House passes bill barring funding for abortions

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of Calif., accompanied by House Democratic Caucus Chair Rep. John Larson, D-Conn., attend a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday Oct. 13, 2011.

/ AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta

Updated 11 p.m. ET

The House of Representatives passed a bill Thursday that Republicans say is necessary to keep taxpayer money from funding abortions but that Democrats call "savage" to women and possibly deadly.

The bill, which passed 251-172, according to The Associated Press, would bar federal funding for abortions. It would also prohibit women from using tax subsidies acquired through President Obama's health care reforms to pay for health insurance that covers abortion, except in the cases of rape, incest or risk to the mother's health. Additionally, the bill would let health care providers refuse to perform an abortion if it violates their personal beliefs.

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi said in a press briefing Thursday that the legislation is a "savage" attempt to withhold health care for women. She called the provision allowing doctors to refuse to perform an abortion particularly dangerous and could result in a woman dying.

"One aspect of it could undermine the responsibility of hospitals to deal with women who come in a crisis situation where their lives and health are at risk, and hospitals may not be required to serve them under this bill," she said. "When the Republicans vote for this bill today, they will be voting to say that women can die on the floor of health care providers... it's just appalling."

House leaders said Thursday they were putting the measure up for a vote to fulfill a campaign promise made in the GOP's "Pledge to America."

Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the anti-abortion rights group the Susan B. Anthony List, praised the GOP for following through, saying in a statement that the vote was "long awaited and necessary... to stop taxpayer funding of abortion in Obamacare."

When he signed his health care reforms into law, President Obama also signed an executive order to ensure that no taxpayer dollars would cover abortions -- a move he made to win over some conservative Democrats. But Republicans argue that the executive order could easily be undone.

The long-standing Hyde Amendment also bars federal funding for abortions, but Republicans say this law doesn't adequately apply to Mr. Obama's health care overhaul, since the law significantly expanded the federal government's role in health care.

Democrats hammered the GOP for voting on this measure even though the economy remains the public's top priority.

"Everybody in America has the creation of jobs as their top priority and what are we doing, but wasting time," Pelosi said.

The pro-abortion rights group NARAL points out that with this bill, the GOP-led House will have voted on seven anti-abortion rights bills this year. "The jobs agenda? Ha! That was so 2010," the group wrote on its blog.

The bill is unlikely to progress in the Senate, where Democrats are in the majority.

[Lindag10]

by credibility2 October 14, 2011 12:57 PM EDT
Taxpayers shouldn't be forced to pay for abortions, birth control pills or other birth control devices for anyone, regardless of their economic or marital status. There no reason for anyone to have an unwanted pregnancy given all of the preventive measures available.


--------------

I find this position typical of conservatives. You're AGAINST providing any preventive measures to those who can't afford them, then rail against supporting the inevitable outcome of the practice that you want instituted towards the poor. For the record, I'm not in favor of abortion, but I AM in favor of providing birth control methods to those who can't afford them on their own. People ARE going to have sex despite the obvious objections you conservatives have to it among the poor.

[saturn05]

I see this like any other medical procedure. But others use this as a religious issue and then tie it into a political device which is so wrong.

[lg144]

AIG so what is he lying about? Oh, you can't list it that's why you just shout LIAR. What a loser.

[noloyalisti]

You know that the Republicons have no idea what to do for America, like creating jobs, financial reform, ending US imperialism, etc.

So they go back to their stupid, mindless, conflicted wedge issues. That is all the failed, obsolete Party for the rich have left.

[steven_felton]

11 D's voted for it also. It had your precious Bipartisan support.

[credibility2]

Taxpayers shouldn't be forced to pay for abortions, birth control pills or other birth control devices for anyone, regardless of their economic or marital status. There no reason for anyone to have an unwanted pregnancy given all of the preventive measures available.

[Lindag10]

What preventative measures are you talking about besides birth control pills or other birth control devices that you don't want people to have that can't afford to buy these things on their own?

[JV1970]

You are absolutely right! Medicare should also stop paying for Viagra and all other sexual inhancement drugs too because they are NOT necessary for good health. They are an unnecessary expense that the man who takes them should have to pay for and not Medicare!

[Lindag10]

It is MORE important to play games with health insurance than it is to deal with the financial problems facing the country and pass a bill that would create jobs in the US. Way to go Republicans.

[Lindag10]

Yeah I see ALL the jobs the private sector created with low taxes over the last 10 years. Obama wants to fund infrastructure repairs (schools, buildings, roads and bridges). Repairing these things would create construction jobs (except in Mortar's world) which would help the unemployed.

[JV1970]

I guess you haven't heard the latest news! The Republicans DO have a jobs bill that they passed yesterday!

[P0ST1ING_AWAY]

by bilrobi1 October 14, 2011 10:21 AM EDT
This may come as a surprise,but not all woman who have abortions are on welfare. If you have stats to support your statement, I'm sure we would all like to see them.
==========================================
Totally irrelevant.
It is none of your business what a women decides to
do with her body.
You MoronGelical christians need to get your azzes out
of this country. Maybe you can go live with your
brethren, the Taliban. They ALSO like to tell
women what to do.

[Lifeson2112]

I don't care what she does with her body. Its the innocent inside her I'm concerned with.

[JV1970]

I agree with you, Lifeson2112! That's who I'm concerned with too because they didn't ask to exist and they have no "say" in their situations.

[P0ST1ING_AWAY]

by bilrobi1 October 14, 2011 10:20 AM EDT
Would that include you of people you care about? What an incredibly moronic thing to say.
================================================
I am sure it was meant to apply to lowlife MoronGelical christians.
American needs to get rid of these cockroaches NOW.

[Lifeson2112]

No, we need to get rid of the socialist minded losers who are leeching off the taxpayers.

[Lifeson2112]

No, we need to get rid of the socialist minded losers who are leeching off the taxpayers.

[southpaw99]

So this is the all important issue to republicans in Congress?
They are nothing but greedy shysters, no more social issues please.
Kick this idiots out, once and for all!

[steven_felton]

Bipartisan support looking at the vote totals.

[darwufche]

House is full of loose cannons and laughable pigs.

[Progress4USA]

Support Post-birth Abortion!!!!!

[bilrobi1]

Would that include you of people you care about? What an incredibly moronic thing to say.

[jdenoyon]

"Post-birth abortion" isn't technically abortion. "Abortion" happens prior to birth. Once a live being is born, it is classified as murder.