The Senate Finance Committee has defeated pro-life and conscience amendments to a healthcare reform measure.
Senators writing a healthcare overhaul bill on Wednesday rejected a bid to strengthen pro-life provisions already in the legislation, in a vote that could have far-reaching repercussions. The 13-10 vote by the Committee could threaten support for healthcare overhaul from some Catholics who back its broad goal of expanding coverage. (More details) Mary Harned, staff counsel with Americans United for Life (AUL), says pro-life forces were hoping to demonstrate to the White House and to Congress their concern about how tax dollars are spent. She describes the amendment that was defeated. "Basically what the amendment would have done is that it would have insured that there was no federal money for abortion in the Senate finance bill and that there was no mandate for abortion coverage," she says. Recent polls, including one from Rasmussen, show the public does not want federal tax dollars used for abortion. By the same vote, the Committee also voted down an amendment that would have prevented discrimination against medical entities and individuals that refuse services on the basis of ethics or religious beliefs. "Unless there's that kind of protection in this legislation, if it becomes law, then some people might ultimately have to choose between providing healthcare or violating their conscience," argues Harned. In fact, Dr. David Stevens, who heads the Christian Medical & Dental Associations, warned in a webcast that if doctors are forced to violate their conscience, "there will be no Christians in healthcare." Stevens also linked the government's growing indebtedness to tens of millions of abortions that have reduced today's population of taxpaying citizens. In reaction to the amendments' defeat, AUL president Dr. Charmaine Yoest claims those who argue that abortion coverage will not be part of healthcare reform are saying one thing but doing another. "[T]he defeat of these amendments demonstrates the gap between rhetoric and reality," she states in a press release. "These rhetorical assurances are not adding up to action. The pro-life community will continue a vigorous fight to keep abortion out of healthcare reform." Harned concludes that the deciding factor in defeating the measures is likely the degree of pressure the public puts on House and Senate members.
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