Emerson Votes for Protect Life Act

U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (MO-08) this evening cast her vote in the U.S. House of Representatives for legislation which would repeal a portion of the 2009 health care law regarding mandatory abortion coverage through health insurance options carried on state exchanges.

"I opposed the Obama-Pelosi health care bill in its entirety, but this particular part of it is especially troublesome. The many different parts of this law are administered with taxpayer dollars, which should not be used to require insurers, hospitals or health care practitioners to provide abortion coverage or services," Emerson said.

Emerson has been an outspoken critic of the Affordable Care Act, the health care overhaul which will largely go into effect in 2013 with mandates on every American to carry health insurance and a dramatic expansion of federal powers over health care.

"It's all the more difficult to see this bad law being implemented because, like so many Americans, I want our system of health care to be the best in the world, led by professionals who devote their lives to serving patients. Instead, the focus in this law is on issues like a requirement that taxpayers foot the bill for administering plans which mandate insurance coverage for abortions," Emerson said. "Quality, affordable health care is an important issue for every American, and this is not a place for a back-door attempt to compel public funding for abortions."

The measure, H.R. 358, was approved by a majority vote in the U.S. House on Thursday and now moves on for consideration in the U.S. Senate.