Here is an excerpt from an article with more information about abortion being covered in the health care bill proposed by Obama. Following the excerpt is a link to the full article which a lot of good information.
"...both President Obama and White House Director of Domestic Policy Melody Barnes claimed last week at a teleconference that the health care bill would not allow for federally funded abortions. And that those of us arguing otherwise are "bearing false witness." President Obama then repeated the claim in his Saturday Weekly Address, which was devoted to busting the "outrageous myths about health care."
If he wants to truly set aside these growing anxieties, it's not that hard. All he has to do is insist any legislation he signs explicitly prohibits abortion funding."
Please read the rest here: http://action.aul.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=3041.0&dlv_id=6761
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Subject: Fr. Pavone: Response to Problems with Health Care Reform is Elections
Priests for Life Announces Formation of Political Responsibility Teams for 2010, 2012
Washington, DC – Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, the Catholic
Church’s largest pro-life ministry, stated today, “The reason for the mess we are in with the health care reform debate is the elections of 2008, and the way out of the mess will be the elections of 2010 and 2012.”
Priests for Life has announced the formation of “Political Responsibility Teams” in communities across America. The purpose of such teams will be to educate and activate citizens to exercise their responsibility to participate in the electoral process in a way that is informed rather than impulsive, and based on principle rather than mere personal advantage.
“Churches provide our greatest opportunity to mobilize and educate voters,” Fr. Pavone explained, “and activating Churches for the pro-life cause is the primary mission of Priests for Life. But Churches can also become the biggest obstacle if they choose the path of fear and hide behind paranoid interpretations of the Internal Revenue Code as an excuse for not talking about politics. We have a lot more to fear from our silence than we do from speaking out.”
For information, visit http://www.facebook.com/l/;www.PoliticalResponsibility.com
Washington, DC – Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, the Catholic
Church’s largest pro-life ministry, stated today, “The reason for the mess we are in with the health care reform debate is the elections of 2008, and the way out of the mess will be the elections of 2010 and 2012.”
Priests for Life has announced the formation of “Political Responsibility Teams” in communities across America. The purpose of such teams will be to educate and activate citizens to exercise their responsibility to participate in the electoral process in a way that is informed rather than impulsive, and based on principle rather than mere personal advantage.
“Churches provide our greatest opportunity to mobilize and educate voters,” Fr. Pavone explained, “and activating Churches for the pro-life cause is the primary mission of Priests for Life. But Churches can also become the biggest obstacle if they choose the path of fear and hide behind paranoid interpretations of the Internal Revenue Code as an excuse for not talking about politics. We have a lot more to fear from our silence than we do from speaking out.”
For information, visit http://www.facebook.com/l/;www.PoliticalResponsibility.com
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Let's hear it again!
I want to re-post this particular section of my previous post from the letter I got from the NRLC, which provided a link to an unedited video of Obama’s response on YouTube
(http://youtube.com/watch?v=Cqww8jmizug&eurl=http://srv.ezinedirector.net/?n=3127987&s=99624509=player_embedded) which shows Obama's stance that so-called "reproductive health care" is, as he put it, "essential care....basic care", and he goes ont o say that it is "at the center and at the heart of the plan" that he proposes. Although he uses the term "reproductive health care", this is of course another way of referring to abortion. If that isn't enough, pay attention to the end of the video when Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was asked in April 2009, about the Obama Administration's definition of "reproductive care". She clearly says that "reproductive care includes access to abortion."
Learn more about how to take action at www.nrlactioncenter.com
(http://youtube.com/watch?v=Cqww8jmizug&eurl=http://srv.ezinedirector.net/?n=3127987&s=99624509=player_embedded) which shows Obama's stance that so-called "reproductive health care" is, as he put it, "essential care....basic care", and he goes ont o say that it is "at the center and at the heart of the plan" that he proposes. Although he uses the term "reproductive health care", this is of course another way of referring to abortion. If that isn't enough, pay attention to the end of the video when Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was asked in April 2009, about the Obama Administration's definition of "reproductive care". She clearly says that "reproductive care includes access to abortion."
Learn more about how to take action at www.nrlactioncenter.com
Monday, August 24, 2009
FactCheck.org Says NRLC Correct on Abortion in Obama Health Bill
WASHINGTON (August 24, 2009) -- This is an update from the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC) in Washington, D.C. (Federal Legislation Department). For further information regarding the effect of health care reform legislation on federal abortion policy, or to send messages to your representatives in Congress, visit the NRLC website at http://srv.ezinedirector.net/?n=3127976&s=99624509. You can also reach the Federal Legislation Department by e-mail at Legfederal@aol.com.
Please forward this e-mail to any appropriate lists.
In recent weeks, NRLC has seen a wave of "factcheck" commentaries in various mainstream news media, denying that the health bills being advanced by President Obama and top Democratic congressional leaders would result in government funding of abortion. Some of these articles assert that government funding of abortion would be prevented by a federal law called the "Hyde Amendment," some assert that it would be prevented by an amendment adopted in a House committee called the Capps Amendment, and some assert that President Obama himself has said that he agrees with a "tradition" that the government should not fund abortions. Regrettably, all three of those assertions are demonstrably false.
On August 19, 2009, President Obama himself said that it is "not true" and a "fabrication" to say that his health plan will "mean government funding of abortion." NRLC immediately challenged Obama's statement in a press release (http://.nrlc.org/press_releases_new/Release081909.html), in which NRLC Legislative Director Douglas Johnson said, "President Obama today brazenly misrepresented the abortion-related component of the health care legislation that his congressional allies and staff have crafted. . . . the bill backed by the White House (H.R. 3200) explicitly authorizes the government plan to cover all elective abortions."
In response to the Obama-NRLC exchange, the independent FactCheck.org, affiliated with the Annenberg Public Policy Center, examined the issue. On August 21, FactCheck.org issued its analysis, written by FactCheck.org Director Brooks Jackson, titled, "Abortion: Which Side is Fabricating?" We quote here briefly from FactCheck.org's conclusions:
". . . it’s likely that any new federal insurance plan would cover abortion unless Congress expressly prohibits that. Low- and moderate-income persons who would choose the ‘public plan’ would qualify for federal subsidies to purchase it. Private plans that cover abortion also could be purchased with the help of federal subsidies. Therefore, we judge that the president goes too far when he calls the statements that government would be funding abortions ‘fabrications.’ . . . The NRLC’s Johnson said ‘the bill backed by the White House (H.R. 3200) explicitly authorizes the government plan to cover all elective abortions.’ And our analysis shows that Johnson’s statement is correct."
NRLC is in general agreement with the FactCheck.org analysis, except we think that FactCheck.org is in error in the way it uses the term "public funds." The House bill backed by the White House contains language (the Capps Amendment) that explicitly authorizes the federal agency that administers the "public option" to collect an additional amount of premium funds specifically to cover the costs of elective abortions, and no one would be allowed to enroll in the "public option" without paying this abortion surcharge. NRLC asserts that once the government collects these funds, they are "public funds" (or "federal funds"), and when the government uses these funds to write payment checks to abortionists, that is government funding of abortion.
The complete FactCheck.org appears below. Copyright 2009 by FactCheck.org. Reproduced in accord with the terms of the FactCheck.org copyright policy (http://factcheck.org/about/copyright-policy/). Original URL: http://srv.ezinedirector.net/?n=3127980&s=99624509
Abortion: Which Side Is Fabricating?
Despite what Obama said, the House bill would allow abortions to be covered by a federal plan and by federally subsidized private plans.
August 21, 2009
Summary
Will health care legislation mean "government funding of abortion"?
President Obama said Wednesday that’s "not true" and among several "fabrications" being spread by "people who are bearing false witness." But abortion foes say it’s the president who’s making a false claim. "President Obama today brazenly misrepresented the abortion-related component" of health care legislation, said Douglas Johnson, legislative director for the National Right to Life Committee. So which side is right?
The truth is that bills now before Congress don’t require federal money to be used for supporting abortion coverage. So the president is right to that limited extent. But it’s equally true that House and Senate legislation would allow a new "public" insurance plan to cover abortions, despite language added to the House bill that technically forbids using public funds to pay for them. Obama has said in the past that "reproductive services" would be covered by his public plan, so it’s likely that any new federal insurance plan would cover abortion unless Congress expressly prohibits that. Low- and moderate-income persons who would choose the "public plan" would qualify for federal subsidies to purchase it. Private plans that cover abortion also could be purchased with the help of federal subsidies. Therefore, we judge that the president goes too far when he calls the statements that government would be funding abortions "fabrications."
Analysis
Obama’s "Fabrications" Remark
Obama’s remarks Wednesday came during a telephone conference call to thousands of listeners, organized by religious organizations supporting his health care proposals. He said that "there has been a lot of misinformation in this debate, and there are some folks out there who are frankly bearing false witness." And then he lumped in abortion coverage at the end of a list of claims that he branded as untrue:
Obama, Aug. 19: We are closer to achieving that reform than we have ever been. And that’s why we’re seeing some of the divisive and deceptive attacks. You’ve heard some of them. Ludicrous ideas. Let me just give you one example, this notion that we are somehow setting up "death panels" that would decide on whether elderly people get to live or die. That is just an extraordinary lie. This is based on a provision in the House legislation that would allow Medicare to reimburse you if you wanted counseling on how to set up a living will or other end of life decisions. Entirely voluntary, it gives you an option that people who can afford fancy lawyers already exercise. That’s the kind of distortion that we’ve been hearing too much of out here.
We’ve heard that this is all designed to provide health insurance to illegal aliens. That’s not true. There’s a specific provision in the bill that does not provide health insurance for those individuals. You’ve heard that there’s a government takeover of health care. That’s not true. You’ve heard that this is all going to mean government funding of abortion. Not true. This is all, these are all fabrications that have been put out there in order to discourage people from meeting what I consider to be a core ethical and moral obligation, and that is that we look out for one another, that I am my brother’s keeper, I am my sister’s keeper. And in the wealthiest nation on earth right now, we are neglecting to live up to that call.
The White House did not post any transcript of the president’s words, but sponsors of the conference call, a coalition of faith-based groups supporting an overhaul of the health insurance system, posted the full audio of the president’s call (http://www.faithforhealth.org/join-the-call) on its Web site. His words come near the very end of the recording, and we transcribed them from the recording.
Abortion foes quickly denounced Obama’s statement (http://nrlc.org/press_releases_new/Release081909.html) as untrue. The NRLC’s Johnson said "the bill backed by the White House (H.R. 3200) explicitly authorizes the government plan to cover all elective abortions." And our analysis shows that Johnson’s statement is correct. Though we of course take no position on whether the legislation should allow or not allow coverage for abortions, the House bill does just that.
The House leadership’s bill (H.R. 3200) (http://www.thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.R.3200:) actually made no mention of abortion when it was introduced. Johnson refers to an amendment to the bill adopted by the House Energy and Commerce Committee July 30. Abortion rights proponents characterize it as a compromise, but it hasn’t satisfied the anti-abortion side. Offered by Democratic Rep. Lois Capps of California, the amendment was approved narrowly by the committee, 30 - 28, (http://www.energycommerce.house.gov/Press_111/20090730/hr3200_capps_1.pdf) with most but not all Democrats voting in favor and no Republicans backing it. The Capps amendment (http://www.energycommerce.house.gov/Press_111/20090730/hr3200_capps_1.pdf) states that some abortions "shall" be covered by the "public option" plan, specifically those types of abortions that Congress allows to be covered under Medicaid, under the so-called "Hyde Amendment," which has been attached regularly to appropriations bills for many years. These are abortions performed in cases or rape or incest, or to save the life of the mother.
As for other types of abortions, the Capps amendment leaves it to the secretary of Health and Human Services to decide whether or not they will be covered. It says, "Nothing in this Act shall be construed as preventing the public health insurance option from providing" abortion services that would not be legal for Medicaid coverage. Says the NRLC’s Johnson: "The Capps Amendment MANDATES that the public plan cover any Medicaid-fundable abortions, and AUTHORIZES the secretary to cover all other abortions. … [F]rom day one, she [Secretary Kathleen Sebelius] is authorized to pay for them all. And, she will."
We can’t say what anyone will do in the future. But Obama himself said on July 17, 2007, that "[i]n my mind, reproductive care is essential care" and would be covered by his public insurance plan. He was addressing Planned Parenthood:
Obama, July 17, 2007: We’re going to set up a public plan that all persons and all women can access if they don’t have health insurance. It will be a plan that will provide all essential services, including reproductive services, as well as mental health services and disease management services, because part of our interest is to make sure that we’re putting more money into preventive care.
Obama did not use the word "abortion," but a spokesman for the campaign said later that abortion would be included, according to the Chicago Tribune. (http://www.archives.chicagotribune.com/2007/jul/18/news/chi-dems18jul18) The NRLC has posted an unedited video of Obama’s response on YouTube (http://youtube.com/watch?v=Cqww8jmizug&eurl=http://srv.ezinedirector.net/?n=3127987&s=99624509=player_embedded) along with some comments which are the group’s opinions and not necessarily those of anyone at FactCheck.org).
Public Funds
The Capps amendment does contain a statement – as we noted in an earlier article (http://factcheck.org/2009/07/surgery-for-seniors-vs-abortions) – that prohibits the use of public money to pay for abortions, except in cases of rape, incest and to save the life of the mother. That would still allow the public plan to cover all abortions, so long as the plans took in enough private money in the form of premiums paid by individuals or their employers. The Capps language also would allow private plans purchased with federal subsidies ("affordability credits" for low-income families and workers) to cover abortion.
Broader language was contained in an amendment offered by Democratic Rep. Bart Stupak of Michigan (http://www.energycommerce.house.gov/Press_111/20090731/hr3200_stupak_1.pdf) the day after the Capps amendment was approved. The Stupak amendment would have overruled Capps and prohibited government funding of "any part of the costs of any health plan that includes coverage of abortion," except in cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother. The Stupak amendment was rejected by the committee 27 - 31 (http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_111/20090731/hr3200_stupak_1_rc.pdf).
Supporters of abortion rights argue that this would cause some women who now have abortion coverage to lose it, by forcing private insurance companies to drop abortion coverage from plans so that they can be purchased with the help of federal subsidies. For example, NARAL Pro-Choice America states (http://blogforchoice.com/archives/2009/08/the-truth-about.html):
NARAL: Anti-choice members of Congress aren’t satisfied with the Capps compromise. They want to impose a new nationwide abortion ban in the private health-insurance market by prohibiting such coverage in the new health-care system – thus taking away coverage from women who already have it.
We can’t predict how many insurance plans might be affected by the Stupak language. And we take no stand on whether all abortions should or should not be covered.
As for the House bill as it stands now, it’s a matter of fact that it would allow both a "public plan" and newly subsidized private plans to cover all abortions.
– by Brooks Jackson
Sources
U.S. House. "H.R. 3200 (http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&docid=f:h3200ih.txt.pdf)." (as introduced 14 Jul 2009.)
National Right to Life. "Obama Says ‘Government Funding of Abortion’ is ‘Fabrication,’
(http://nrlc.org/press_releases_new/Release081909.html)
But the White House-Backed House Bill Explicitly Authorizes It
(http://nrlc.org/press_releases_new/Release081909.html)." press release. 19 Aug 2009.
Capps amendment to H.R. 3200
(http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_111/20090730/hr3200_capps_1.pdf) . House
Energy and Commerce Committee. 30 Jul 2009.
Stupak amendment to H.R. 3200 (http://www.energycommerce.house.gov/Press_111/20090731/hr3200_stupak_1.pdf). House
Energy and Commerce Committee. 31 Jul 2009.
NARAL Pro-Choice America. "The Truth About Abortion and Health Reform (http://blogforchoice.com/archives/2009/08/the-truth-about.html)." Blog for Choice. 14 Aug 2009.
Please forward this e-mail to any appropriate lists.
In recent weeks, NRLC has seen a wave of "factcheck" commentaries in various mainstream news media, denying that the health bills being advanced by President Obama and top Democratic congressional leaders would result in government funding of abortion. Some of these articles assert that government funding of abortion would be prevented by a federal law called the "Hyde Amendment," some assert that it would be prevented by an amendment adopted in a House committee called the Capps Amendment, and some assert that President Obama himself has said that he agrees with a "tradition" that the government should not fund abortions. Regrettably, all three of those assertions are demonstrably false.
On August 19, 2009, President Obama himself said that it is "not true" and a "fabrication" to say that his health plan will "mean government funding of abortion." NRLC immediately challenged Obama's statement in a press release (http://.nrlc.org/press_releases_new/Release081909.html), in which NRLC Legislative Director Douglas Johnson said, "President Obama today brazenly misrepresented the abortion-related component of the health care legislation that his congressional allies and staff have crafted. . . . the bill backed by the White House (H.R. 3200) explicitly authorizes the government plan to cover all elective abortions."
In response to the Obama-NRLC exchange, the independent FactCheck.org, affiliated with the Annenberg Public Policy Center, examined the issue. On August 21, FactCheck.org issued its analysis, written by FactCheck.org Director Brooks Jackson, titled, "Abortion: Which Side is Fabricating?" We quote here briefly from FactCheck.org's conclusions:
". . . it’s likely that any new federal insurance plan would cover abortion unless Congress expressly prohibits that. Low- and moderate-income persons who would choose the ‘public plan’ would qualify for federal subsidies to purchase it. Private plans that cover abortion also could be purchased with the help of federal subsidies. Therefore, we judge that the president goes too far when he calls the statements that government would be funding abortions ‘fabrications.’ . . . The NRLC’s Johnson said ‘the bill backed by the White House (H.R. 3200) explicitly authorizes the government plan to cover all elective abortions.’ And our analysis shows that Johnson’s statement is correct."
NRLC is in general agreement with the FactCheck.org analysis, except we think that FactCheck.org is in error in the way it uses the term "public funds." The House bill backed by the White House contains language (the Capps Amendment) that explicitly authorizes the federal agency that administers the "public option" to collect an additional amount of premium funds specifically to cover the costs of elective abortions, and no one would be allowed to enroll in the "public option" without paying this abortion surcharge. NRLC asserts that once the government collects these funds, they are "public funds" (or "federal funds"), and when the government uses these funds to write payment checks to abortionists, that is government funding of abortion.
The complete FactCheck.org appears below. Copyright 2009 by FactCheck.org. Reproduced in accord with the terms of the FactCheck.org copyright policy (http://factcheck.org/about/copyright-policy/). Original URL: http://srv.ezinedirector.net/?n=3127980&s=99624509
Abortion: Which Side Is Fabricating?
Despite what Obama said, the House bill would allow abortions to be covered by a federal plan and by federally subsidized private plans.
August 21, 2009
Summary
Will health care legislation mean "government funding of abortion"?
President Obama said Wednesday that’s "not true" and among several "fabrications" being spread by "people who are bearing false witness." But abortion foes say it’s the president who’s making a false claim. "President Obama today brazenly misrepresented the abortion-related component" of health care legislation, said Douglas Johnson, legislative director for the National Right to Life Committee. So which side is right?
The truth is that bills now before Congress don’t require federal money to be used for supporting abortion coverage. So the president is right to that limited extent. But it’s equally true that House and Senate legislation would allow a new "public" insurance plan to cover abortions, despite language added to the House bill that technically forbids using public funds to pay for them. Obama has said in the past that "reproductive services" would be covered by his public plan, so it’s likely that any new federal insurance plan would cover abortion unless Congress expressly prohibits that. Low- and moderate-income persons who would choose the "public plan" would qualify for federal subsidies to purchase it. Private plans that cover abortion also could be purchased with the help of federal subsidies. Therefore, we judge that the president goes too far when he calls the statements that government would be funding abortions "fabrications."
Analysis
Obama’s "Fabrications" Remark
Obama’s remarks Wednesday came during a telephone conference call to thousands of listeners, organized by religious organizations supporting his health care proposals. He said that "there has been a lot of misinformation in this debate, and there are some folks out there who are frankly bearing false witness." And then he lumped in abortion coverage at the end of a list of claims that he branded as untrue:
Obama, Aug. 19: We are closer to achieving that reform than we have ever been. And that’s why we’re seeing some of the divisive and deceptive attacks. You’ve heard some of them. Ludicrous ideas. Let me just give you one example, this notion that we are somehow setting up "death panels" that would decide on whether elderly people get to live or die. That is just an extraordinary lie. This is based on a provision in the House legislation that would allow Medicare to reimburse you if you wanted counseling on how to set up a living will or other end of life decisions. Entirely voluntary, it gives you an option that people who can afford fancy lawyers already exercise. That’s the kind of distortion that we’ve been hearing too much of out here.
We’ve heard that this is all designed to provide health insurance to illegal aliens. That’s not true. There’s a specific provision in the bill that does not provide health insurance for those individuals. You’ve heard that there’s a government takeover of health care. That’s not true. You’ve heard that this is all going to mean government funding of abortion. Not true. This is all, these are all fabrications that have been put out there in order to discourage people from meeting what I consider to be a core ethical and moral obligation, and that is that we look out for one another, that I am my brother’s keeper, I am my sister’s keeper. And in the wealthiest nation on earth right now, we are neglecting to live up to that call.
The White House did not post any transcript of the president’s words, but sponsors of the conference call, a coalition of faith-based groups supporting an overhaul of the health insurance system, posted the full audio of the president’s call (http://www.faithforhealth.org/join-the-call) on its Web site. His words come near the very end of the recording, and we transcribed them from the recording.
Abortion foes quickly denounced Obama’s statement (http://nrlc.org/press_releases_new/Release081909.html) as untrue. The NRLC’s Johnson said "the bill backed by the White House (H.R. 3200) explicitly authorizes the government plan to cover all elective abortions." And our analysis shows that Johnson’s statement is correct. Though we of course take no position on whether the legislation should allow or not allow coverage for abortions, the House bill does just that.
The House leadership’s bill (H.R. 3200) (http://www.thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.R.3200:) actually made no mention of abortion when it was introduced. Johnson refers to an amendment to the bill adopted by the House Energy and Commerce Committee July 30. Abortion rights proponents characterize it as a compromise, but it hasn’t satisfied the anti-abortion side. Offered by Democratic Rep. Lois Capps of California, the amendment was approved narrowly by the committee, 30 - 28, (http://www.energycommerce.house.gov/Press_111/20090730/hr3200_capps_1.pdf) with most but not all Democrats voting in favor and no Republicans backing it. The Capps amendment (http://www.energycommerce.house.gov/Press_111/20090730/hr3200_capps_1.pdf) states that some abortions "shall" be covered by the "public option" plan, specifically those types of abortions that Congress allows to be covered under Medicaid, under the so-called "Hyde Amendment," which has been attached regularly to appropriations bills for many years. These are abortions performed in cases or rape or incest, or to save the life of the mother.
As for other types of abortions, the Capps amendment leaves it to the secretary of Health and Human Services to decide whether or not they will be covered. It says, "Nothing in this Act shall be construed as preventing the public health insurance option from providing" abortion services that would not be legal for Medicaid coverage. Says the NRLC’s Johnson: "The Capps Amendment MANDATES that the public plan cover any Medicaid-fundable abortions, and AUTHORIZES the secretary to cover all other abortions. … [F]rom day one, she [Secretary Kathleen Sebelius] is authorized to pay for them all. And, she will."
We can’t say what anyone will do in the future. But Obama himself said on July 17, 2007, that "[i]n my mind, reproductive care is essential care" and would be covered by his public insurance plan. He was addressing Planned Parenthood:
Obama, July 17, 2007: We’re going to set up a public plan that all persons and all women can access if they don’t have health insurance. It will be a plan that will provide all essential services, including reproductive services, as well as mental health services and disease management services, because part of our interest is to make sure that we’re putting more money into preventive care.
Obama did not use the word "abortion," but a spokesman for the campaign said later that abortion would be included, according to the Chicago Tribune. (http://www.archives.chicagotribune.com/2007/jul/18/news/chi-dems18jul18) The NRLC has posted an unedited video of Obama’s response on YouTube (http://youtube.com/watch?v=Cqww8jmizug&eurl=http://srv.ezinedirector.net/?n=3127987&s=99624509=player_embedded) along with some comments which are the group’s opinions and not necessarily those of anyone at FactCheck.org).
Public Funds
The Capps amendment does contain a statement – as we noted in an earlier article (http://factcheck.org/2009/07/surgery-for-seniors-vs-abortions) – that prohibits the use of public money to pay for abortions, except in cases of rape, incest and to save the life of the mother. That would still allow the public plan to cover all abortions, so long as the plans took in enough private money in the form of premiums paid by individuals or their employers. The Capps language also would allow private plans purchased with federal subsidies ("affordability credits" for low-income families and workers) to cover abortion.
Broader language was contained in an amendment offered by Democratic Rep. Bart Stupak of Michigan (http://www.energycommerce.house.gov/Press_111/20090731/hr3200_stupak_1.pdf) the day after the Capps amendment was approved. The Stupak amendment would have overruled Capps and prohibited government funding of "any part of the costs of any health plan that includes coverage of abortion," except in cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother. The Stupak amendment was rejected by the committee 27 - 31 (http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_111/20090731/hr3200_stupak_1_rc.pdf).
Supporters of abortion rights argue that this would cause some women who now have abortion coverage to lose it, by forcing private insurance companies to drop abortion coverage from plans so that they can be purchased with the help of federal subsidies. For example, NARAL Pro-Choice America states (http://blogforchoice.com/archives/2009/08/the-truth-about.html):
NARAL: Anti-choice members of Congress aren’t satisfied with the Capps compromise. They want to impose a new nationwide abortion ban in the private health-insurance market by prohibiting such coverage in the new health-care system – thus taking away coverage from women who already have it.
We can’t predict how many insurance plans might be affected by the Stupak language. And we take no stand on whether all abortions should or should not be covered.
As for the House bill as it stands now, it’s a matter of fact that it would allow both a "public plan" and newly subsidized private plans to cover all abortions.
– by Brooks Jackson
Sources
U.S. House. "H.R. 3200 (http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&docid=f:h3200ih.txt.pdf)." (as introduced 14 Jul 2009.)
National Right to Life. "Obama Says ‘Government Funding of Abortion’ is ‘Fabrication,’
(http://nrlc.org/press_releases_new/Release081909.html)
But the White House-Backed House Bill Explicitly Authorizes It
(http://nrlc.org/press_releases_new/Release081909.html)." press release. 19 Aug 2009.
Capps amendment to H.R. 3200
(http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_111/20090730/hr3200_capps_1.pdf) . House
Energy and Commerce Committee. 30 Jul 2009.
Stupak amendment to H.R. 3200 (http://www.energycommerce.house.gov/Press_111/20090731/hr3200_stupak_1.pdf). House
Energy and Commerce Committee. 31 Jul 2009.
NARAL Pro-Choice America. "The Truth About Abortion and Health Reform (http://blogforchoice.com/archives/2009/08/the-truth-about.html)." Blog for Choice. 14 Aug 2009.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Subject: Hearts and Laws Should Change
Some people say that the solution to the abortion problem is to change people’s hearts.
In fact, changing people’s hearts is the solution to every problem that the world faces.
But that doesn’t mean that we don’t have laws. The fact is that while there are people around whose hearts are not in the right place, there have to be laws to restrain their heartless activities. As Martin Luther King Jr. said, the law cannot get the white man to love me, but it can stop him from lynching me.We also should not overlook the power that laws have to shape minds and hearts. When our children learn in school that something is legal, they are learning that such a thing is right. Whether regarding abortion or anything else, both hearts and laws must be changed.
–Fr. Frank Pavone (Priests for Life)
In fact, changing people’s hearts is the solution to every problem that the world faces.
But that doesn’t mean that we don’t have laws. The fact is that while there are people around whose hearts are not in the right place, there have to be laws to restrain their heartless activities. As Martin Luther King Jr. said, the law cannot get the white man to love me, but it can stop him from lynching me.We also should not overlook the power that laws have to shape minds and hearts. When our children learn in school that something is legal, they are learning that such a thing is right. Whether regarding abortion or anything else, both hearts and laws must be changed.
–Fr. Frank Pavone (Priests for Life)
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Friend, you need to ACT NOW to stop stealth-FOCA!
Hi everyone,
Here is another very important message from Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests for Life with urgent information about FOCA. Please read this and take immediate action.
Friends,
This is without question among the most urgent messages I’ve ever sent you.
Unless you want to pay for abortionists to kill the youngest members of our human family, you must take these two actions immediately:
1. Contact your lawmakers in Washington!
In case you don’t know, under the guise of "health care reform" Congress is about to pass a stealth version of the Freedom of Choice Act! And to make matters worse, they will force YOU to pay for the killings that will follow!
Make no mistake. The "health care reform" bills being finalized in Congress will set off a chain reaction that will result in a massive expansion of abortion!
That’s because unless Congress explicitly states that abortion is excluded, it will be regarded as "an essential benefit" for Americans. Once that’s done, insurance companies would be forced to cover elective abortions which would in turn force local health networks to recruit and hire abortionists.
And to make matters even worse, because these would be federal mandates …
… state laws that now restrict abortion will probably be overturned!
As I said, this is FOCA in disguise!
Which is why it is so critically important that you:
Contact your lawmakers in Washington … RIGHT NOW!
Your action is needed because Barack Obama and the Abortion Congress want to ram this through Congress BEFORE the people of life can rise up to stop it.
And they will succeed unless YOU take action. Don’t leave this up to "someone else." Call your two U.S. Senators and your House Representative and urge them to explicitly exclude abortion funding from health care reform legislation.
I know we can win this fight. We proved that earlier this year when we helped mobilize the people of life to oppose the Freedom of Choice Act.
We won that battle … and we can win this one, too.
But only if we ACT NOW and make our voices heard in Washington. Time is of the essence!
Obama is putting enormous pressure on Congress to pass his "health care reform" as quickly as possible. He originally wanted it passed before lawmakers left on their August recess. Only fast action by Priests for Life and other pro-life activists kept that from happening.
Stung by that setback, the pro-abortion leaders of Congress are now out there selling the "health care reform" package to voters. But one thing they aren’t telling anybody is how this measure will all but mandate abortion-on-demand … and force you and every other taxpayer to pay for it!
So we’ve got to sound the alarm far and wide and convince our fellow Americans to DEMAND that Congress keep any "health care reform" bill abortion-neutral!
Priests for Life is sparing no expense to do just that. We are using every means of communication at our disposal to rally pro-life America to action: TV, radio, Internet, parish visits, resources for clergy, newspaper articles, tele-conferences, letter writing campaigns, postcards … you name it.
To be successful it is critically important that you TAKE THESE THREE ACTION NOW:
1. Contact your two U.S. Senators and Representative. You can either click here: www.capwiz.com/nrlc/issues/alert/?alertid=13157881&type=CO to send them an email, or call them, or both. You’ll need to make three calls: One to your Representative in the House (switchboard 202-225-3121) and one to each of your two U.S. Senators (switchboard 202-224-3121). Ask the operator to connect you to the appropriate lawmaker’s office.
2. Click here www.priestsforlife.org/prayercampaign to join our prayer campaign. Let’s join prayer power to our lobbying voices, and let us know on this page that you have contacted your lawmakers and that you will say the daily prayer we’ve prepared. In this way, when I visit our lawmakers in Washington, I will know how many of our Priests for Life family members have already contacted Congress.
Again, though, the key is for you TAKE ACTION NOW … before you move on to your next email. Believe me, there is nothing that is more important for you to do right now than this.
And if I may ask you one more favor. Each year I survey our supporters to learn how we can serve their needs more effectively. Would you take a moment and fill out the short survey I’ve placed at www.priestsforlife.org/survey. It is very important to me to know what you’re thinking about our ministry!
Thank you and God bless.
Fr. Frank Pavone
National Director, Priests for Life and Gospel of Life Ministries
PS. In case you think I’m exaggerating the situation, pro-life Congressman Chris Smith calls Obama’s so-called "health care" plan the "greatest threat to the unborn since Roe v. Wade." He is so concerned, in fact, that he sent a letter to his fellow Congressmen in which he cited quotes from pro-abortion groups that state their goal of using health care reform as a tool to expand access to abortion. He also quoted Barack Obama from a Q&A session at a Planned Parenthood Action Fund Event in July 2007: "In my mind reproductive care is essential care, basic care so it is at the center, the heart of the [health care] plan that I propose." Now that you know the truth … TAKE ACTION!
Here is another very important message from Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests for Life with urgent information about FOCA. Please read this and take immediate action.
Friends,
This is without question among the most urgent messages I’ve ever sent you.
Unless you want to pay for abortionists to kill the youngest members of our human family, you must take these two actions immediately:
1. Contact your lawmakers in Washington!
In case you don’t know, under the guise of "health care reform" Congress is about to pass a stealth version of the Freedom of Choice Act! And to make matters worse, they will force YOU to pay for the killings that will follow!
Make no mistake. The "health care reform" bills being finalized in Congress will set off a chain reaction that will result in a massive expansion of abortion!
That’s because unless Congress explicitly states that abortion is excluded, it will be regarded as "an essential benefit" for Americans. Once that’s done, insurance companies would be forced to cover elective abortions which would in turn force local health networks to recruit and hire abortionists.
And to make matters even worse, because these would be federal mandates …
… state laws that now restrict abortion will probably be overturned!
As I said, this is FOCA in disguise!
Which is why it is so critically important that you:
Contact your lawmakers in Washington … RIGHT NOW!
Your action is needed because Barack Obama and the Abortion Congress want to ram this through Congress BEFORE the people of life can rise up to stop it.
And they will succeed unless YOU take action. Don’t leave this up to "someone else." Call your two U.S. Senators and your House Representative and urge them to explicitly exclude abortion funding from health care reform legislation.
I know we can win this fight. We proved that earlier this year when we helped mobilize the people of life to oppose the Freedom of Choice Act.
We won that battle … and we can win this one, too.
But only if we ACT NOW and make our voices heard in Washington. Time is of the essence!
Obama is putting enormous pressure on Congress to pass his "health care reform" as quickly as possible. He originally wanted it passed before lawmakers left on their August recess. Only fast action by Priests for Life and other pro-life activists kept that from happening.
Stung by that setback, the pro-abortion leaders of Congress are now out there selling the "health care reform" package to voters. But one thing they aren’t telling anybody is how this measure will all but mandate abortion-on-demand … and force you and every other taxpayer to pay for it!
So we’ve got to sound the alarm far and wide and convince our fellow Americans to DEMAND that Congress keep any "health care reform" bill abortion-neutral!
Priests for Life is sparing no expense to do just that. We are using every means of communication at our disposal to rally pro-life America to action: TV, radio, Internet, parish visits, resources for clergy, newspaper articles, tele-conferences, letter writing campaigns, postcards … you name it.
To be successful it is critically important that you TAKE THESE THREE ACTION NOW:
1. Contact your two U.S. Senators and Representative. You can either click here: www.capwiz.com/nrlc/issues/alert/?alertid=13157881&type=CO to send them an email, or call them, or both. You’ll need to make three calls: One to your Representative in the House (switchboard 202-225-3121) and one to each of your two U.S. Senators (switchboard 202-224-3121). Ask the operator to connect you to the appropriate lawmaker’s office.
2. Click here www.priestsforlife.org/prayercampaign to join our prayer campaign. Let’s join prayer power to our lobbying voices, and let us know on this page that you have contacted your lawmakers and that you will say the daily prayer we’ve prepared. In this way, when I visit our lawmakers in Washington, I will know how many of our Priests for Life family members have already contacted Congress.
Again, though, the key is for you TAKE ACTION NOW … before you move on to your next email. Believe me, there is nothing that is more important for you to do right now than this.
And if I may ask you one more favor. Each year I survey our supporters to learn how we can serve their needs more effectively. Would you take a moment and fill out the short survey I’ve placed at www.priestsforlife.org/survey. It is very important to me to know what you’re thinking about our ministry!
Thank you and God bless.
Fr. Frank Pavone
National Director, Priests for Life and Gospel of Life Ministries
PS. In case you think I’m exaggerating the situation, pro-life Congressman Chris Smith calls Obama’s so-called "health care" plan the "greatest threat to the unborn since Roe v. Wade." He is so concerned, in fact, that he sent a letter to his fellow Congressmen in which he cited quotes from pro-abortion groups that state their goal of using health care reform as a tool to expand access to abortion. He also quoted Barack Obama from a Q&A session at a Planned Parenthood Action Fund Event in July 2007: "In my mind reproductive care is essential care, basic care so it is at the center, the heart of the [health care] plan that I propose." Now that you know the truth … TAKE ACTION!
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