Latest Health Care Bill Does NOT Ban Abortion Funding!
No matter what you have heard, the current health care legislation does not ban abortion funding.
Sen. Ben Nelson, who appeared to have been working to include an abortion ban in the senate health care bill, has now sold out to his fellow Democrats. Nelson has agreed to a compromise that will use your tax money to pay for abortions. According to LifeNews.com, Nelson said, "We have an agreement that the plan will not use federal dollars to fund abortions." But Nelson is either hopelessly ignorant, or he is simply lying.
Here are the facts:
1) The compromise Nelson agreed to lets states decide whether they will allow abortion coverage. This means that, even though states can opt out, abortion coverage will be considered the norm. Furthermore, even if your state opts out, you will still be paying for abortions in other states.
2) States that do not opt out of abortion coverage will be required to pay for all abortions. No restrictions will be allowed.
3) The bill allows the federal government to subsidize private health insurance plans that cover abortion. In essence, this nullifies the Hyde Amendment, which for more than 30 years has restricted government subsidies for abortion.
4) The bill does not address other right-to-life concerns, such as rationing and assisted suicide.
5) Nelson claims that the bill includes a conscience clause for pro-life medical workers, but it does not adequately protect health care workers or hospitals because it does not prohibit government entities from discriminating against those who do not want to participate in abortions. This means that if a hospital refuses to do abortions, other unrelated government funding could be cut off to the hospital in an effort to force participation.
6) The bill allows the government to force insurance companies to pay for abortions.
7) The bill will allow abortion funding on Indian reservations.
Some will claim that this bill specifically prohibits the use of federal health care money for abortions. This is another deception, an accounting gimmick that attempts to hide abortion funding. The bill simply allows abortion funds to be kept in a separate account. But it is still from your tax money.
THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS BILL!
Perhaps Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, said it best: "The senate health care bill will set up the federal government as being brokers for the abortion industry. No senator or organization can call themselves pro-life if they support such language."
A few days before the bill passed in the Senate, a representative from Senator Evan Bayh's South Bend office assured St. Joseph County Right to Life that Senator Bayh would not vote for a bill that includes abortion coverage. But he did, and in doing so, he too sold out his pro-life constituents.
Call Senator Bayh's office now (202-224-5623), and tell him you strongly oppose this bill. Tell him you are disappointed in his lack of respect for human life, as well as his office's lack of respect for honesty.
Read the House Health Care Bill Here