Senate Committee Rejects Anti-Abortion Amendment

Sept. 30, 2009— -- A day after the Senate Finance Committee voted down a pair of Democratic public option proposals to be included in health care reform legislation, members voted against a Republican measure strengthening anti-abortion provisions.

By a 13-10 vote, the amendment to restrict federal funding for abortions failed today.

Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, who proposed the amendment, expressed disappointment, but said, "I will fight tooth and nail to make sure once this bill gets to the floor, it is clear in the language that taxpayers' dollars will not be used to fund abortions through the new programs nor through subsidies created in the bill."

The committee also voted against Hatch's proposal to prohibit the federal government, state governments and local governments from forcing health providers, such as hospitals and physicians, to provide abortions.

"I do not feel that any persons with deeply held religious or moral beliefs should be put in any situation where they would be forced to perform abortions," Hatch said in a written statement.

Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, was the only Republican to vote on the side of Democrats.

The health care bill being debated by the committee was proposed by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., two weeks ago. It would require that at least one plan in a health insurance exchange system provide coverage for abortions beyond those for which federal funds are permitted. It would prohibit those participating in the health insurance exchange from discriminating against providers based on whether they do or don't provide abortion services. It would also prohibit abortion coverage from being required as part of the minimum benefits package.

Abortion has become a hot topic of debate in the fight for health care overhaul. Republicans say current proposals on the table will make it easy for the government to subsidize abortions and that it needs to tighten measures against providing such subsidies.

Two other version of the legislation, a House Democrats' bill and the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee bill, do not specifically discuss abortion, but would allow states to become eligible for matching federal funds if they wanted to offer family planning services to women who didn't qualify for Medicaid.

The existing law prohibits federal funds from being used toward abortions, except in the case of rape, incest or if the mother's life is in danger.

Committee members also rejected another Republican proposal that would require photo identification for federal health benefits. Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley said the measure would help reduce fraud in health care programs for the poor, but the amendment was shot down by a 13-10 vote.