Pro-Life Senators Bemoan Vote Against Restoring Mexico City Policy on Abortion

National   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Jan 28, 2009   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Pro-Life Senators Bemoan Vote Against Restoring Mexico City Policy on Abortion

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
January 28
, 2009

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — The Senate rejected a pro-life amendment Wednesday to restore the Mexico City Policy and its protections on abortion funding. Three top pro-life members of the Congressional chamber say they are disappointed that lawmakers did not hear the millions of Americans upset by President Barack Obama’s ditching it.

Senator Mel Martinez was behind the amendment to reinstate the Mexico City Policy and, during the debate, he told his colleagues that the vote clearly concerned funding groups that promote or perform abortions.

“The core of this argument is whether U.S. taxpayers ought to be forced to fund efforts abroad that utilize abortion as a means of family planning,” the Florida Republican said.

“If we want to continue fostering a culture of life, where every life is considered sacred, every child is celebrated, and life at all stages is given the dignity it deserves, then we will reinstate this policy," he added.

Senator Jim DeMint, a South Carolina Republican, joined Martinez in introducing the amendment during debate on the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) bill.

“Taxpayers should never be forced to pay for the destruction of human life, here at home or overseas,” he said. “President Obama campaigned on a platform of reducing abortions, yet one of his first official acts was to force millions of American taxpayers who find this practice immoral to pay for more abortions overseas.”

“We cannot have a debate about protecting the health of children while we’re use tax dollars to destroy the lives of the most vulnerable children. Children are a precious blessing and this amendment ensures American taxpayers will not be forced to support ending the lives of unborn children abroad," he said.

Meanwhile, Sen. Sam Brownback said he was discouraged by the Senate vote and said it showed lawmakers did not pay attention to the hundreds of thousands of pro-life Americans who took part in last week’s March for Life.

“I’m extremely disappointed in the Senate’s failure to overturn an executive order that sanctions the use of taxpayers’ money to fund abortions,” Brownback said.

“Last Thursday, I attended the annual March for Life and was overwhelmed by the hundreds of people who marched for the rights of the unborn," he explained. "And I was greatly saddened the next day when President Obama signed an executive order to overturn the ban on taxpayer funding of overseas abortion."

"America should support nations in need by enacting policies that promote the sanctity of human life," he concluded.

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