For suggestions on how you can take immediate and effective action on this issue, scroll to the bottom of this update.
PROVIDENCE (Updated February 20, 2010) – The battle against federal funding for abortion-on-demand has seen many twists and turns during the past year. Most recently, Massachusetts voters surprised the nation by choosing a little-known Republican state senator to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Ted Kennedy. Significantly, Scott Brown’s campaign surged when he presented himself as the crucial 41st vote against the pro-abortion health care restructuring bill passed by the U.S. Senate on Christmas Eve.
While the House version of the health care restructuring bill contains the Stupak amendment, which applies the language of the Hyde amendment in order to maintain longstanding prohibitions against federal subsidies for elective abortion, the Senate version opens the door to massive federal subsidies for the abortion industry and, potentially, to sweeping abortion mandates.
Thus far, the House has not been inclined to adopt the Senate version without at least some changes, while the Senate would need 60 votes to end debate and amendment on a modified bill. While Brown’s victory has delayed efforts to legitimize and fund abortion as health care, President Obama, Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid are now pursuing a third way.
The plan is for the Senate to pass a new, smaller bill (possibly attached to Obama’s budget), containing certain changes to the bill they passed on Christmas Eve. They would use a fast-track procedure known as reconciliation, which requires a simple majority vote and is not subject to filibuster. The House would then pass both the original Senate-passed bill together with the new package of changes, both of which President Obama would sign into law.
If successful, the two-bill scheme would be an end-run around the Stupak amendment. It would enshrine as law the massive abortion agenda in the original Senate bill. The scheme cannot succeed if enough pro-life House Democrats remain firm in their refusal to vote for the pro-abortion Senate-passed bill.
It is necessary, once again, for all pro-life citizens in Rhode Island to immediately call Rep. James R. Langevin – (202) 225-2735 – and tell him to oppose the pro-abortion Senate bill and any bill that does not contain the Stupak amendment.
An analysis of the abortion-related concerns in the Senate bill can be found here.
The legislative situation may change very rapidly, please frequently check:
www.rirtl.org/priorityone and/or www.nrlactioncenter.com
What You Can Do Now
* Call Rep. James R. Langevin – (202) 225-2735 – and tell him to oppose the pro-abortion Senate bill and any bill that does not contain the Stupak amendment.
* In addition, please TELEPHONE the offices of your two U.S. senators. Give your name and address, and tell the lawmakers' staff persons that you wish to be recorded as "opposed to the health care legislation, because the abortion language adopted by the Senate is unacceptable." The offices of any member of Congress can be reached through 202-224-3121. You can also find the direct-dial numbers (and fax numbers) for the Washington and in-state offices of your U.S. senators and House member by calling up their individual profiles on this website, here.
* Also, please send short letters to the "letters to the editor" features of your local newspapers, in order to alert your fellow pro-life citizens to the pro-abortion policies that the Obama White House and the pro-abortion lobby are trying to smuggle into law through "health care reform." You can find contact information for your local news media in our "Media Guide" here.
* If you are able, click here to donate to support the efforts of National Right to Life in opposition to pro-abortion health care legislation.
* News media: For further information on this issue, contact NRLC at 202-626-8820 or 202-626-8825.
