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An abortion amendment, the race to 218, and Christian radio on fire
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Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (AP Photo)
Victory Update: The Stupak-Pitts amendment that prevents federal and taxpayer dollars from funding abortion under HR 3962 has passed 240-194. The breakdown: 176 out of 177 Republicans voted Yea, 1 Republican voted "present" - Congressman John Shadegg (AZ-3) will take heat for that; 64 Democrats out of 258 voted Yea, 194 Democrats voted No. The next battle will be keeping this language in the final House-Senate conference bill if or when the Senate passes their health care bill. Nancy Pelosi's HR 3962 is expected to pass later tonight.
Here is the link to the ACLJ's press release on this important pro-life victory.
You may think we're exaggerating on Christian radio when we ask you to "join the fight" by calling your representatives and signing our petitions. Early this morning, around 1 a.m., all the petitions, phone calls, and grassroots activism paid off. Today, when the House debates HR 3962, the Stupak-Pitts pro-life amendment will receive an up or down vote. Nancy Pelosi and pro-abortion Democrats buckled at the last minute in their race to gather the necessary 218 votes to pass HR 3962 later tonight.
Why? Because you signed petitions, made phone calls, and let your voice be heard.
Last night, a Southern congressman told Politico that, "Christian radio was aflame" in opposition to HR 3962 because it would allow federal dollars to pay for abortion on demand. This is why we ask you to join the petitions and make those phone calls. Abortion is not just a wedge issue for elections; it's an issue that both Republicans, Democrats, and Independents care deeply about. Nancy Pelosi did not want a vote today on Stupak-Pitts but, because of you, there will be one.
The Stupak-Pitts amendment is simple. Like the often discussed Hyde Amendment which bars taxpayer and federal funds from paying for abortions under Department of Health and Human Services' programs like Medicaid, Stupak-Pitts would incorporate the same language to bar the use of federal funds for abortion under HR 3962.
First, I want to say thank you to the over 168,000 ACLJ members who signed our petition calling on Nancy Pelosi to allow a vote on this lifesaving amendment. Now, you have an opportunity to engage this specific fight again. Stupak-Pitts can pass today if the pressure and heat remain on moderate pro-life Democrats.
Here is the list (with phone numbers), prepared by ACLJ Director of Government Affairs Thann Bennett this morning, of Democrat representatives that need to receive phone calls this morning and afternoon reminding them to vote for the Stupak-Pitts amendment and the consequences for not doing so.
The ACLJ is against HR 3962 and the proposed government takeover of health care for various reasons, but our first priority in this battle is the protection of life. Preventing taxpayer and federal dollars form funding abortion would be a victory for pro-life activists across the country, an affirmation of the work we all do.
If Nancy Pelosi gets to 218 tonight and HR 3962 passes, it won't be a good night for those of us who want less government in our life. But, if Stupak-Pitts is attached to HR 3962, those of us in the pro-life activist community will know that we did our part in the battle to preserve the life of the unborn.
Jordan Sekulow is the Director of International Operations at the American Center for Law and Justice and co-host of Jay Sekulow Live. For more information visit www.ACLJ.org or follow Jordan on Twitter.
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