Obama, Reid, Top Democrats Once Supported DC Abortion $ Ban

Opinion   |   Joshua Mercer   |   Apr 7, 2011   |   4:17PM   |   Washington, DC

If the government shuts down on Saturday, military men and women will have to serve while not getting a paycheck. Families planning on spending spring break at one of our national parks will have their vacations ruined. It’s also possible that many government websites would be offline during a shutdown.

And why? Just to ensure that taxpayers continue paying for abortions in the nation’s capital? How shameful.

It wasn’t always this way. For years, the Democratic leadership never really contested the Dornan amendment, which prohibits taxpayer funding of abortions in Washington, DC. Of course they voted against the amendment, but they would never torpedo an entire appropriations bill over it. And certainly not shut down the federal government over it.

Well, actually, in Harry Reid’s case, he did vote for the DC abortion ban. When it was first introduced in 1996 as a straight up or down amendment, Harry Reid voted to ban federal funding of DC abortions: Boxer Amendment, Roll Call 38.

In fact, Reid voted for appropriations bills with the DC abortion funding ban TEN times since 1996: FY08 Roll Call 441, FY07 Roll Call 48, FY06 Roll Call 264, FY04 Roll Call 3, FY02 Roll Call 331 and Roll Call 356, FY00 Roll Call 374, FY97 Roll Call 270, FY96 Roll Call 42 and Roll Call 89.

But Harry Reid calls himself “pro-life” and casts some minor pro-life votes to convince the folks back home in Nevada that’s he on their side. Naturally the media plays along with it, calling Reid “pro-life.” But what about the true blue Democrats, like Joe Biden and Dick Durbin?

When Vice President Joe Biden was representing Delaware in the Senate, he voted for legislation including the DC Abortion Funding Ban SEVEN times since 1995 when the policy was included in various bills to appropriate funding for the District of Columbia: FY06 Roll Call 264, FY02 Roll Call 331 and Roll Call 356, FY00 Roll Call 374, FY99 Roll Call 317, FY97 Roll Call 270, FY96 Roll Call 89.

Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin has voted for legislation including the DC Abortion Funding Ban NINE times since 1995 when the policy was included in various bills to appropriate funding for the District of Columbia: FY08 Roll Call 441, FY07 Roll Call 48, FY06 Roll Call 264, FY04 Roll Call 3, FY02 Roll Call 331, FY00 Roll Call 374, FY99 Roll Call 314, FY97 House Roll Call 334, FY96 House Roll Call 135.

In fact, Durbin offered his own legislation that included the DC Abortion Funding Ban TWICE: S. 3660 and H.R. 2829.

House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer voted for legislation including the DC Abortion Funding Ban EIGHTEEN times since 1995 when the policy was included in various bills to appropriate funding for the District of Columbia: FY09 Roll Call 86, FY08 Roll Call 606 and Roll Call 1171, FY07 Roll Call 286 and Roll Call 72, FY06 Roll Call 358 and Roll Call 605, FY05 Roll Call 399 and Roll Call 498, FY03 Roll Call 32, FY02 Roll Call 355 and Roll Call 482, FY00 Roll Call 347 and Roll Call 610, FY99 Roll Call 538, FY97 Roll Call 334 and Roll Call 395, FY96 Roll Call 135.

Yeah, but what about Nancy Pelosi?

Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi voted for legislation including the DC Abortion Funding Ban FOURTEEN times since 1995 when the policy was included in various bills to appropriate funding for the District of Columbia: FY07 Roll Call 286 and Roll Call 72, FY06 Roll Call 358 and Roll Call 605, FY05 Roll Call 399 and Roll Call 498, FY03 Roll Call 32, FY02 Roll Call 355 and Roll Call 482, FY00 Roll Call 347 and Roll Call 610, FY99 Roll Call 538, FY97 Roll Call 334, FY96 Roll Call 135.

In her four years as Speaker, Pelosi shepherded three bills through the House that contained the DC abortion funding ban: FY09 P.L. 111-8, FY08 P.L. 110-161, FY07 (Continuing Resolution) P.L. 110-5.

President Bill Clinton signed the DC abortion funding ban into law six times: FY01 P.L. 106-522, FY00 P.L. 106-113, FY99 P.L. 105-277, FY98 P.L. 105-100, FY97 P.L. 104-194, FY96 P.L. 104-134. Unlike fake “pro-life” Harry Reid, Bill Clinton would not shut down the federal government over DC abortions.

Ah, yes, but what about Barack Obama?

President Barack Obama signed the DC Abortion Funding Ban into law for FY09 when he signed an omnibus appropriations act (FY09 P.L. 111-8) that was sent to him by a Democratic-controlled House and Senate. When he was a Senator, Obama voted for legislation including the DC Abortion Funding Ban TWICE, once as a part of a continuing resolution (FY07) and once as part of the Transportation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act (FY06): FY07 Roll Call 48, FY06 Roll Call 264.

But is this one of those partisan issues where all Republicans line up on one side and all Democrats oppose the measure, right? No way. Not even close.

Legislation containing the DC Abortion Funding Ban has received more than 150 Democrat Votes in the House on SIXTEEN occasions since 1995 when the policy was included in various bills to appropriate funding for the District of Columbia: FY09 Roll Call 86, FY08 Roll Call 606 and Roll Call 1171, FY07 Roll Call 286 and Roll Call 72, FY06 Roll Call 358 and Roll Call 605, FY05 Roll Call 399 and Roll Call 498, FY02 Roll Call 355 and Roll Call 482, FY00 Roll Call 347, FY99 Roll Call 538, FY97 Roll Call 334 and Roll Call 395, FY96 Roll Call 135.

As you can see there has been a long bipartisan consensus to ensure that no taxpayer has to pay for abortions in the nation’s capital. Only recently has this issue been elevated into a foundational battle cry for the leadership of the Democratic Party.

I remain shocked that Harry Reid is willing to shut down the federal government because he think U.S. taxpayers should have to pay for abortion in the nation’s capital. Remember, we are NOT talking about federal funding for Planned Parenthood (which is indirect support for abortion.) This provision is for direct payment of abortions in Washington, DC.

Does Harry Reid want to explain why he would shut down the government to prevent a policy that he supported TEN times since 1996?

LifeNews.com Note: Joshua Mercer is Director of Communications and co-founder of CatholicVoteAction.org, a grassroots organization that provides a voice in politics for hundreds of thousands of lay Catholics and here this article was originally published. Previously, he served as Chairman of Students for Life of America and also Washington Correspondent for the National Catholic Register.