Republican Congressman Chris Smith of New Jersey is taking another step to void use of federal tax dollars for abortion.
Rep. Chris Smith (R-New Jersey)
Smith posted his proposal, which would simply make the Hyde Amendment permanent law, on AmericaSpeakingOut.com, where he encourages citizens to vote on the plan, voice their opinions and submit their own ideas.
Americans United for Life (AUL) Staff Counsel Mary Harned tells OneNewsNow the measure has been attached yearly by an amendment to an appropriations bill or implemented through executive order in the past, but she thinks it is time to decide the matter permanently.
Mary Harned (AUL)"It's time for that to be entrenched in our actual statutes," she contends. "It's time for there to actually be statutory language that says the federal government does not pay for abortions, or for insurance plans that cover abortions, so that every year we do not have to fight the same fight of insuring that appropriations bills include the necessary language."
Although there is a state opt-out provision, the healthcare reform law provides funding for abortions, in spite of the fact that the majority of Americans do not want their tax dollars used for that purpose. Harned points out that the Supreme Court dealt with the Hyde Amendment 30 years ago.
"Prohibiting federal funding for abortion is completely constitutional, and it's time to have that language enshrined into our statute," she suggests.
Given the pro-abortion leaning of Congress, the AUL staff counsel predicts it will take a groundswell of public support to push the law through.
Contact: Charlie Butts
Source: OneNewsNow
Date Published: July 7, 2010
