Abortion is a "Wild Card" (SBA)

The New York Times reported on Friday that President Obama's health care proposal is being written so that it can be attached to a budget bill in order to avoid a filibuster from Senate Republicans -- a procedure known as reconciliation. The Times also reported that "Democrats said it was still unclear how the president would deal with other disagreements, including the issue of insurance coverage for abortions. Abortion remains 'a wild card,' said a Democrat on Capitol Hill." The issue of abortion is not resolved, and it is absolutely critical that you contact your Representative and your two Senators right now and make it clear to them that Abortion is NOT Health Care!

It is also critical that we keep the pressure on the pro-life Democrats in the House over the next few days to ensure that they don't cave to party pressure from Nancy Pelosi. In order to pass a health care bill through reconciliation, the House of Representatives would have to pass the Senate version of the health care bill, which does NOT contain the Stupak Amendment to protect human life. So far we have seen no signs of Obama's willingness to take on Senator Boxer, Senator Feinstein and the abortion lobby to exclude abortion from health care. But what he has made clear is that he considers abortion legitimate health care. It is up to a fragile coalition of pro-life Democrats and Republican colleagues to keep abortion out of health care reform.

Contact your two Senators and your Representative today and tell them to reject any bill that does not explicitly exclude funding for abortion. It is absolutely critical that you contact your Representatives right now to ensure your voice is heard. I can tell you that we are doing everything we can here in Washington to keep up the pressure. On Friday, the SBA List released two letters signed by 31 leading pro-life groups requesting first that Obama explicitly exclude abortion funding in any proposal, and second that GOP leadership raise the abortion funding issue first in any bipartisan talks. Click here to view the two letters. Our press tour, radio ads, and patch-though robo-calls in January laid the groundwork, now we are counting on you, carol, to remind your Representatives what is at stake and that you are watching them closely.

Thank you for your continued dedication to keeping Abortion out of Health Care!

For Life, Marjorie Dannenfelser President, Susan B. Anthony List www.sba-list.org

PS: The New York Times reported today that Abortion remains the "Wild Card" in health care reform. It is absolutely critical that you contact your two Senators and your member of the House of Representatives and remind them that Abortion is NOT Health Care and demand that they reject any bill that does not protect innocent human life.