From Reid to Obama, Pro-Life Activists Keep the Pressure On

Contact: Joy Yearout, Susan B. Anthony List, 703-380-6674, jyearout@sba-list.org

WASHINGTON, Aug. 27 /Christian Newswire/ -- The issue of abortion coverage is heating up in the national debate over health care reform, and pro-life Americans are speaking out to demand an explicit exclusion of government-backed abortion coverage.

"It's appalling how many public officials deny the reality of abortion coverage in health care reform legislation," said Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser. "They dodge and weave, hiding behind the Hyde Amendment. Or they claim the 'word' abortion is nowhere to be found in the legislation. And in an ironic twist of fate, even the President has called the concerns of pro-life citizens 'fabrications.' All of these claims are nonsense. The truth is, without an explicit exclusion, abortion will be covered in any public plan. Abortion will also be subsidized by our tax dollars in private plans through government subsidies."

"No matter how many times they repeat it, the Hyde Amendment will not apply to this legislation. This fact radically undermines our long-standing tradition of limiting taxpayer funds for abortion. Americans are stepping up to demand a stop to the abortion mandate in health reform. Congress should explicitly exclude an abortion mandate and preserve the common ground policies supported by the growing majority of pro-life Americans."

This week the Susan B. Anthony List launched a new health care ad in Nevada. The ad calls on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to stay true to his pro-life values and keep abortion out of health care. The ad is part of the Susan B. Anthony List's Votes Have Consequences project, an effort to educate citizens about the voting records of legislators who are out of step with their districts.

"Senator Reid was elected on a pro-life platform, but his lack of leadership in the national debate over the abortion mandate in health care reform is a great disappointment," said former Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave, Project Director for the Susan B. Anthony List's Votes Have Consequences project.  "It is vital that Nevadans make their voices heard."

Last week, in response to the President’s health care teleconference with religious leaders, the Susan B. Anthony List engaged over 160,000 pro-life Americans in a national teleconference called "Keeping the Faith with the Unborn." The call educated listeners and encouraged citizens to take action by calling and sending letters to Congress to make their voice heard in the debate over health care reform. Special guests on the call included Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN), Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC), and former Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (R-CO).    

To date, pro-life Susan B. Anthony List activists have sent over 224,000 letters urging Congress to exclude abortion coverage from health care reform efforts. 45,000 of those letters were sent during the August recess. This week the Susan B. Anthony List is launching a new campaign, "President Obama: Tell the Truth." The campaign will mobilize pro-life activists to contact the White House to urge the President to embrace an authentic exclusion for abortion coverage in health care reform.

The Susan B. Anthony List is a founding member of the Stop the Abortion Mandate Coalition, a coalition of pro-life organizations dedicated to keeping the abortion mandate out of health care reform. cement of state parental notification laws through the Child Custody Protection Act.

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