Tulsa World: Abortion poses hurdle

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Abortion poses hurdle

By PETER URBAN Gannett News Service
Published: 11/4/2009 2:27 AM
Last Modified: 11/4/2009 4:41 AM

WASHINGTON — House leaders continued to work Tuesday to satisfy demands from some Democrats that health care legislation specifically bar the use of taxpayer money for abortions.

Those Democrats say that if House leaders don't accommodate them, they will vote against the health care bill, which could doom its chances for passage.

Question: Why are anti-abortion Democrats worried that health care reform legislation might allow the use of taxpayer funds for abortions?

Answer: Under the legislation, lower-income people who don't get insurance through an employer would get government subsidies to help them afford coverage through a health insurance exchange. Democrats who oppose abortion, as well as most Republicans, don't want those subsidies to be used to obtain abortions.

Q: Does the federal government pay for abortions now?

A: The Hyde Amendment, enacted in 1976, bars Medicare and Medicaid from paying for abortions. Federal employee insurance plans also are prohibited from covering abortions.

Q: What are the anti-abortion Democrats demanding?

A: Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., has proposed to add to the health care bill language that says the Hyde Amendment applies to all plans offered through the health insurance exchange. Exceptions would be abortions performed in cases of rape, incest or when the mother's life is threatened.

Q: Where does the debate stand now?

A: House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland said Tuesday that he was "reasonably confident" the bill could be amended to satisfy Stupak and the other anti-abortion Democrats. But Rep. Steve Driehaus, D-Ohio, cautioned, "What they are calling a solution may not be acceptable to us."

Q: Where do House Republicans stand on the issue?

A: Republicans plan to offer their own health care bill this week. House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio said that proposal will clearly state that no taxpayer funds could be used for abortion.

Q: What are groups outside Congress saying?

A: The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which opposes any expansion of abortion rights, has urged parishioners across the country to contact Congress and demand that the health care bill bar the use of federal money for abortions.

NARAL Pro-Choice America opposes the Stupak amendment as an attempt to restrict private insurance companies from covering abortions. Nancy Keenan, NARAL's president, said people who have coverage for abortion services now could lose it. By PETER URBAN Gannett News Service

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psychedelikrelik, Tulsa (11/4/2009 12:35:35 PM)

Totally bogus, wedge issue.

Doesn't matter that where the funds come from has no effect on the number of abortions performed, just don't use "your" money?

If you've got money, have all the abortions you want. If you're poor, you have to have the baby, but don't expect any assistance once he/she exits your vagina. Let Junior pull himself up by his OWN bootie-straps.

Seems like I've heard a lot of kvetching from the HC-reform opposition about not messing with their status-quo. They like their coverage and you'd better not change it. This article says they just might change it. Is that okay, since it's about abortion?

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oldrustytulsa, Tulsa (11/4/2009 6:58:59 PM)

The Liberal Democrats want to pay for abortions even for illegals., with your tax money, and Obama and Congress is All for that.So thats what Im talking about.

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