Obamacare: Dems Move to “Allow” Abortion Coverage in Public Plan

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.