Congressional Democrats Put Abortion Industry Funding in Economic Stimulus Bill
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
January 26, 2009
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — On the heels of President Barack Obama overturning a policy to stop taxpayer dollars from going to pro-abortion groups to promote abortions overseas, Congressional Democrats have loaded down the economic stimulus bill to send taxpayer funds to domestic abortion groups.
The stimulus plan now includes a measure to send more public funds to the Planned Parenthood abortion business to fund contraception and birth control.
Specifically, a provision in the legislation clears the way for expanded federal funding of contraceptives through Medicaid for those who aren’t even poor.
A Clinton-era program allows states to seek a waiver to offer Medicaid “family planning” services — including people who are not poor enough to qualify for Medicaid. If they seek the waiver, the federal government matches the state funding with $9 for every $1.
On Friday, when the House Energy & Commerce Committee considered the congressional Democrats’ spending bill, the committee eliminated the waiver requirement.
As a result, all 50 states will now offer Medicaid “family planning” services (including contraception) with the federal government offering the same $9 to $1 match. Although the money doesn’t fund abortions directly, it goes to Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion business, which would otherwise have to spend its own money on contraception.
Pro-life advocates say the governmental funds free up Planned Parenthood dollars to promote and perform abortions that it would otherwise have to spend on family planning.
House Republican Leader John Boehner told LifeNews.com he is dismayed about the inclusion of the provision.
"Regardless of where anyone stands on taxpayer-funding for contraceptives and the abortion industry, there is no doubt that this once little-known provision in the congressional Democrats’ spending plan has nothing to do with stimulating the economy and creating more American jobs," he said.
"How you can spend hundreds of millions of dollars on contraceptives – how does that stimulate the economy? You can go through a whole host of issues that have nothing to do with growing jobs in America and helping people keep their jobs," he added.
Boehner said that as more people learn about "this revelation about the congressional Democrats’ plans to force taxpayers to subsidize contraception and the abortion industry, the American people" will be upset.
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