Stupak Denies Obama Funding Abortion in Health Care, Says Pro-Lifers Lie
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
July 13, 2010
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — Congressman Bart Stupak, the lynchpin of the abortion funding in the national health care law, says in a new statement that he doesn’t believe the Obama administration will be funding abortions in Pennsylvania and New Mexico. He also accuses pro-life organizations of lying about the funding.
Stupak released a statement to the Washington Examiner newspaper saying there is no way the Obama administration can fund abortions.
"The President’s Executive Order makes clear that federal funds may not be used for abortion under the Affordable Care Act – including the pre-existing condition insurance pools currently being implemented in Pennsylvania and states across the country," the Michigan congressman claims.
"In accordance with the Executive Order, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has directed states that federal funds provided under health care reform may not be used to fund abortion," he said.
Stupak accuses pro-life advocates — specifically the National Right to Life Committee, which uncovered both of the new cases of tax-funded abortions in the health care system — of lying.
“This is the latest example of some right to life groups politicizing life issues in an effort to undermine health care reform," he said. "HHS has reiterated this policy in response to the current accusations from the National Right to Life Committee."
He said "these recycled scare tactics may make for good headlines."
Stupak deflects from the funding by saying the national health care law President Barack Obama signed is good for the country because it provides health insurance for people with preexisting conditions who have been denied it.
"We need to take a whole life approach to health care which looks out for those who are out of the womb as well as those in the womb," he said in the statement to the Examiner.
However, WE reporter David Freddoso, who obtained the statement from the congressman, says "the executive order that Stupak settled for in the health care bill does not cover high-risk pools."
Marjorie Dannenfelser of the Susan B. Anthony List says it is Stupak who is being deceptive, not pro-life groups.
"In the days leading up to the healthcare reform vote, pro-life Democrats like Kathy Dahlkemper and Michigan Rep. Bart Stupak said they would not support any bill which included federal funding of abortion. They reneged on that pledge when they voted for the final bill which provides for taxpayer-funded abortions," she told LifeNews.com/
"An executive order was signed alongside the bill to appease the pro-life majority in America, but this latest report shows that the order lacks the proper force of law. The insurance pool program funded by taxpayer money will provide for abortions and the Obama administration’s executive order has not prevented this," she added.
Sign Up for Free Pro-Life News From LifeNews.com
Daily Pro-Life News Report Twice-Weekly Pro-Life
News Report Receive a free daily email report from LifeNews.com with the latest pro-life news stories on abortion, euthanasia and stem cell research. Sign up here. Receive a free twice-weekly email report with the latest pro-life news headlines on abortion, euthanasia and stem cell research. Sign up here.
