Perkins Says President's ‘New’ HC Proposal Funds Abortion

Today, in a 20 minute speech, President Barack Obama introduced the most recent health care reform proposal and called on Congressional leaders Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Harry Reid to schedule a final vote in the next few weeks.

In response, Family Research Council President Tony Perkins released the following statement:

This new White House health care statement completely undermines President Obama's claim last week dismissing charges that the Senate bill would fund abortion as mere 'talking points.' President Obama's legislation not only maintains the Senate abortion funding provisions; it would make them worse by increasing federal funding for community health centers that could be used directly to kill unborn babies.

Ignoring the only bi-partisan provision that passed, the Stupak amendment that prevents abortion funding, the President's bill to amend the Senate bill leaves several abortion provisions in place. In Section 1303 it allows tax credit subsidies for plans that include abortion and leaves the abortion surcharge in place. It maintains the proposal to create a multi-state plan that includes abortion in Sec. 1334. Even worse, it would increase the Senate bill funding from $7 billion to $11 billion for community health centers in Sec. 10503 without any abortion funding restrictions.

"If this bill becomes law," Perkins says, "this Congress will oversee the largest ever expansion of abortion on demand at taxpayer expense."