Pro-life groups in South Carolina are upset that lawmakers voted to fund abortions in the health insurance plans for state employees that are funded with state taxpayer dollars.
Last week, the South Carolina Senate spent significant time debating abortion funding in the State Employees Health Insurance Plan. Although there is no legal requirement for any state to fund any abortion in a health insurance plan, state senators voted 26-20 to use taxpayer money to pay for abortions in the plan. (Click here to see how your Senator voted.)
The pro-life group South Carolina Citizens for Life says lawmakers voted based on incorrect information and assumptions.
“Some senators are confused and wrongly argue that if the State of South Carolina fails to pay for abortion in the state health insurance plan, the state will lose Medicaid funding,” the group informed LifeNews.com. “This is false information. There is no legal requirement for any state to pay for any abortion in a health insurance plan.”
The organization urged pro-life advocates to contact the senators and respond to their vote.
“If your Senator was one of the 20 who voted no, please contact him and thank him,” SCCL said. “If your Senator was one of the 26 who voted aye (yes), please contact him and tell him you oppose tax funding for abortion in the State Employees’ Health Insurance Plan and that no law requires any state to pay for abortion in an employee insurance plan. Remind your Senator that a recent Quinnipiac Poll shows that 67 percent of the public opposes taxpayer funding of abortion.”
The battle is not over on the abortion funding and pro-life groups, including SCCL and the Palmetto Family Institute are asking senators to vote no on the budget because of the abortion funding.
“Write, call, fax, or e-mail you State Senator and tell him to oppose the budget if it funds abortion in the state health insurance plan,” SCCL encourages. “Please let the South Carolina Citizens for Life office know how your State Senator responded to your call. Of all spending cuts the South Carolina Senate can make, cutting government funding for abortion is the most appropriate.” [related]
PFI adds, in an action alert it posted on Twitter, “Call your Senator ASAP and tell him vote no on the budget until tax-payer funded abortion is removed.”
Last month, a move to strip funding for rape and incest abortions from the state employees’ health insurance plan failed by one vote. Senator Joel Lourie, D-Richland, moved to table (defeat) the Bryant-Thomas amendment. The motion to table passed by one vote. Those who voted against tabling the amendment were voting in favor of the Bryant-Thomas amendment.
