House Narrowly Passes Legislation to Allow Taxpayer-Funded Abortion in the District of Columbia
Contact: Joy Yearout, Susan B. Anthony List, 703-380-6674, jyearout@sba-list.org
WASHINGTON, July 16 /Christian Newswire/ -- Today the president of the Susan B. Anthony List commented on today's House passage of H.R. 3170, the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, by a vote of 219 to 208.
"Today the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation to expand taxpayer funding for abortion in our nation's capitol, but it didn't come easily for Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her abortion allies like Planned Parenthood," said Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser. "Pro-life leaders from both sides of the aisle used every tool at their disposal to allow an up-or-down vote on the measure. President Obama's decision to force American taxpayers to foot the bill for abortions in the District of Columbia will cause the deaths of at least 1,000 more unborn children each year. Instead of continuing the long tradition of open and fair debate on appropriations bills, Speaker Pelosi muzzled not just Republicans, but even members of her own caucus. President Obama and Speaker Pelosi are on a collision course with broad public opposition to taxpayer-funding for abortion. Today's battle will only be the first of many, as more Representatives strive to better represent the views of pro-life America by passing laws that will truly save lives."
Today the House refused to consider a bipartisan amendment offered by Reps. Todd Tiahrt (R-KS) and Lincoln Davis (D-TN) to restore a ban on taxpayer-funded abortion in D.C. The House voted 216-213 on House Resolution 644 to block the Tiahrt/Davis amendment, as well as other amendments dealing with social issues, from receiving an up-or-down vote on the floor of the House. Representatives John Dingell (D-MI), Marion Berry (D-AR), Gary Peters (D-MI), and Walt Minnick (D-ID) all switched their votes as the vote was held open. During subsequent consideration on the floor, a GOP-sponsored Motion to Recommit that would have allowed an up-or-down vote was ruled out of order, and an appeal was denied. Earlier this year 180 members of Congress signed a bipartisan letter to House Democratic Leadership asking for an up-or-down vote on any elimination of so-called pro-life riders, which ban the use of taxpayer funding for abortion. Read more from the Associated Press.
"I join with hundreds of thousands of pro-life Americans nationwide in thanking both Republican and Democratic pro-life leaders for their strong, compelling fight to honor the women of the District of Columbia with life-affirming solutions that help both mother and child. It is always welcome to see pro-life leaders like Rep. Todd Tiarht (R-KS), Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI), Rep. Lincoln Davis (D-TN), Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper (D-PA), Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN), Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC), Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-Oh), Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH), Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA), and Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence (R-IL) all join forces to back up their words with serious legislative action to protect women and the unborn."
Susan B. Anthony List activists have sent over 340,000 letters urging Congress to keep taxpayer funds from supporting abortion on-demand in 2009, 118,000 of which opposed funding for D.C. abortions.
The Susan B. Anthony List is a nationwide network of Americans, over 162,000 residing in all 50 states, dedicated to mobilizing, advancing, and representing pro-life women in politics. Its connected Candidate Fund increases the percentage of pro-life women in the political process.
www.sba-list.org
