New Federally Funded Pennsylvania Health Plan Pays for Abortion

Statement

Yesterday, the National Right to Life Committee discovered that a new federally funded Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan established in Pennsylvania will cover abortion. The state-administered PCIP will receive $160 million in federal funds as provided under the healthcare reform law passed earlier this year.

The bipartisan Stupak-Pitts Amendment, part of the House-passed healthcare legislation, would have prevented taxpayer funding for abortion coverage, except in the cases of rape, incest and to save the life of the mother. Senate-passed legislation that eventually became law did not contain this protection.

Rep. Pitts' statement follows:

"Today, we see exactly why the Executive Order signed by President Obama will not prevent federal funding for elective abortion. I'm sad to see my own state of Pennsylvania cover abortion through the new high risk insurance pool.

"This clearly illustrates the need for strong legislative language to prevent federal funding for abortion coverage. Poll after poll shows that the American people don't want the federal government to subsidize abortion. Gov. Rendell and President Obama can't hide the fact that this new plan deeply offends the conscience of millions of Americans."

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