funding is unavailable.
On August 19, 2009 — In a conference call with supporters, President Obama said that it is a “fabrication” to say that the legislation backed by the White House would result in “government funding of abortions,” and that this is “untrue.”
The President and his surrogates have continued that line.
Several weeks after his initial remarks, the house adopted the Capps amendment.
The committee, 30 – 28, approved it narrowly with most but not all Democrats voting in favor and no Republicans backing it.
The Capps amendment states that some abortions “shall” be covered by the “public option” plan, specifically those types of abortions that Congress allows to be covered under Medicaid, under the so-called “Hyde Amendment,” which has been attached regularly to appropriations bills for many years. These are abortions performed in cases or rape or incest, or to save the life of the mother.
As for other types of abortions, the Capps amendment leaves it to the secretary of Health and Human Services to decide whether or not they will be covered. It says, “Nothing in this Act shall be construed as preventing the public health insurance option from providing” abortion services that would not be legal for Medicaid coverage.
The Capps Amendment MANDATES that the public plan cover any Medicaid-fundable abortions, and AUTHORIZES the secretary to cover all other abortions. From day one, she [Secretary Kathleen Sebelius] is authorized to pay for them all. “
While running for President Barack Obama told Planned Parenthood “In my mind, Reproductive care is essential care. It is basic care, and so it is at the center and at the heart of the plan that I propose.” He stated that, “What we’re doing is to say that we’re gonna set up a public plan that all persons and all women can access if they don’t have health insurance. It’ll be a plan that will provide all essential services, including reproductive services.”
The record on Life for this administration is clear. The president overturned the prohibition on taxpayer funding being used to support the abortion industry overseas, reaffirmed support for the tragic Roe vs. Wade decision and appointed dozens of pro-abortion activists and lawmakers to key posts in his administration.
One of them is the Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, who as a Governor vetoed a ban on late term abortions.
The House bill gives HER the power to decide about abortion funding.
Finally there is one way to know for sure that abortion is provided for in the Health care bill. The amendments to specifically exclude it were defeated.
On July 30, Rep. Joseph Pitts (R-PA), with co-sponsors Reps. Stupak and Roy Blunt (R-MO), offered an amendment that excluded any mandate for abortion coverage, except to save the mother’s life and in cases of rape or incest. At first the Pitts amendment passed, 31-yes, 27-no. Rep. Waxman moved to reconsider the vote. On the second vote, the Pitts Amendment failed, 29-yes, 30-no.
Rep. Stupak, with co-sponsor Rep. Pitts, offered an amendment specifying that no funds authorized by the Act may be used to pay for any abortion or cover the costs of any health plan that includes coverage for abortion, except to save the mother’s life or in cases of rape or incest. The Stupak amendment failed, 27-yes, 31-no.
If funding and subsidies aren’t in the plan, why won’t Congress vote to say just that?
