Abortion and Health Care Reform

Memo in Opposition to House Health Care Bill

Thursday, July 16

TO: Wisconsin Congressional Delegation

FROM: Susan Armacost, Legislative Director

RE: H.R. 3200 - Abortion Mandates and Subsidies

Wisconsin Right to Life joins with our parent organization, the National Right to Life Committee, in expressing our strong opposition to the Tri-Committee health care legislation (H.R. 3200). In its current form, the bill would vastly expand access to abortion on demand and establish federal funding for abortion.

Various provisions in H.R. 3200 would result in federal mandates requiring the inclusion of elective abortion in virtually all health care plans, both private and public. Other provisions would result in health care networks being required to create new abortion facilities to provide more access to elective abortions. State laws that regulate the practice of abortion, such as Wisconsin's laws requiring parental consent or waiting periods, would be subject to nullification by federal regulation or lawsuit. The only way to prevent these results is to adopt an amendment that explicitly excludes abortion in all of the bill's provisions.

In addition, the bill would provide federal subsidies for elective abortions... paid for, of course, by the American taxpayer. Some supporters of H.R. 3200 claim that the Hyde Amendment, which currently protects taxpayers from paying for most abortions, would prevent taxpayer funding of abortion under H.R. 3200. This is untrue. As you know, the Hyde Amendment is not a permanent law. Rather, it is a "limitation amendment" on the annual Health and Human Services appropriations bill. The Hyde Amendment would lapse if it would fail to obtain the approval of Congress and the President's signature. In addition, H.R. 3200 contains massive subsidies for premiums and cost-sharing that would not be part of the annual Health and Human Services appropriations bill. Thus, those subsidies would not be subject to the Hyde Amendment. The only way to prevent taxpayer funding of federal subsidies for elective abortions is to add Hyde-type language to H.R. 3200. Unless such an amendment is adopted, Wisconsin Right to Life will consider a vote for the bill to be a vote in favor of taxpayer funding of abortion on demand.

Wisconsin Right to Life also joins the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC) in expressing our deep concern that H.R.3200 contains provisions that would result in future rationing of life-saving medical care on the basis of disability and "quality of life" criteria. NRLC will be providing you with additional information on those concerns.

Thank you.