Away from the Cameras, President Obama to Sign Executive Order on Abortion
EmailLater today President Obama will sign an executive order underlining that federal funds in the health care reform law cannot be spent on abortion or abortion-related services except in cases of rape, incest and when the life of the pregnant woman is at risk.
Unlike yesterday’s bill-signing celebrations in the East Room and the Department of the Interior, the president will sign this executive action behind closed doors, with nary a camera present. No reporters allowed. No member of the media permitted to attend to record the moment for history.
The executive order was announced on Sunday after it became clear that a small but significant group of anti-abortion House Democrats would not vote for the Senate health care reform bill unless they were given additional assurances that the bill would not fund abortions or abortion services.
This group, led by Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., had successfully pushed the House to adopt a measure banning any insurance programs offered through Health Insurance Exchanges offering abortions or abortion-related services. The Senate provision allowed insurance companies to offer abortion services, but consumers had to pay for that coverage separately and the insurance companies had to keep those funds distinctly segregated.
The executive order states that it “is necessary to establish an adequate enforcement mechanism to ensure that Federal funds are not used for abortion services… consistent with a longstanding Federal statutory restriction that is commonly known as the Hyde Amendment.” The bill would extend Hyde amendment restrictions to the health insurance exchanges, prohibit “ the use of tax credits and cost-sharing reduction payments to pay for abortion services,” require administration officials to establish a “model set of segregation guidelines for state health insurance commissioners to use when determining whether exchange plans are complying with the Act’s segregation requirements.”
The order also states that the Hyde Amendment applies to the new Community Health Center (CHC) Fund within the Department of Health and Human Services.
Advocates on both sides of the abortion debate have voiced opposition to the executive order.
The National Right to Life Committee has said the executive order will do little to change a number of provisions in the bill “that predictably will result in federal subsidies for private insurance plans that cover abortion (some of which will be administered directly by the federal government), direct federal funding of abortion through Community Health Centers, and pro-abortion federal administrative mandates,” the letter says. The NRLC argues that an executive order cannot override the loopholes in the legislation.
Stupak told Slate’s John Dickerson that while some abortion opponents “say this piece of paper isn’t worth it, but I would remind them that in 2007, when George W. Bush signed the executive order to prevent stem-cell research, these groups that are criticizing it, they applauded it, they welcomed it; and now President Obama’s going to sign an executive order once again protecting life and somehow it’s not worth the paper it’s written on. You can’t have it both ways.”
“I really have to wonder, these groups who now say this wasn’t good enough, were they really interested in protecting life or were they just trying to politicize the life issue to defeat health care?” Stupak asked. “ I’m really disappointed in some of these groups that I’ve worked with for a long time.”
Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, said in a statement that “ it is deeply disappointing that Bart Stupak and other anti-choice politicians would demand the restatement of the Hyde amendment, a discriminatory law that blocks low-income women from receiving full reproductive-health care.”
Politifact wrote that Stupak is right in asserting currently that the no federal funds will go to abortion or abortion services, but the fact-checkers said that would have been the situation with the Senate language, even without the executive order.
Here’s our GMA report on the latest in the health care reform battles:
-jpt
Santorum: Money Will Not Defeat Obama, Ideas Will 
Rick Santorum's Full Speech at CPAC 2012
Where is that courage Obama brags about?
Where is the transparency Obama brags about?
Posted by: kyle | March 24, 2010, 11:05 am 11:05 am
Obama hid his meeting with Netanyahu also-no handshakes on camera.
Can’t afford to ####off the left now that he is “the comeback kid”.
Posted by: ollie | March 24, 2010, 11:07 am 11:07 am
He seems to be acting like it is a sin to save a baby’s life. What a twisted human being.
Posted by: Janet | March 24, 2010, 11:09 am 11:09 am
Of course he has to hide.
Obama doesn’t want to tarnish his reputation as the most pro-abortion president ever!!
Posted by: phillip | March 24, 2010, 11:22 am 11:22 am
Rock-a-bye baby, in the treetop
When the wind blows, the cradle will rock
When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall
And down will come baby, cradle and all
Posted by: <(o<) | March 24, 2010, 12:12 pm 12:12 pm
There is one time for sure Senator Obama did not vote “present”.
He voted against the Born Alive Bill that would have provided treatment to save a baby that survives a botched abortion.
Just another part of Obama’s life experience that provides a window into who he is as a human being.
But the swooning masses either never bothered to really check him out–or does not care about his character.
That includes YOU MSM.
Without you Obama is still a senator.
Posted by: fran | March 24, 2010, 12:20 pm 12:20 pm
On Jan. 20th, 2009, he signed an exec order that Gitmo would be closed by Jan 20th, 2010, and that did not happen. What is to make people think that this one will be enforced as well?
Posted by: DJ | March 24, 2010, 12:28 pm 12:28 pm
hiding?? it’s not like we don’t know what he’s doing in there…i just hope that birth control will be readily available through the new reform…i am pro-choice by the bye…
Posted by: libby | March 24, 2010, 12:46 pm 12:46 pm
If it wasnt glaring enough to see what BHO was about during events like the R Wright fiasco and the beer summit..It should be coming to the forefront now! He said point blank that he didnt want his daughters to be saddled with a baby just because of a “mistake”. I dont get how people cant see the arrogance…
Posted by: shawn | March 24, 2010, 1:26 pm 1:26 pm
the arrogance lies within “pro-lifers” that think they know what’s best for everyone and in every situation…
Posted by: libby | March 24, 2010, 1:32 pm 1:32 pm
the arrogance lies within “pro-lifers” that think they know what’s best for everyone and in every situation…
Posted by: libby | Mar 24, 2010 1:32:16 PM
No, libby, the arrogance lies in the women who decide to have UNPROTECTED sex, knowing that pregnancy is a very good possibility, end up pregnant, then expect those of us who are against abortion to fund theirs because of their OWN STUPIDITY. It’s called personal responsibility, and I know that’s a new concept for people, but it’s really rather simple. You don’t want kids? Use protection, or say no.
I’m so tired of women screaming about their ‘rights’, when the first ‘right’ you should be thinking about is your ‘right’ to use common sense and use protection or INSIST that your partner does. Throwing the blame at pro-lifers isn’t the answer, the answer lies in your own choices. And you have the choice to stop it before it even happens.
As always, I will say that in cases of rape, incest, or life of the mother, that’s a totally different matter. But for the woman who finds abortion a convenient alternative to responsibility, I stand by my opinion. I might not control your body, but YOU don’t control my tax dollars.
Posted by: Shoe | March 24, 2010, 1:45 pm 1:45 pm
like i said…
Posted by: libby | March 24, 2010, 1:59 pm 1:59 pm
Google Obama and Infantcide and see how your opinon stands then…
Posted by: Billie | March 24, 2010, 2:17 pm 2:17 pm
No matter what he does or how he does it, some of you still find fault. This is precisely the stand the government should take on this issue of funding abortion.
Posted by: Gerald | March 24, 2010, 2:18 pm 2:18 pm
What a coward!
Posted by: rider1a | March 24, 2010, 2:23 pm 2:23 pm
why, is he out there with a machete, going house to house seeking out babies with blood on his mind…that’s exactly how you all make it seem…
Posted by: libby | March 24, 2010, 2:31 pm 2:31 pm
He should sign with a crayon.
Posted by: mjishernameo | March 24, 2010, 2:37 pm 2:37 pm
i remember a couple of years ago when it was “un-american” to NOT be supportive of our president…what happened??
Posted by: libby | March 24, 2010, 2:38 pm 2:38 pm
It would have been nice to let the cameras roll. With an audience full of little children to symbolize LIFE.
But Obama did not want this executive order. He did it to save his legacy, not lives.
It must be difficult for real pro-life Democrats to truly support this president. They must be in serious denial.
Posted by: hank | March 24, 2010, 4:05 pm 4:05 pm
so then no cameras when he signs this executive order, but all kinds of cameras when he bows to other leaders or when he shakes hands with hugo chavez??? i guess we see where barry’s priorities are huh???
Posted by: busterhoot | March 24, 2010, 4:58 pm 4:58 pm
To be fair, while Obama is loathe to have any appearance of being pro-life in any way, remember when the Republicans offered the Constitutional ammendment prohibiting abortion?
It was set up to FAIL. The language did not make exceptions for the protection of the mother’s life, rape or incest. Even the most vocal pro-lifers had some reservations.
Politics as usual.
Posted by: Tom | March 24, 2010, 5:12 pm 5:12 pm
libby wrote: “the arrogance lies within “pro-lifers” that think they know what’s best for everyone and in every situation…”
.
You want taxpayer funded abortions? Then it should be followed by an immediate taxpayer funded sterilization. You want us to pay for your irresponsibility, then lets make sure it happens only once.
Posted by: gk | March 24, 2010, 5:52 pm 5:52 pm
It must be difficult for real pro-life Democrats to truly support this president. They must be in serious denial.
Posted by: hank | Mar 24, 2010 4:05:48 PM
_______________________________________
You mean the President who just signed an executive order underlining that federal funds in the health care reform law cannot be spent on abortion or abortion-related services except in cases of rape, incest and when the life of the pregnant woman is at risk?
Posted by: tierra | March 24, 2010, 7:03 pm 7:03 pm
Shoe, I think you have a few facts wrong. Most women who get unintentionally pregnant are using birth control. Every kind of birth control, whether pill or condoms or other devices has a 3% failure rate. That 3% results in a lot of unplanned pregnancies.
Also, many abortions are done on married women in stable relationships who simply can’t afford more children.
Same with single women, it is more a matter of not enough money than a callous attitude towards life. Look around you at the cost of child care, diapers, etc. for one child and explain how a single woman making minimum wage or a young family with other children can afford it. Not everyone has grandparents to offer free sitting, not everyone has a good paying job.
A little compassion and education is called for here.
Posted by: Lydia | March 24, 2010, 7:14 pm 7:14 pm
Posted by: Lydia | Mar 24, 2010 7:14:34 PM
Did you read what you just wrote? Women are having abortions because they can’t afford to have the baby – that doesn’t offend your senses? Doesn’t sound callous? Mother Theresa said “It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish”. Why not educate women and men as to when to have sex and when not to. Most women are only fertile for approximately 10 days out of 30. How about we use double birth control or here’s a new one: not have sex during that time – then we would not have this “mistake” that can be fixed by an abortion. Where is your compasssion and education?
Posted by: Rican | March 24, 2010, 11:39 pm 11:39 pm
I’m so tired of women screaming about their ‘rights’,
Posted by: Shoe
yeah, why stop there, add ‘the jews’, ‘the blacks’, ‘the irish’, ‘the hispanics’, ‘the young’, ‘the italians’, ‘the catholics’, etc… ‘screaming about their rights..
re: ‘I will say that in cases of rape, incest, or life of the mother, that’s a totally different matter.
mighty liberal and progressive of you to admit that crimes against women and medical problems are not the woman’s fault.
Posted by: PO'd | March 25, 2010, 12:30 am 12:30 am
Why not educate women and men as to when to have sex and when not to.
Posted by: Rican
wow…. ‘sex education’….. geeze,..I wonder why no ones tried that yet, you should consult your nearest christian theologian on birth control
Posted by: PO'd | March 25, 2010, 1:55 am 1:55 am
Posted by: PO’d | Mar 25, 2010 1:55:50 AM
Not sure what your point is, but I know exactly what the Catholic Church has to say about it: Birth control devices (pills, condoms, etc.) block conception from happening – that is a “no no”; Natural Family Planning just has you hold off on the act until it is the right time (to get pregnant or not get pregnant). And yes, it works – I used it successfully for 25+ years. NFP teaches respect for oneself; for your partner and for the act itself. That is the education I’m talking about.
Posted by: Rican | March 25, 2010, 12:54 pm 12:54 pm