Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, has released a proposal for health-care reform. It specifically allows for taxpayer funded abortions.
In an interview with The Associated Press, Baucus said it was a unique moment in history.
"The Finance Committee has carefully worked through the details of health-care reform," he said, "to ensure this package works for patients, for health-care providers and for our economy."
However, under the Baucus bill:
- $6 billion would go for health insurance cooperatives, which would be permitted to cover abortion.
- Abortions permitted under the Hyde Amendment would be mandated under the minimum benefits package. The Hyde Amendment taxpayer-funded abortions in cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother.
- Tax credits and cost-sharing credits could be re-labeled to pay for abortion under private premiums.
Ashley Horne, federal policy analyst for Focus on the Family Action, said despite the White House's stance that there will be no abortion funding in any health-care bill, both the House and Senate versions mandate such funding.
"We don't care about rhetoric when it comes to protecting innocent, preborn lives," she said. "We care about results."
Republican lawmakers and even a few Democrats are saying they will not back the Baucus proposal. They maintain the only acceptable solution is to specifically exclude any public funding for abortion.
A recent poll commissioned by the Susan B. Anthony List shows most Americans oppose government funding for abortion.
Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List, said the news may come as a surprise to some, but not to the average American.
"Americans realize pro-abortion feminists have dramatically overrepresented a minority position," she said, "misstating the centrality and 'need' for abortion on-demand. This polling data offers the latest compelling reason for Congress to reject the president's health-care proposal without authentic language to exclude abortion funding."
