Dear John,
As the battle on health care continues, I wanted to send you a quick update on all we have accomplished so far:
- SBA List activists have sent over 134,500 messages to Congress and the White House demanding an explicit exclusion of federal funding of abortion in any health care plan. Your passion has helped to sent over 1,000,000 messages from on pro-life issues to Capitol Hill so far in 2009, as U.S. News and World Report has just reported.
- In September, SBA List commissioned a groundbreaking poll which found that abortion in health care turns away five times as many voters as it gains. 52% of Americans do not want the government to fund abortions compared to only 44% who believe federal funding for abortions is acceptable. Although this was a surprise to many, it was no surprise to you and me! Subsequent polls commissioned by Rasmussen, the United States Council of Catholic Bishops, and the Pew Research Center confirmed our findings.
- Building upon pressure coming from constituents, the SBA List legislative team educated and lobbied congressional staff to support the letter written by Reps. Bart Stupak (D-MI) and Joe Pitts (R-PA). The letter demands that the Congressional leadership insert the Pitts-Stupak Amendment, which bans any federal funding of elective abortions or plans that cover elective abortions, into the health care bill. The letter acquired 183 signatures from Representatives, 24 Democrats and 158 Republicans.
- We launched our "Stop Hyding!" web ad to debunk the misconception that the Hyde Amendment will prevent federal funding of abortions in health care. The ad has already been watched over 28,000 times.
- We continue to shape the debate in the media. A Los Angeles Times article about abortion in health care highlighted some of our aggressive tactics: my public demands, the Stop the Abortion Mandate Coalition efforts, and the Votes Have Consequences Project targeting Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) for his duplicity on the life issue. Here's just a sample of the coverage from this past month: FOXNews.com, Politico, CBN News, and Human Events.
House of Representatives:
Right now, there are three completed drafts of the health care reform bill in the House of Representatives – each in a different committee (Ways and Means, Education and Labor, and Energy and Commerce). The Chairwoman of the Rules Committee, Louise Slaughter (D-NY), and the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), are both working this week to create a Rule which will determine what elements of these drafts, as well as various proposed amendments, will be voted on by the full House of Representatives.
We should know next week if the proposed Rule will allow the House of Representatives to vote on the Pitts-Stupak Amendment, which bars federal funding for elective abortion and plans that cover elective abortion. Bart Stupak (D-MI) plans to mobilize a majority of the Representatives to vote down any Rule that does not allow for a vote on the pro-life amendment. Debate and passage of the entire bill is delayed until the Rule is approved by a majority vote in the House. Unless Nancy Pelosi and Louise Slaughter give the House a chance to vote on his amendment, Bart Stupak is hoping to block the legislation indefinitely.
It is critical that a Rule is created that allows the House of Representatives to vote on the Pitts-Stupak Amendment. It is also necessary that the Amendment pass. Without both, the bill will include the greatest expansion of abortion-on-demand since Roe v Wade.
Senate:As of right now, there is one health care reform bill in the Senate that has already been approved in committee - the bill in the Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, sponsored by the recently deceased Ted Kennedy (D-MA).
There is another health care reform bill currently under construction in the Finance Committee, sponsored by Max Baucus (D-MT). Since this bill has not yet been completed, we do not know exactly what it will contain. However, amendments sponsored by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) protecting the conscience rights of health care workers and preventing federal funding of elective abortions, have been voted down in the committee. The bill is expected to be completed some time next week at which time it will leave committee and Senators will be able to propose pro-life amendments as the full Senate considers the bill.
I will keep you updated on the latest developments in the fight to keep abortion out of health care reform.
In the meantime, be vigilant and keep the pressure on your elected representatives to constantly remind them that we will not tolerate the federal funding of abortion in health care reform.
It is an honor to be able to say that you are a part of our pro-life team.
For Life,
Marjorie Dannenfelser
President, Susan B. Anthony List
PS: Make sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube for the latest news on the health care debate.
The Susan B. Anthony List 1800 North Kent Street, Suite 1070, Arlington, VA 22209 (703) 875-3370
