Pro-Life Caucus Claims Major Victory Over Stupak Amendment

By Travis Martinez, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service

The Pro-life caucus touted the adoption of the Stupak-Pitts amendment in the Affordable Health Care for America legislation as a significant victory late Saturday evening.

“I can’t say enough for my colleagues on both the Democratic and Republican side… this is a great victory for people across this nation,” said Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI).

The amendment was adopted with a bi-partisan vote of 240-194.

The Stupak Amendment prohibits the use of federal funding for abortion under the public health insurance option and prohibits the use of federal affordability credits to purchase a health insurance policy that covers abortion.

N.J. Congressman Worried About Abortion Language In Healthcare Plan

By Travis Martinez, University of New Mexico- Talk Radio News Service

Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) took issue Thursday morning with President Obama's address to Congress. Smith, a member of the Pro-Life Caucus and one of the strongest opponents of abortion in the House of Representatives, argued that the President did not do enough to erase doubts that his admistration's healthcare plan will include funding for abortions.

"Americans do not want to be complicit in the dismemberment or chemical poisoning of unborn children... public funding and facilitating [of abortions] can in no way be construed as health care reform," said Smith.

Smith claimed that Wednesday's address was merely a repeat of an August 19 conference call, when the President told members of the ‘40 Days for Health Reform’ Coalition, "You've heard this is going to be government funding of abortion, not true."

Smith argued that the plan would allow abortions to be covered under the public option and by federally subsidized private plans. Smith cited the Capps Amendment, which would protect abortion coverage and would include federal funding and federal subsidies for the facilitation of abortions.

Rep. Joe Pitts (R-Pa.), who spoke after Smith, said that the amendments he has submitted to the President's plan during the course of the past few months are, "Not about the legality or illegality of abortion... this is [health care reform] keeping the government out of the abortion business."

Gov't Health Care Plan Is Abortion Industry Bailout Say House GOP'ers

By Laura Woodhead - Talk Radio News Service

The Democrats' health care plan is a taxpayer funded abortion mandate said a group of pro-life GOP congressmen Tuesday.

Speaking at a press conference calling for the exemption of taxpayer funded abortion in health care reform, Rep. Joe Pitts (R-Pa.) said that the current health care bill contained a hidden abortion mandate.

"History has demonstrated that unless abortion is explicitly excluded in the bill, administrative agencies and the courts will mandate it," Pitts said. "Abortion will be determined to be an essential benefit. Pro-life Americans will be forced to pay for plans that pay for abortion."

Pitts was joined by other House Republicans, as well as pro-life leaders from across the country.

"Obamacare is the abortion industry bailout act of 2009," said Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.), Chairman of the Pro-Life Caucus. "In 2007 Mr. Obama told Planned Parenthood that reproductive care is essential care...make no mistake, when they use the words reproductive care, what they are talking about is abortion."

Smith warned his colleagues to be wary of any proposals that appeared to be compromises between pro-life and pro-choice congressmen on the health care bill, calling them "bogus proposals that we have seen so many times in the past," and arguing that they would turn out to be "pro-abortion."

Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.), Chairman of the House Republican Conference, said it was essential that legislation reflects and respects the values of the majority of the American people.

" The legislation before the Congress today, at least in its current form, overrides the values of an overwhelming majority of Americans, who do now and have throughout the history following Roe v. Wade, always opposed taxpayer funding of abortions" he said.

Pitts said he will be offering an amendment during the Energy and Commerce Committee markup that will specifically exclude abortion funding from the bill.