US House approves ban on taxpayer funding for abortion
May 05, 2011
The US House of Representatives has passed a comprehensive ban on the use of taxpayer funds to pay for abortions.
The “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act,” approved on May 4 by a 251- 176 vote, would make permanent the ban on public funding for abortion known as the “Hyde Amendment,” which now requires annual renewal. The bill would bar the use of federal funds to pay for abortions under the new national health-care plan. The legislative also includes a “conscience clause,” preserving the right of health-care workers to refuse to be involved in abortions.
The proposed bill was passed by the House on a mostly partisan vote, with every Republican member supporting the legislation and Democrats opposing it by a 175- 16 margin. Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who is Catholic, argued against the bill and especially against the conscience clause.
The No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act now moves to the Senate, where analysts expect that it will be defeated.
Of the 125 Catholic lawmakers who voted on the bill in the House, 60 supported it (all 60 Republicans and 8 Democrats), and 57 Catholic—all of them Democrats--opposed it.
For all current news, visit our News home page.
Further information:
- House passes permanent ban on abortion funding (CNA)
- House Bans Federal Dollars for Abortions (FoxNews)
- House passes restrictive anti-abortion package (Los Angeles Times)
- House Passes No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act (Catholic Advocate)
All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a current donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!
-
Posted by: rpp -
May. 06, 2011 2:06 PM ET USA
Correction: Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi CLAIMS to be Catholic.
-
Posted by: Miss Cathy -
May. 06, 2011 1:16 AM ET USA
Correction, the bill does not ban all tax-payer funding for abortion, it simply qualifies tax-payer funding for abortion. Such qualifications for tax-payer funded abortion include cases of rape, incest, and life of the mother.