SBA List President stresses need for Stupak language

Contact: Joy Yearout, Susan B. Anthony List, 703-380-6674

WASHINGTON, Nov. 9 /Christian Newswire/ -- Today a spokesman for Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE) told POLITICO that he would only support a health care reform bill that excludes abortion coverage in a manner similar to the Pitts-Stupak language included in the House version. Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser offered the following statement:

"Senator Reid should take his cues from the House and pro-life members of his own caucus when crafting abortion language in the Senate health care reform bill.  What Senator Nelson and many others recognize is that the Stupak language is the only authentic abortion exclusion measure.

"Given President Obama's record and his promises to the abortion lobby, it is a safe assumption that he will support abortion-friendly language under the guise of 'compromise.' Despite his rhetoric, there is just simply no room for compromise when human life is at stake.  Either you fund abortion or you don't. 

"We've already seen phony compromises like the Capps Amendment offered by abortion advocates.  These accounting gimmicks are not acceptable.  American taxpayers demand safeguards that will ensure not one dime of federal funds will subsidize abortion or health plans that cover abortion.  The Senate should respect this status quo, precedent set under the Hyde Amendment."

This afternoon President Obama told Jake Tapper of ABC News, he was confident that the final legislation will ensure that "neither side feels that it's being betrayed." He continued, "I want to make sure that the provision that emerges meets that test -- that we are not in some way sneaking in funding for abortions, but, on the other hand, that we're not restricting women's insurance choices."

For the last several months, the Susan B. Anthony List has mobilized tens of thousands of pro-life Americans nationwide to urge Congress to exclude abortion from healthcare reform.  Susan B. Anthony List activists have sent over 400,000 letters to Congress requesting an explicit exclusion of abortion from health care reform.

The Susan B. Anthony List is a nationwide network of Americans, over 167,000 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