Washington, DC — As lawmakers move to take health care out of Washington and into townhalls, Americans United for Life (AUL), the oldest national pro-life organization, called a House Committee’s vote last week “outrageous” for defeating an amendment that would have ensured that taxpayers would not be forced to pay for abortion under the House’s health care bill.
House Energy & Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), a longtime beneficiary of Planned Parenthood donations who has a 100% favorable voting record from NARAL Pro-Choice America, engineered a series of late-night shenanigans to kill the pro-life amendment by Reps. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), Joe Pitts (R-Pa.), and Roy Blunt (R-Mo.).
First, Waxman voted for the amendment, which would have prohibited the federal government from requiring any insurance plan — including the “public option” — to provide coverage for abortion (with exceptions in cases of rape, incest, and danger to the life of the mother). Then, just minutes after the amendment passed 31-27, Waxman took advantage of a House rule that allows supporters to bring an amendment back for consideration later. This time, Waxman managed to strong-arm others on the committee to join him in defeating the amendment, 30-29.
AUL President & CEO Dr. Charmaine Yoest said of the Waxman move, “This outrageous vote shows the desperation of those members of Congress who are beholden to the abortion industry. They know that polls show American taxpayers do not want to be forced to pay for abortion. So they are resorting to parliamentary shenanigans, under cover of night, hoping to rush through an abortion-funding health care plan without the public’s noticing.”
Dr. Yoest urged those who want to know details of the health care plans under consideration – including how each of them would mandate abortion coverage – to visit AUL’s new Web site KeepAbortionOutOfHealthCare.com, which features expert analysis from AUL’s legal team.
Full Senate to Vote on Judge Sonia Sotomayor This Week
AUL’s legal experts have also been supplying information on the troubling judicial philosophy of Supreme Court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor to Capitol Hill and the American public, in advance of this week’s vote by the full Senate on her confirmation. Their latest informational release, “What Judge Sotomayor Said — and Should Have Said,” demonstrates how Sotomayor’s answers before the Senate Judiciary Committee revealed flaws in her understanding and judgment. AUL’s expertise was recognized by Congress before the American public when President & CEO Dr. Charmaine Yoest was invited to testify before the Judiciary Committee on the Sotomayor nomination.
Media Contact:
Heather Smith
202-270-9962
heather.smith@aul.org
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Anyone at AUL know of any sources that can define current treatment/funding of abortion under the majority of private health insurance plans?
We have about 1300 private healthcare carriers so I’m not proposing sifting through each plan but I think it would be instructive to see how the top five or ten treat the procedure.
Any other pro-life sources you think might hold such info would be helpful.
Thanks,
SW