House Speaker Nancy Pelosi expresses her approval of abortion language in Sen. Harry Reid’s health care reform bill. The Senate bill grants the secretary of Health and Human Services to decide if federal funds will be allocated for those under the public plan. It would also require that private insurers split premiums from subsidies used to pay for abortion coverage. (1:05)
Barry Lynn, Executive Director for Americans United for Separation of Church and State, says to allow restrictions on abortion funding would be a major violation of the division of church and state. (0:20)
Barry Lynn, Executive Director for Americans United for Separation of Church and State, says during a Monday morning press conference that religious organizations have inserted their beliefs into the health care reform legislation.
“We do not wish to have the doctrines of the Catholic church, or indeed any faith, imposed on us through law.” (0:12)
Barry Lynn, Executive Director for Americans United for Separation of Church and State, says during a Monday morning press conference that attempts by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to persuade Congress to prohibit abortion funding in health care reform have not gained the support of the American public. (0:20)
Barry Lynn, Executive Director for Americans United for Separation of Church and State, says during a Monday morning press conference that he would rather not see health care reform passed then to see it passed with restrictions on abortion funding. (0:12)
By Leah Valencia, University of New Mexico- Talk Radio News Service
Leaders of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice urged U.S. Senators Monday to remove language from the final health care reform bill that restricts federal funding for abortion.
“Health care reform that attacks the rights of more than half of the population by subjecting some of their most basic and intimate decisions to a large and powerful church’s governing body is not reform at all,” said Barry Lynn, Executive Director for Americans United for Separation of Church and State, during a morning press conference hosted by the National Press Club.
While the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, an organization with members from a variety of religious backgrounds, advocated women’s reproductive rights, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops pushed House leaders to amend their bill to prohibit abortion coverage.
The Stupak-Pitts amendment, included in the House bill, restricts abortion coverage in a government-run insurance plan as well as in private plans funded by government subsidies.
“How surprising and appalling to see that a provision designed to curtail women’s right to abortion was slipped into the health care bill at the behest of a powerful religious group, a provision that reflects the doctrine of that group,” Lynn said.
President Barack Obama has remarked that he does not believe health care reform should change the “status quo” in regards to abortion. However, many moderate Senate Democrats say they will urge firm restrictions on abortion funding in the final health care bill.
Obama has not commented as to whether he will sign a bill with language that prohibits abortion funding.
Sen. Benjamin Cardin (D-Md.) says that abortion is a controversial issue that should be debated separatelty from health care reform. He calls the Stupak Amendment in the House bill “regrettable.” (0:28)
Health Expert Trudy Lieberman says the Affordable Health Care for America Act that passed the House Saturday night will not include any policy that allows federal subsidies to be used for abortion services. (0:19)
By Travis Martinez, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service
The Pro-life caucus touted the adoption of the Stupak-Pitts amendment in the Affordable Health Care for America legislation as a significant victory late Saturday evening.
“I can’t say enough for my colleagues on both the Democratic and Republican side… this is a great victory for people across this nation,” said Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI).
The amendment was adopted with a bi-partisan vote of 240-194.
The Stupak Amendment prohibits the use of federal funding for abortion under the public health insurance option and prohibits the use of federal affordability credits to purchase a health insurance policy that covers abortion.
The Senate Finance Committee voted no today to an amendment introduced by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) which states that “federal tax payer dollars will not be used to pay for subsidized abortions or the new plans and programs created in this bill.”
The amendment failed by a 10-13 vote.
Prior to the introduction of the amendment, the America’s Healthy Future Act stated “federal funds continue to be prohibited from being used to pay for abortions unless the pregnancy is due to rape, incest or the life of the mother is in danger.”
In its current state, the bill requires insurance companies to segregate private money, which comes from premiums, and federal money to ensure public funds are not being used to pay for abortions.
Sen. Hatch’s amendment also stated that women would have the choice to purchase a separate policy that includes abortion coverage.
Prior to the Committee’s vote, Chairman Baucus said, “Basically this is a health care bill, this is not an abortion bill. We are not changing current law.”
