The Facts On Senate Abortion Language

Senate Abortion Language

The Bill Clearly States The HHS Secretary Cannot Allow Federal Funds To Pay For Abortions.  Page 118, Lines 4-25 through Page 119, Lines 1-8 reads:

(C) PROHIBITION ON FEDERAL FUNDS FOR ABORTION SERVICES IN COMMUNITY HEALTH INSURANCE OPTION -

(i) Determination by Secretary. - The Secretary may not determine, in accordance with subparagraph (A)(ii), that the community health insurance option established under section 1323 shall provide coverage of services described in subparagraph (B)(i) as part of benefits for the plan year unless the Secretary - (I) assures compliance with the requirements of paragraph (2); (II) assures, in accordance with applicable provisions of generally accepted accounting requirements, circulars on funds management of the Office of Management and Budget, and guidance on accounting of the Government Accountability Office, that no Federal funds are used for such coverage; and (III) notwithstanding section 1323(e)(1)(C) or any other provision of this title, takes all necessary steps to assure that the United States does not bear the insurance risk for a community health insurance option's coverage of services described in subparagraph (B)(i). [Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, accessed 11/19/09]

Senate Bill Includes Specific Language Protecting Americans' Moral Stance On Abortion.  Page 123, Lines 9-15 reads:  "(3) Provider Conscience Protections. - No individual health care provider or health care facility may be discriminated against because of a willingness or an unwillingness, if doing so is contrary to the religious or moral beliefs of the provider or facility, to provide, pay for, provide coverage of, or refer for abortions." 

[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, accessed 11/19/09]

"Abortion Cannot Be A Mandated Benefit As Part Of A Minimum Benefits Package."  Jodi Jacobson, Senior Political Editor of Reproductive Health Reality Check, wrote of the Senate bill's abortion provisions: "Abortion cannot be a mandated benefit as part of a minimum benefits package. A qualified health plan would determine whether it will cover: a) no abortions only those abortions allowed under Hyde (rape, incest and life endangerment) or b) abortions beyond those allowed by Hyde." [RHRealityCheck.org, 11/19/09]

Outside Groups Acknowledge That Bill Does Not Allow Federal Funds To Go Towards Abortions.  Jodi Jacobson, Senior Political Editor of Reproductive Health Reality Check, wrote of the Senate bill's abortion provisions:

No Federal Funds for Abortion Coverage in the Community Health Insurance Option:  If the Secretary chooses to cover abortion services in the public plan beyond those allowed by Hyde, he/she must:

• Guarantee compliance with the provision prohibiting the use of Federal funds to pay for abortions (beyond those allowed by Hyde);
• Guarantee that, according to three different accounting standards, no Federal funds will be used; and
• Take all necessary steps to ensure that the United States does not bear the insurance risk for abortions that do not meet the Hyde exceptions in the public plan. [RHRealityCheck.org, 11/19/09]
  

Americans See Through The GOP Scare Tactics

61% Of Americans Think The Phrase "Government Money Would Be Used To Pay For Abortions" Is A Scare Tactic.  During a Bloomberg poll (of 1,004 Americans and with a margin of error of 3.1) conducted from September 10-14, 2009, in response to being asked if they thought the argument "Government money would be used to pay for abortions" was a legitimate issue, a distortion, or a scare tactic, 33% said it was legitimate, 6% were unsure, and 61% of Americans said the argument was a scare tactic.  [Bloomberg Poll via PollingReport.com, accessed 9/28/09]

A Majority Of Americans Support Some Sort Of Abortion Coverage. The Mellman Group found that 66% of Americans support covering abortion under reform measures and 72% "would feel angry if Congress mandated by law that abortion would not be covered under a national health care plan." [Mellman Group Poll via the National Women's Law Center, 7/6/09]

82% Of Americans Support Abortion In At Least Some Cases.  During an NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll conducted October 22-25, 2009, to the following statement - "Which of the following best represents your views about abortion? The choice on abortion should be left up to the woman and her doctor. Abortion should be legal only in cases in which pregnancy results from rape or incest or when the life of the woman is at risk. OR, Abortion should be illegal in all circumstances" - respondents answered:

          Woman and Doctor: 51%
          Rape, Incest, Life of Woman: 31%
          Always Illegal: 15%
          Unsure: 3%

[NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll, 10/22-25/09, via PollingReport.com]

Don't Forget, Until Recently, The RNC Used Donations To Purchase Insurance Coverage For Employees That Covered Abortion

GOP Has Just Recently Paid Attention To Its Own Funding Of Abortion.  According to Politico: "Federal Election Commission Records show the RNC purchases its insurance from Cigna, and two sales agents for the company said that the RNC's policy covers elective abortion. As of Thursday, the RNC's plan covers elective abortion - a procedure the party's own platform calls 'a fundamental assault on innocent human life.'" [Politico, 11/13/09]