The Pennsylvania legislature today gave the final okay to a bill that stops taxpayer funding of abortions. The Pennsylvania Senate vote send the bill to Governor Corbett, who is expected to sign it into law.
HB 818 would ensure that Pennsylvania opts out of abortion funding under the health insurance exchange created by the federal health care law, also known as Obamacare.
“In a major victory for Pennsylvania taxpayers, the Pennsylvania Senate on Wednesday approved a ban on tax funding of abortions in PA under the health insurance exchange created by the federal health care law (which many know as Obamacare),” Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation legislative director Maria Gallagher told LifeNews. “The PA House passed the bill earlier this year. Governor Tom Corbett is expected to sign the bill into law soon.”
“The Affordable Care Act, also known as the federal health care law, contains a provision which allows states to opt out of abortion funding in the new health insurance exchanges operating in their state as a result of “health care reform.” Twenty-one states have already passed legislation to opt out of this abortion funding,” she said.
Gallagher continued: “House Bill 818 simply continues Pennsylvania’s long-standing policy of banning public funding of abortion. National public opinion polls have consistently shown that the vast majority of Americans oppose taxpayer funding of abortion. Research has also shown that abortion rates rise dramatically when public funding of abortion occurs.”
The Affordable Care Act, also known as the federal health care law, contains a provision which allows states to opt out of abortion funding in the new health insurance exchanges operating in their state as a result of “health care reform.” Twenty-one states have already passed legislation to opt out of this abortion funding.
House Bill 818 simply continues Pennsylvania’s long-standing policy of banning public funding of abortion. National public opinion polls have consistently shown that the vast majority of Americans oppose taxpayer funding of abortion. Research has also shown that abortion rates rise dramatically when public funding of abortion occurs.
A Quinnipiac University poll showed that more than 70 percent of Americans, including the same majority of women, oppose public funding of abortion in the federal health care plan.
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“Thank you to all of you who made phone calls and sent emails and letters to your state Senators–as well as those who made personal visits. State lawmakers tell us time and time again that they want to hear from their constituents on important issues–and taxpayer funding of abortion is a critical issue in Pennsylvania,” Gallagher said.
You can find out how your Senator voted on HB 818 at https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/RC/Public/rc_view_action2.cfm?sess_yr=2013&sess_ind=0&rc_body=S&rc_nbr=121 .
