SBA List Praises Smith-Lipinski Government-Wide Ban on Taxpayer-Funded Abortion, Blasts 'Pro-Life' Democrats Missing from Bill 

Susan B. Anthony List Commends Reps. Smith and Lipinski on Bipartisan Bill Introducing Government-Wide Ban on Taxpayer-Funded Abortion

Contact: Kerry Brown, Susan B. Anthony List, 703-470-1926; kbrown@sba-list.org

WASHINGTON, July 30 /Christian Newswire/ -- Today, Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser commended Reps. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Dan Lipinski (D-IL) on their introduction of the "No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act" which establishes a government-wide ban on taxpayer-funding of abortion, and rebuked "pro-life" Democrats in support of the pro-abortion federal health care bill, saying:

"Representatives like Kathy Dahlkemper (PA-03), Joe Donnelly (IN-02) and Brad Ellsworth (IN-08) who voted in favor of the federal health care bill but co-sponsored this bill have publicly admitted that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act allows for the taxpayer-funding of abortion, that the Presidential Executive Order is insufficient and that a more permanent fix is necessary.

"The Smith-Lipinski bill will consolidate and make permanent a string of policies that have attempted to prevent taxpayer-funded abortion despite a pro-abortion agenda being imposed by a Democrat-controlled Congress and America's most pro-abortion president in history," Dannenfelser continued.

During the drafting of the federal health care bill, pro-life Members of Congress expressed concern over an accounting gimmick allowing for federal subsidization of abortion that was eventually written into the bill. After the bill's passage, President Obama attempted to placate the pro-life movement by issuing an executive order on abortion funding abortion that did little to address its abortion provisions. And, as states began implementing high risk pool programs several months later, some tried to include taxpayer-funding of abortion. Only after vigorous opposition by pro-life groups did the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) issue a regulation promising that there would be no taxpayer-funding of abortion within these programs. But, in response, the White House stated that the regulation "Is not a precedent for other programs or policies given the unique, temporary nature of the program..."

"In other words, the White House is leaving the door open for abortion funding elsewhere in the health care bill. Because the executive order doesn't fix the accounting gimmick, doesn't address other abortion concerns within the bill and, at the end of the day, won't hold up in court, only a more permanent and universal fix will prevent taxpayer dollars from paying for abortions," Dannenfelser said.

SBA List's fight against abortion-funding provisions in the federal health care bill has been a top priority since late last year, an effort continuing into the mid-term election cycle through its $1.6 million Votes Have Consequences project. In August, the SBA List will be visiting districts of "pro-life" Democrats who voted in favor of the health care bill to educate voters about their Representatives' vote in favor of pro-abortion bill.

"Not surprisingly, other 'pro-life' Democrats who voted in favor of the health care bill like Reps. Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Steve Driehaus (OH-01), Bart Stupak (MI-01), Baron Hill (IN-09) and Alan Mollohan (WV-01) have not co-sponsored the Smith-Lipinski bill," Dannenfelser said. "Poll after poll confirms that the pro-abortion votes of these Congressmen and women do not represent the views of their constituents. In November, these Representatives will see that their votes have consequences."

"Members of Congress now have the opportunity to repeal abortion provisions within the health care bill. The Smith-Lipinski bipartisan effort eliminates all need for a patchwork of policies and every pro-life Member of Congress must co-sponsor it," Dannenfelser said.

The Susan B. Anthony List plans to spend $6 million on voter education in the midterm elections, including $3 million on key Senate races. The Susan B. Anthony List is a nationwide network of over 280,000 Americans, residing in all 50 states, dedicated to mobilizing, advancing, and representing pro-life women in politics. Its connected Candidate Fund increases the percentage of pro-life women in the political process.

For further information, please contact Kerry Brown at (703) 470-1926 or kbrown@sba-list.org.