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White House Sidesteps Abortion Funding
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| Gerald Herbert/Associated Press White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs has sidestepped questions on abortion funding restrictions. |
By Bradley Vasoli, The Bulletin
The White House continues to insist that federal law would prevent any new health-care funds from paying for abortions if President Barack Obama is able to sign a massive new health-care reform package, but pro-lifers dispute those assurances.
At a White House press briefing Wednesday, CNS News reporter Fred Lucas asked Mr. Obama’s press secretary Robert Gibbs whether the health-care reform bill currently before the Senate Finance Committee would prohibit the federal government from paying for abortions. Mr. Gibbs responded that a federal law — he was likely referring to the Hyde Amendment — already makes that prohibition.
“There’s a law that precludes the use of federal funds for abortion that isn’t going to be changed in these health care bills,” Mr. Gibbs said.
But Douglas Johnson, legislative director of the National Right to Life Committee, said that the Hyde Amendment would not accomplish what the press secretary said it would. According to Mr. Johnson, the law only bars the use of federal funds for abortions if those funds come through the annual budget for the Department Health and Human Services.
“Neither the Hyde Amendment nor any other existing restriction will govern the provisions of the pending health care bills that are the focus of the abortion-related concerns,” Mr. Johnson said.
He also mentioned that the House version of the health-care overhaul includes a provision requiring a public insurance option to cover abortions in typical as well as extreme cases.
Supporters of that provision assert that only private premium dollars would pay for abortions, but Mr. Johnson pointed out that because the health-care reform would have the government subsidize many Americans’ premiums, federal money would still fund the procedure.
Bradley Vasoli can be reached at bvasoli@thebulletin.us
At a White House press briefing Wednesday, CNS News reporter Fred Lucas asked Mr. Obama’s press secretary Robert Gibbs whether the health-care reform bill currently before the Senate Finance Committee would prohibit the federal government from paying for abortions. Mr. Gibbs responded that a federal law — he was likely referring to the Hyde Amendment — already makes that prohibition.
“There’s a law that precludes the use of federal funds for abortion that isn’t going to be changed in these health care bills,” Mr. Gibbs said.
But Douglas Johnson, legislative director of the National Right to Life Committee, said that the Hyde Amendment would not accomplish what the press secretary said it would. According to Mr. Johnson, the law only bars the use of federal funds for abortions if those funds come through the annual budget for the Department Health and Human Services.
“Neither the Hyde Amendment nor any other existing restriction will govern the provisions of the pending health care bills that are the focus of the abortion-related concerns,” Mr. Johnson said.
He also mentioned that the House version of the health-care overhaul includes a provision requiring a public insurance option to cover abortions in typical as well as extreme cases.
Supporters of that provision assert that only private premium dollars would pay for abortions, but Mr. Johnson pointed out that because the health-care reform would have the government subsidize many Americans’ premiums, federal money would still fund the procedure.
Bradley Vasoli can be reached at bvasoli@thebulletin.us
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