The Politics of Health Care - 2

The Politics of Health Care - 2
In pursuit of the truth – www.cinopsbegone.com – Monday, January 4, 2010

Ref. National Right to Life News- November/December, 2009
“Scorecard of Catholics in Congress” – Catholic Advocate – Morley Institute

U.S. House Adopts NRLC-backed Stupak-Pitts Amendment, 240-194

On November 7, 2009, during consideration of a massive bill to restructure the health care system, H.R.3962, the House of Representatives adopted an NRLC-backed amendment proposed by Rep, Bart Stupak (D-Mi.) & Rep. Rep. Joe Pitts(R)

The Stupak-Pitts Amendment removed two major pro-abortion components from H.R. 3962. Specifically, the amendment (1) would permanently prohibit a proposed new federal government insurance program, the “public option,” from paying for abortion, except to save the life of the mother, or in cases of rape and incest; and (2) would permanently prohibit the use of proposed new federal premium subsidies (“affordability credits”) to purchase private insurance plans that cover abortion…

The Stupak-Pitts Amendment was approved, 240 to 194. The amendment was supported by 176 Republicans and 64 Democrats. It was opposed by 194 Democrats. One Republican withheld his support by voting “present.” House roll call no. 884.

Let’s take a look at the vote of the California Catholic-label Democrat Congresspersons. Only three of the 13 voted for the Stupak-Pitts amendment. Who are they? They are Congressmen Joe Costa, Dennis Cardoza and Jim Costa. Maybe we will have a conversion of the 3 from their past votes against the Catholic position on 1) Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act-passage (110th) 2) Marriage Amendment Act (109th) 3) Coercive abortion/United Nations Population Fund (109th). It is interesting to note that in another large state, New York, not one of the 8 Catholic-label Democratic Congresspersons voted for Stupak-Pitts amendment.

The Senate and House bill are now in conference. The situation is as serious as what occurred with the Roe vs. Wade decision on Jan. 22nd, 1973. We must keep the Hyde amendment. “We didn’t try for more than what is current law,” Stupak said. “A number of pro-choice Democrats voted with us for that reason.”

The polling on the matter of funding abortions is disturbing. Evangelicals oppose funding 91-6, Protestants opposed 80-15, and Catholics oppose it by a 75-2l percent. That 21% support by Catholics is sad. I guess that’s where the con- front organizations for CINO politicians receive their support. Check it out on Google. Catholics United, and Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good.

Steven W. Mosher of pri@pop.org stated poignantly in “Population Research Institute”12-24-2009: “Moreover, since federal law trumps state law, the bill would also overturn existing laws restricting abortion. Looked at this way, the “health care” bill is kind of a back-door Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA)… enormous power to the executive branch… Obama’s health czar… A final flaw in the current bill is its lack of protection for freedom of conscience. Language prohibiting discrimination against health care providers who decline to provide, pay for, provide coverage of, or refer for abortions is nowhere to be found… and abortion masquerading as a “health care” bill. It must be stopped.”

George H. Kubeck