September 25, 2009
Congressman Ellsworth asks house leaders for stronger language against abortion
When President Obama addressed Congress on September 9th to discuss health care reform and put to rest any misguided information that was circulating he again stated that “no federal dollars will be used to fund abortions.” Despite the inclusion of the Hyde and Capps amendments many pro-life Americans believe the current proposals leave open the possibility that government funding may go towards abortions.
ANALYSIS
By EMILY SNIPES (Catholic Charities, Diocese of Evansville)
Richard Doerflinger, associate director of pro-life activities at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, explained, “The Hyde amendment in current law prevents federal funding of abortion and of any benefits package that includes abortion (except for very rare circumstances such as danger to the mother’s life and cases of rape or incest). The House bill does the opposite: Federal subsidies can be used for entire packages that include elective abortions, but the plans that include such abortions will simply state that $1 a month is the cost of the abortions and that this comes from the private premium dollars. But there would be no real separation. The federal subsidies would be setting up the entire system and lining up its provider network of abortion practitioners, so federal funds (and everyone’s premiums in the plan, whether they like it or not) would be facilitating abortions.”
In what can be described as a positive step to protect federal taxpayer dollars from being used to fund abortion, Congress-man Brad Ellsworth, D-Ind., wrote a letter to U.S. House leaders on September 16 along with Congressman Bobby Bright, D-Ala. In it they urged leaders to continue working with authors of the House bill to ensure that “the deeply-held beliefs of millions of Americans opposed to abortion are fully and unequivocally represented.”
In their letter both Congress-men applauded the Capps Amendment for prohibiting private health insurance plans to cover abortions, which passed the House Energy and Com-merce Committee by a vote of 30-28 in July 2009. Many still worry that both the Capps and Hyde Amendments give a false impression that public funds will not subsidize abortion.
In fact the Capps Amendment permits Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of the Health and Human Services Department, to include abortion in the services offered by the public option and requires abortion coverage in the government health plan if the Hyde amendment is ever reversed.
Despite the on-going debate Ellsworth felt it was necessary to approach House leaders and request that changes be made earlier in the legislative process to “define the standard used to ensure federal subsidies are not used to purchase coverage for abortions.”
In the past Ellsworth has taken some criticism as labeling himself pro-life but not taking a clear stand on issues, including not signing a letter with other House members to President Obama urging him to withdraw his support for the Freedom of Choice Act. Recently Ellsworth has been considered one of the key Demo-crats in the country that might not vote with his party regarding health care reform.
What motivated Ellsworth to take a strong stand on the health care debate and abortion was what he heard from consti-tuents. Ellsworth stated, “Over the summer, I heard from thousands of Hoosiers who believe, as I do, that we can honor human life while protecting it from injury and disease. I have taken these concerns up with the House leadership, urging them to make the changes and clarifications in the health care reform bill to ensure taxpayers are not forced to fund abortion and Americans have access to pro-life insurance options for the health care coverage.”
In southwestern Indiana, a large number of Catholic constituents spoke out in August and September making their voices heard at Ellsworth’s Evansville office. Many scheduled meetings with him including Bishop Gerald A. Gettelfinger and Glenn Tebbe, executive director of the Indiana Catholic Conference.
Tebbe remarked that “Pro-life Democrats must play a pivotal role in the outcome of healthcare reform; it is good to see Rep. Ellsworth taking a strong stand. His voice is important if abortion is to be excluded from the bill.”