The Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed House Bill 818 on Tuesday, supporting the Commonwealth’s longstanding policy of not using taxpayer dollars to fund abortions.
“The legislation is in line with the restriction on public funding of abortion present in Pennsylvania’s landmark Abortion Control Act. It’s a long-standing policy that works,” said Maria Gallagher, legislative director of the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation. “We applaud House members – Republicans and Democrats, women and men – who have followed the will of the people in passing this critical bill.”
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Donna Oberlander, R-Armstrong, would allow Pennsylvania to opt-out of abortion coverage in the state health insurance exchange, which will be created by the Affordable Care Act using public dollars. The bill includes exceptions for rape, incest, and the mother’s life.
“Unless this legislation becomes law, starting next year, Pennsylvania will be in the abortion business – dramatically and radically reversing the Keystone State’s long-standing poli
cy against public funding of abortion,” Gallagher said.
A Quinnipiac University poll showed that more than 70 percent of Americans, including the same majority of women, oppose public funding of abortion in the federal health care plan.
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So far, 21 states have passed similar legislation to opt-out of abortion funding. A provision written into the Affordable Care Act allows states to opt-out of abortion funding in health care reform.
House Bill 818 now moves to the Senate for consideration.
Now, it’s important that we let our state Senators know that we want them to support HB 818 too. To find out who your state Senator is, or to find out contact information for your state Senator, please click here.
Please call your state Senator to let the Senator know you want a “yes” vote on HB 818 when it is voted on in the Senate.
