This isn’t about the legality of abortion, but whether they should be paid for on the public’s dime. Right now, it isn’t–not even under Medicaid. But if the Dems have their way, abortion will be covered by the “public” insurance “option”–and government subsidies will pay for it in private plans. From the story:
Instead of the Stupak-Pitts amendment [preventing abortion funding in public option], the committee passed an amendment that is being billed by some Democrats as a “common ground” measure on abortion. The amendment–sponsored by Lois Capps (D-Calif.), whose National Right to Life Committee vote-scorecard is 0 for 74–would allow the “public option” to provide coverage for elective abortions and would allow federally subsidized private plans to provide abortion coverage as well. How exactly could this be construed as “common ground”? Congress isn’t requiring the public option to cover abortion–merely allowing it. And through some nifty bookkeeping, abortions will supposedly be paid for out of private funds rather than tax dollars…
Because money is fungible, it’s difficult to say that tax dollars wouldn’t fund abortions through this plan. Douglas Johnson of the National Right to Life Committee says, “Federal subsidies would also flow to private plans that cover elective abortions, under meaningless bookkeeping schemes — and the amendment actually creates a federal mandate that there must be at least one private abortion plan in each premium rating areas of the health insurance exchange.”
A health unwanted pregnancy is not an illness. When a woman decides to terminate that pregnancy, it should be her (and/or the father’s) responsibility, just like elective cosmetic surgery. This turn of events also illustrates how health care reform isn’t just about expanding medical coverage–but about impacting the culture.
Where does the president stand? He could kill this with a quick phone call or a public utterance. But he is silent. I never believed his promise to bridge cultural divides–validated when he silently and needlessly revoked President Bush’s “alternatives” stem cell federal funding requirement. Nor do I believe his stated intention to reduce the number of abortions- which government funding would increase. But I could still be proved wrong on both counts. Time for the president to reveal his hand.
August 2nd, 2009 | 2:22 pm
LEAD, FOLLOW, OR GET OUT OF THE WAY. (Thomas Paine)
We have the 37th worst quality of healthcare in the developed world. Conservative estimates are that over 120,000 of you dies each year in America from treatable illness that people in other developed countries don’t die from. Rich, middle class, and poor a like. Insured and uninsured. Men, women, children, and babies. This is what being 37th in quality of healthcare means.
I know that many of you are angry and frustrated that REPUBLICANS! In congress are dragging their feet and trying to block TRUE healthcare reform. What republicans want is just a taxpayer bailout of the DISGRACEFUL GREED DRIVEN PRIVATE FOR PROFIT health insurance industry, and the DISGRACEFUL GREED DRIVEN PRIVATE FOR PROFIT healthcare industry. A trillion dollar taxpayer funded private health insurance bailout is all you really get without a robust government-run public option available on day one. Co-OP’s ARE NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR A GOVERNMENT-RUN PUBLIC OPTION. They are a fraud being pushed by the GREED DRIVEN PRIVATE FOR PROFIT health insurance industry that is KILLING YOU!
YOU CANT HAVE AN INSURANCE MANDATE WITHOUT A ROBUST PUBLIC OPTION. MANDATING PRIVATE FOR PROFIT HEALTH INSURANCE AS YOUR ONLY CHOICE WOULD BE A DISASTER AND UNETHICAL, CORRUPT, AND MORALLY REPUGNANT. AND PROBABLY UNCONSTITUTIONAL AS WELL.
These industries have been slaughtering you and your loved ones like cattle for decades for profit. Including members of congress and their families. These REPUBLICANS are FOOLS!
Republicans and their traitorous allies have been trying to make it look like it’s President Obama’s fault for the delays, and foot dragging. But I think you all know better than that. President Obama inherited one of the worst government catastrophes in American history from these REPUBLICANS! And President Obama has done a brilliant job of turning things around, and working his heart out for all of us.
But Republicans think you are just a bunch of stupid, idiot, cash cows with short memories. Just like they did under the Bush administration when they helped Bush and Cheney rape America and the rest of the World.
But you don’t have to put up with that. And this is what you can do. The Republicans below will be up for reelection on November 2, 2010. Just a little over 13 months from now. And many of you will be able to vote early. So pick some names and tell their voters that their representatives (by name) are obstructing TRUE healthcare reform. And are sellouts to the insurance and medical lobbyist.
Ask them to contact their representatives and tell them that they are going to work to throw them out of office on November 2, 2010, if not before by impeachment, or recall elections. Doing this will give you something more to do to make things better in America. And it will make you feel better too.
There are many resources on the internet that can help you find people to call and contact. For example, many social networking sites can be searched by state, city, or University. Be inventive and creative. I can think of many ways to do this. But be nice. These are your neighbors. And most will want to help.
I know there are a few democrats that have been trying to obstruct TRUE healthcare reform too. But the main problem is the Bush Republicans. Removing them is the best thing tactically to do. On the other hand. If you can easily replace a democrat obstructionist with a supportive democrat, DO IT!
You have been AMAZING!!! my people. Don’t loose heart. You knew it wasn’t going to be easy saving the World. :-)
God Bless You
jacksmith — Working Class
I REST MY CASE (http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/25/why-markets-cant-cure-healthcare/)
Republican Senators up for re-election in 2010.
* Richard Shelby of Alabama
* Lisa Murkowski of Alaska
* John McCain of Arizona
* Mel Martinez of Florida
* Johnny Isakson of Georgia
* Mike Crapo of Idaho
* Chuck Grassley of Iowa
* Sam Brownback of Kansas
* Jim Bunning of Kentucky
* David Vitter of Louisiana
* Kit Bond of Missouri
* Judd Gregg of New Hampshire
* Richard Burr of North Carolina
* George Voinovich of Ohio
* Tom Coburn of Oklahoma
* Jim DeMint of South Carolina
* John Thune of South Dakota
* Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas
* Bob Bennett of Utah
August 2nd, 2009 | 5:01 pm
Absolutely Jack. But don’t underestimate the democrats roll in obstructing health care reform. The dems and repubs are two cheeks of the same corporate ass.
August 2nd, 2009 | 5:13 pm
Obama supports it wholeheartedly.
In July 2007 Obama told Planned Parenthood that “reproductive care is essential care, basic care, so it is at the center, the heart of the plan I propose.” Private insurers will “have to abide by the same rules in terms of providing comprehensive care, including reproductive care…” The Obama administration says “reproductive care” includes abortion. So he supports it. No doubt about it.
August 2nd, 2009 | 10:47 pm
@Don
> reproductive care is essential care
When care gets redefined to be murder, then who wants health “care”?
August 2nd, 2009 | 11:33 pm
Jacksmith-what does that have to do with abortion? Moreover, I want healthcare reform, but I don’t want it rushed through congress without people bothering to read it. ie, I don’t mind paying taxes to cover people’s medical care, but I do mind doing so if I find out that my grandmother can’t get an MRI, a hip replacement or the cancer treatment she needs because she’s too old, yet a twenty year old woman is entitled to an elective abortion on my dime. That’s not even an anti-abortion stance per se, although I’m pro life-it has to do with the senior citizen’s life and not funding elective procedures when someone else needs a procedure to save his or her life. And, just so everyone’s clear, this post is talking about elective abortion, not those rare cases when a woman’s life is in jeopardy, so the two procedures are not comparable in their impact on saving someone’s life.
August 3rd, 2009 | 11:12 am
Jacksmith,
The republicans and other opponents of “hurry up and pass” health care are not trying to blame Obama for dragging his feet, they are trying to slow him down and stop him. They are accusing him of trying to ram the proposal through before people figure out how bad it is going to be to them and the country in terms of cost and impact on them. They don’t want government funded abortions. They don’t want rationed care. They don’t want bureaucrats getting between them and their doctors. They don’t want the kind of counseling SHS has been describing. They don’t want doctors’ conscience’s violated. For all the bluster all these years from the same people supporting this that legislators and bureaucrats shouldn’t play doctor, this effort to legislate medical care shows that this argument was a ruse all along.
When people like you start going to Cuba, Canada, England and etc for your health care, then I’ll take your claim that we die here of so many maladies that they don’t die of in other countries more seriously. SHS has documented well enough the impact rationing has had in other countries.
As to posting the names of politicians you don’t like, those guys aren’t the ones who are in fear of their careers in 2010. The people who need to worry are those supporting this bill, not opposing it. Obama was on a tour the other day. Notably missing with him at some events were other Democrat officials.
Ralph Davis, I’m not sure what you meant. Sorry.
August 4th, 2009 | 10:01 am
[...] amendment to allow taxpayer funding for abortions Story from the Weekly Standard. (H/T Secondhand Smoke via [...]
August 19th, 2009 | 11:31 am
Jack: Wow. All I can say is that I’m glad I can appreciate irony.
Actually Don, I don’t recall who the person was but I once heard someone — an American — marvel at the “free” care they received while abroad in Europe. It wasn’t really free, they basically robbed the people of that country. They may have put in a little tourist money before coming back to the homeland, but nothing like laboring and paying taxes year after year. I’m sure if they realized that they would be embarrassed.
August 19th, 2009 | 11:38 am
Oh yes, the real reason I wanted to comment…
If this passes, God forbid, I’ll double every dime the IRS squeezes out of me for Birthright. I’m on record and you can hold me to it.
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