AP Blows Congressional Cover-Up of Abortion Coverage in Obamacare

AP has blown the cover-up so carefully crafted in the House Energy and Commerce Committee allowing supporters of Obamacare to “claim” that a compromise on abortion acceptable to both sides has been reached. The AP headline says it all: “Gov’t insurance would allow coverage for abortion.”

This story is a must-read because it carefully and accurately explains the “compromise” and how it would “recast federal policy on the divisive issue.” The story says: “It [Obamacare] would allow the public plan to cover abortion but without using federal funds, only dollars from beneficiary premiums. Likewise, private plans in the new insurance exchange could opt to cover abortion, but no federal subsidies would be used to pay for the procedure.” National Right to Life Legislative Director Douglas Johnson responds: “It’s a sham. The plan pays for abortion, and the government subsidizes the plan.”

The other ruse being used by pro-abortion supporters is that the Hyde Amendment would prohibit taxpayer funding of abortion in Obamacare. The AP story blows the lid off this spin by explaining that “the health overhaul would create a stream of federal funding not covered by the [Hyde] restrictions.”

Lost in the debate over Obamacare is congressional action through the appropriations process to allow use of federal tax dollars to pay for abortions for federal employees and residents of the District of Columbia. Although the outcome is not clear at this time, it is fascinating — Congress is working to re-authorize the Hyde Amendment to prohibit payment for abortions for recipients of Medicaid, while taking money out of our pockets to subsidize abortions for themselves and their employees and the people of the District. Hmmmm.

I give anyone reading this blog permission to duly report me to flag@whitehouse.gov for the “fishy” speech it contains. I plan to turn in all of the people who sent this story to me, especially reporter Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar.

Read the full AP story here.

Barbara Lyons