Pence Denounces Procedural Gimmick to Include Taxpayer-Funded Abortions in Democrats’ Health Care Plan

Pence Denounces Procedural Gimmick to Include Taxpayer-Funded Abortions in Democrats’ Health Care Plan

JULY 31, 2009

Washington, DC - U.S. Congressman Mike Pence, Chairman of the House Republican Conference, made the following statement today after last night's vote by the Energy and Commerce Committee that defeated a bipartisan amendment offered by Representatives Joe Pitts (R-PA) and Bart Stupak (D-MI) to prohibit taxpayer funding of abortion under the Democrats' health care plan:


"Last night's vote demonstrates just how far Democrats are willing to go to force taxpayers to fund abortion.  A week ago, the Democrat-controlled Congress voted down my proposal to block federal funding for the nation's largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood.  Now Chairman Waxman has employed a procedural gimmick to defeat an amendment that would have prevented federal funding of abortion under the Democrats' health care plan.  This same amendment had been approved earlier in the evening by the Chairman's very own committee.

"An overwhelming majority of Americans, including advocates of abortion, oppose using taxpayer dollars to fund abortion.  Across the country American families are rejecting the Democrats' plan for a government takeover of health care.  The recent action taken by Democrats on the Energy and Commerce Committee will give Americans no comfort as this debate moves forward."

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For additional information, contact:

The House Republican Conference Press Office at (202) 226-9000 or
Matt Lloyd (matt.lloyd@mail.house.gov)
Mary Vought (mary.vought@mail.house.gov)