Abortion a Powerful Issue in Congress
Just a little over a year ago, the issue of taxpayer funding of abortion almost doomed the passage of Obamacare. It’s hard to forget the valiant effort put up for months by Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mi) and a band of Democrats — abortion had to come out or they would not support Obamacare. At the very last moment, Stupak caved when Obama issued a phony Executive Order stating there would be no abortion coverage. We were all outraged by this reversal, and many of those Democrats lost their seats. Stupak himself decided not to seek re-election.
Fast forward to last week and a similar scenario. The stakes were incredibly high as negotiators for the House, Senate and the President worked feverishly for a deal that would prevent a government shutdown. What was the holdup? Once again — abortion. Republican leaders were insisting that as part of the government funding measure for the remainder of the 2011 fiscal year, taxpayer dollars to Planned Parenthood had to be eliminated. Obama and Reid said no deal — they were willing to give up billions in spending cuts to hold on to dollars for Planned Parenthood. A major article in today’s Wall Street Journal states that Obama was willing to shut down the government so that Planned Parenthood could remain on the taxpayer’s dole. Amazing!
Very soon, three huge measures dealing with abortion will be voted upon in Congress:
1. The No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, H.R.3, will get a vote in the House this week.
2. The Senate will vote on a measure to defund Planned Parenthood. This bill has already passed in the House.
3. The Senate will vote on a measure to repeal Obamacare. This bill has already passed in the House.
Wisconsin Right to Life is humbled and gratified that our elected officials, even after almost four decades, recognize that the assault on unborn children through abortion is a powerful cultural issue which will not go away. It is truly the human rights cause of our times and we are proud to be at the center of it.
Barbara Lyons