WASHINGTON, D.C./July 30, 2009 -
Family Research Council Action President Tony Perkins today urged the House Energy and Commerce Committee to approve amendments to protect the conscience rights of health care providers and ensure that Americans' tax dollars are not used to pay for abortions within the health care overhaul. Perkins also responded to attacks by Planned Parenthood and the National Abortion Rights Action League against FRC Action's new TV ad on abortion funding in President Obama's health care plan. The ad can be viewed at www.frcaction.org/takeover
"In a letter sent today to Planned Parenthood's President Cecile Richards, I challenged her to join me in a public forum to debate the question - Does the President's health care reform plan include a mandate for taxpayer funded abortions? Planned Parenthood says the plan doesn't. I say, come to a debate prepared to prove it.
"Pro-abortion groups have all along expected to see mandated taxpayer funded abortions within President Obama's health care plan, as the President promised them during the
campaign to little public notice. Now, strident statements yesterday by Planned Parenthood and NARAL show they may be getting a little nervous about not achieving their long-cherished goal - especially in a nation where the substantial majority of citizens do not want Uncle Sam paying for abortion.
"As the House Energy and Commerce Committee meets to vote on several pro-life amendments that would ensure taxpayers aren't forced to pay for abortions within any publicly subsidized program, pro-abortion advocates are jittery that their dream of federally-funded abortion on demand won't come true.
"The truth, apparently, hurts. Planned Parenthood and NARAL understand that the future of massive taxpayer subsidies for abortion on demand is at stake in the health care debate.
There is a relatively easy answer to the problem. Take current law - the Hyde Amendment, which has been renewed every year for 33 years -- make it permanent and
ensure that it continues to apply to any publicly subsidized program.
"The various Democratic plans under consideration would invariably crowd out private
sector insurance plans and impose new mandates upon them, including abortion if it is not specifically excluded.
House and Senate Democrats, with Planned Parenthood and NARAL support, have rejected all amendments to protect the Hyde Amendment and give families ownership of their health care plans. FRC is making their intentions plain, and this exposed truth is making the abortion lobby squirm," Perkins concluded.
View this Press Release online at: http://www.frcaction.org/index.cfm?i=PR09G03&f=PR09G03
