The New York Times is reporting that the House Energy and Commerce Committee voted last night 30-28 to approve an amendment, offered as a “compromise,” that essentially sets government policy regarding abortion in the House’s version of the health care bill.
The proposal, offered by Representative Lois Capps, Democrat of California, was supported by most Democrats and opposed by Republicans.The amendment said abortion could not be included in the “essential benefits package” to be defined by the government. Further, it said insurers would not be required or forbidden to cover abortion. But, it says, in every part of the country, the government must ensure that there is at least one plan that covers abortion and at least one that does not.
Under the bill, health plans would receive federal subsidies to help pay premiums for low-income people. But under the amendment, subsidies could not be used to pay for abortions.
Thus, the “compromise” still expands abortion services by requiring almost universal access to abortion services, even where such services currently may not be available. It also federally subsidizes private plans that pay for such services. In a July 29 letter from the National Right to Life Committee to the House Energy Committee, NRL noted:
The bill contains provisions that would result in federal mandates requiring inclusion of elective abortion in. . . private plans (including those that would be required to conform to federal standards in order to participate in the government-operated Exchange). . . Other provisions would result in health networks being required to establish new abortion providers in order to provide local access to elective abortions.
Friends, there is still time to contact your elected representatives in Congress to voice your concern about expanding abortion in our country.
