Clapham Community

Special Update For Clapham Community Readers:

Over the weekend the last vote needed to close debate and schedule a final vote for the senate health care bill was secured. Democrat Senator Ben Nelson from Nebraska was the final hold-out that senate majority leader Harry Reid needed to secure the 60 votes needed to avoid a republican filibuster. Sen. Nelson initially withheld his support for the bill because of the weak language concerning the use of federal funds to support abortion. After heavy negotiations and concessions by the majority leader, Sen. Nelson saw his way to vote to close debate.

It is important to understand that the language changes to the abortion provisions of the bill are not complete and still allow for federal funds to go to pay for elective abortions. The actual language of the amendment proposed by Sen. Reid to accommodate Sen. Nelson’s concerns has been analyzed by the legislative staff of the National Right to Life Committee. According to their analysis:

This statement represents NRLC’s initial assessment of changes made in the 2,074-page Reid bill by the 383-page manager’s amendment. NRLC will issue more detailed analysis later that will speak to other objectionable elements of the revised Reid legislation, pertaining to other policy issues of concern to NRLC. Regarding the abortion language, however, we can already say that the Reid language is completely unacceptable for reasons that include the following:

• The language violates the principles of the Hyde Amendment by requiring the federal government to pay premiums for private health plans that will cover any or all abortions. The federal subsidies would be subject to a convoluted bookkeeping requirement…

• The so-called “firewall” between federal funds and private funds is merely a bookkeeping gimmick, inconsistent with the long-established principles that govern existing federal health programs, such as the Hyde Amendment. Moreover, the Reid “firewall” is made of rice paper – it exists only so long as the annual appropriations bill for the Department of Health and Human Services continues to contain the Hyde Amendment.

• At any future date when the congressional appropriators and/or the President decide to block renewal of the Hyde Amendment, the Reid bookkeeping requirements would automatically evaporate, and insurers could pay for elective abortions with the federal subsidies without even bookkeeping requirements.

These are just a few of the objections posted in the NRLC findings. Please do not rely on traditional media outlets that are likely to spin the compromise as a victory for life. Stay informed and continue to put pressure on your senators to vote against the bill.

To contact your senator and to let them know that you dont support this bill click here.

Print Friendly