A Pro Life victory: the Stupak amendment passed

November 8, 8:20 PMOrlando Roman Catholic ExaminerMaria Mederos

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Lights on at the US Capitol as the House of Representatives vote on the Stupak amendment.
(AP Photo: Alex Brandon)

A ProLife amendment to remove abortion funding from the universal healthcare plan passed Saturday night at the House of Representatives.  The amendment was proposed by Rep. Bart Stupak, a Michigan Democrat.  It passed with 240 votes over 194 opposed. 

The bill is to operate in similar fashion to the Hyde amendment, which forbids federal funding for abortions, though supporters of abortion rights claim that the Stupak amendment places further restrictions than the current Hyde amendment.

The Pro Choice movement considered the passing of the Stupak amendment as 'the biggest setback to women's reproductive rights in decades,' while Marjorie Dannenfelser, President of the Susan B. Anthony List, considered it 'a great victory for the pro-life movement.'

The Catholic News Agency reports that Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, stated that the passing of this amendment was 'a huge pro-life victory for women, their unborn children, and families.' Dr. Charmaine Yoest, president of Americans United for Life said that: 'The bipartisan effort that led to its passage, under the leadership of Congressmen Bart Stupak and Joe Pitts, is a step toward a future where both political parties defend Life.'

The US Conference of Catholic Bishops [USCCB] endorsed the amendment a few hours prior to the voting.  This endorsement clearly gave it a bit of momentum as Catholics flooded their representatives with calls and emails to vote for the amendment.

The amendment will forbid the use of government funding through the 'public option' to cover abortions.  It will also prohibit those who receive federal premium subsidies from using these to purchase insurance plans with abortion coverage. An exception clause was included for cases of rape, incest or danger to the mother's life.

Let us stand together on principle - no public funding for abortions, no public funding for insurance policies that pay for abortions. [Rep. Bart Stupak, Democrat from Michigan]

The amendment does not forbid anyone from buying private insurance plans that include abortion coverage, as long as federal funds are not used for this purpose. Also, those with federal subsidies may purchase, with their own funds, separate coverage in the form of private insurance policies with abortion coverage to supplement their insurance needs. This obliges insurance companies to offer both versions of insurance -with and without abortion coverage.

Abortion coverage is widely available in the private insurance market currently.  In fact, Erica Werner from Associated Press claims that about 87% of employer-provided insurance plans cover abortions, according to the Guttmacher Institute. She also said that Planned Parenthood revealed that the cost of a first-trimester abortion is typically between $350 -$900.  

Stupak's Anti-Abortion Amendment passes the House

A similar amendment is pending in the Senate, though the wording is said to be much less restrictive than the Stupak amendment.  The bills from the House and the Senate must be reconciled before the final bill is ratified into law.

For other similar stories:

Catholics and healthcare reform

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For more information:

On the actual wording of the Stupak Amendment:
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/15284081/Stupak-Amendment-to-HR-3962-Rev-108

On the USCCB letter of endorsement:
http://www.usccb.org/comm/archives/2009/09-229.shtml