Focus on the Family Action delivered nearly 150,000 signatures to lawmakers today, voicing the disapproval of tens of millions of Americans over the inclusion of taxpayer-funded abortion in health-care reform.
The petition signers asked that language be included that specifically excludes any public funding of abortion. They also want any health-care bill to include conscience protections for health-care professionals.
Tom Minnery, senior vice president of government and public policy at Focus on the Family Action, said every pro-life amendment offered to fix the legislation has been voted down by Democrats.
"Despite polls showing that 71 percent of Americans don't want public funds to pay for abortion," he said, "there are those in Congress who continue to ignore the men and women they represent. Abortion is not health care. All we ask as pro-life Americans is that our money not be used to violate our morals."
The refusal to include explicit conscience protections also puts religious hospitals at risk. Some may go out of business rather than violate deeply held religious beliefs by providing abortion services.
"At a time when our health-care system is already strained," said Minnery, "should we be considering a move that will limit patients' access to medical care?"
Rep. Lincoln Davis, D-Tenn., said he will not vote for any legislation that contains taxpayer-funded abortions.
"The Supreme Court may have told America that a woman has the right to choose to have an abortion," he said, "but it did not tell anyone in America that they have the right for it to be paid for by taxpayers."
Ashley Horne, federal policy analyst for Focus on the Family Action, said the event hit the mark.
"We came to Washington to give Americans a voice on the issue of abortion funding in the health-care bill," she said. "That happened today."
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