Pro-life groups oppose new Obama plan for health-care reform

February 23, 2010

Pro-life activists in Washington, DC, have reacted strongly against a new health-care reform proposal unveiled by President Barack Obama, noting that the legislation would provide government support for abortion.

Congressman Bart Stupak of Michigan, the sponsor of a pro-life amendment that was included in the version of the legislation passed by the House of Representatives, called the Obama version "unacceptable" because it adopted the approach of the Senate version. Douglas Johnson, the legislative director of the National Right to Life Committee, went further:

None of President Obama's proposed changes diminish any of the sweeping pro-abortion problems in the Senate bill, and he actually proposes to increase the funds that would be available to directly subsidize abortion procedures (through Community Health Centers) and to subsidize private health insurance that covers abortion (through the premium-subsidy tax credits program).

In a separate statement the Catholic Medical Association (CMA) echoed the opposition to support for abortion, but said that there are other reasons to oppose the latest proposal, including the need to arrive at bipartisan solution that is economically viable and protects the integrity of the doctor-patient relationship. The CMA called attention to the numerous polls showing that most Americans oppose current plans for health-care reform, adding that "this public opposition is well founded." In fact, the CMA statement said, the "legislation not only will fail to bring about authentic reform, but will make the current challenges faced by patients, providers, and the American people even worse."

 

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Further information:

• Senate Health Bill Would Become Even More Expansively Pro-Abortion (NRLC)
• Stupak: Abortion Language in Obama's Health Care Plan "Unacceptable" (CBS)
• CMA Issues Open Letter to President Obama and Congress (CMA)