Obama Administration’s HHS Web Site Promotes Pro-Abortion Health Care Bills

National   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Oct 21, 2009   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Obama Administration’s HHS Web Site Promotes Pro-Abortion Health Care Bills

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
October 21
, 2009

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — While the administration of President Barack Obama is supportive of the pro-abortion health care bills in Congress, the actual federal government is supposed to remain neutral on legislative matters. However, the Department of Heath and Human Services is getting heat for promoting the pro-abortion health care bills.

A web page HHS runs urges visitors to send an email to Obama praising him for his pro-abortion health care plan.

According to a Roll Call report, the page is accessed through a “state your support” button featured prominently on the web page that features a disclaimer saying it is maintained by the HHS department.

Sen. Chuck Grassley, a pro-life Iowa Republican who is the ranking member on the Senate Finance committee, one of two panels to have approved a pro-abortion health care bill, is not happy.

He sent a letter to pro-abortion HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on Tuesday that said the web site may be violating rules against the federal government promoting legislative policy.

Grassley warned that “any possible misuse of appropriated funds by the executive branch to engage in publicity or propaganda in support of an Administration priority is a matter that must be investigated and taken seriously."

He also pointed out how current House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in 2005 that “the use of official funds for similar activities were ‘underhanded tactics’ and that these tactics ‘are not worthy of our great democracy.’”

“The use of the official HHS.gov Web site for activities that seem to be nothing more than government propaganda raises many serious questions,” Grassley wrote.

The form letter that the HHS web site allows users to complete contains effusive praise for Obama and the pro-abortion health care plans.

"We strongly support your commitment to comprehensive health reform. This is not a luxury. The continuing, sharp escalation of health care costs for families, businesses, and government is unsustainable. Reform is imperative. We believe that health reform must be enacted this year,” the letter says, according to Roll Call.

The letter also has signatories saying they will help Obama push the pro-abortion "reform" measures over "narrow interests."

“During these extraordinarily challenging times, we need to put aside past differences and address the health and economic crisis. Our shared interest must come before narrow interests," it says.

"Each of us must be prepared to contribute to achieving this fundamental goal. By signing this statement we affirm our commitment to work with you and our Congressional leaders to enact legislation this year," the letter adds.

The HHS web site asks for personal contact information from those signing the letter and Grassley’s letter asks Sebelius who put together the web site and what would be done with the contact information for those signing the letter.

HHS spokesman Nick Papas told Roll Call that the department would discuss the situation with Grassley.

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