The 2,074-page health-care proposal by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., contains a monthly "abortion premium" just like the House plan originally endorsed by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., according to House Minority Leader Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio.
"Health-care reform should not be used as an opportunity to use federal funds to pay for elective abortions," he said on a blog posting this morning. "Health reform should be an opportunity to protect human life – not end it – and the American people agree. House Republicans have offered a common-sense, responsible solution that would reduce health-care costs and expand access while protecting the dignity of all human life."
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The issue of taxpayer funding for abortion in the Democratic plan has been contentious, with many moderate Democrats who recognize their constituents oppose it concerned about the political injury they could suffer.
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Members of the GOP largely have opposed the health-care plan for a multitude of reasons, including abortion funding.
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Today, Boehner confirmed, "Just like the original 2,032-page, government-run health-care plan from Speaker Nancy Pelosi … Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's massive, 2,074-page bill would levy a new 'abortion premium' fee on Americans in the government-run plan.
"Beginning on line 7, p. 118, section 1303 under 'Voluntary Choice of Coverage of Abortion Services' the Health and Human Services Secretary is given the authority to determine when abortion is allowed under the government-run health plan. Leader Reid's plan also requires that at least one insurance plan offered in the Exchange covers abortions (line 13, p. 120)," Boehner cited.
"What is even more alarming is that a monthly abortion premium will be charged of all enrollees in the government-run health plan. It's right there beginning on line 11, page 122, section 1303, under 'Actuarial Value of Optional Service Coverage.' The premium will be paid into a U.S. Treasury account – and these federal funds will be used to pay for the abortion services.
"Currently, federal appropriations bills include language known as the Hyde Amendment that prohibits the use of federal funds to pay for elective abortions under the Medicare and Medicaid programs, while another provision, known as the Smith Amendment, prohibits federal funding of abortion under the federal employees' health benefits plan," Boehner said.
"Leader Reid's 2,074-page health-care monstrosity is an affront to the American people and drastically moves away from current policy. The National Right to Life Committee has called the Reid abortion language 'completely unacceptable.' The American people deserve more from their government than being forced to pay for abortion," he said.
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The pro-life Stupak/Pitts amendment, which was approved in the House 240-194, would codify current practice, but Reid "ignores the will of a bipartisan majority of the House, and indeed the American people," Boehner said.
Boehner has predicted the House simply will not support Obamacare if it doesn't have a ban on public funding of abortions. The plan earned only the narrowest of victories, 220-215, in the House only after the Stupak/Pitts abortion funding prohibition was added.
