RNC Offers Insurance Coverage for Abortions

By: Stephanie Condon
Topics: Health Care

5574442Updated at 10:45 a.m. ET with reaction from RNC Chair Michael Steele.

The Republican National Committee offers its employees insurance coverage for elective abortions, the Politico reports. That's a seeming contradiction to the party platform and the GOP's current position on an abortion amendment added to the House health care bill.

The GOP platform calls elective abortion "a fundamental assault on innocent human life," according to Politico.

RNC spokeswoman Gail Gitcho reportedly said the policy has been in effect since 1991, long before current RNC Chairman Michael Steele assumed his leadership role. Upon learning of the coverage in their insurance plan, Steele instructed the RNC to opt out of any coverage for elective abortion services.

"Money from our loyal donors should not be used for this purpose," Steele said in a statement. "I don't know why this policy existed in the past, but it will not exist under my administration. Consider this issue settled."

Originally, the RNC chose not to opt out of abortion coverage, Cigna representatives told Politico.

Almost every single Republican in the House of Representatives voted in favor of an amendment to the Democrats' health care bill, offered by Reps. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) and Joe Pitts (R-Penn.), that explicitly prohibits the use of federal funds to pay for plans that cover abortion. It also effectively limits private insurers from being able to offer abortion coverage within the proposed national health insurance exchange. The amendment passed with some Democratic support.

The only Republican who bucked the party and voted "present" on the amendment did so in an attempt to foil the overall health care bill's chances of passage.

"We believe in the sanctity of life, and the Stupak-Pitts Amendment addresses a moral issue of the utmost concern," House GOP leaders John Boehner (R-Ohio), Eric Cantor (R-Va.) and Mike Pence (R-Ind.) said in a statement after the vote. "It will limit abortion in the United States. Because of this, while we strongly and deeply oppose the underlying bill, we decided to stand with Life and support Stupak-Pitts."

Stephanie Condon
Stephanie Condon is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.
Follow on Twitter »

23 Comments +

Add a Comment

See all 23 Comments


by MiddleClassWorker November 13, 2009 3:44 PM EST: They Larry Craiged themselves! HA!; Reply to this comment


by thebob-bob November 13, 2009 2:12 PM EST: "The current policy has been in effect since 1991".
Steele sounds like Obama here. Blame it on Bush.

Republicans don't want healthcare reform because it will help Obama. Principled stands on abortion or deficits or government regulation??

They've been paying for elective abortion (donations to the Republican Party) and Bush racked up monster deficits without a word from Republicans.

Ha Ha Ha! What shameless political pandering and hypocrisy.; Reply to this comment


by toldyouso21 November 13, 2009 12:17 PM EST: "We believe in the sanctity of life, and the Stupak-Pitts Amendment addresses a moral issue of the utmost concern," House GOP leaders John Boehner (R-Ohio), Eric Cantor (R-Va.) and Mike Pence (R-Ind.) said in a statement after the vote. "It will limit abortion in the United States. Because of this, while we strongly and deeply oppose the underlying bill, we decided to stand with Life and support Stupak-Pitts."

L I A R S !!!!!!!!!! If this was the true position of the RNC they NEVER would have had the option in the first place. To have it all of these years and to only opt out AFTER it was revealed publicly further underlines the hypocrisy of the Republican party. Wonder how many "Christian Republicans " within the party actually exercised that option when they felt the need. This also explains WHY...when both the house and senate were Republican under Bush an attempt to address Roe v WAde occurred ZERO times....

Let the so called "far right" wake up--they want your votes and pander to them by pretending to support and agree with your views--but under the covers--its an entirely different story.; Reply to this comment


by SSBlakeley November 13, 2009 10:48 AM EST: To endurob5: Ya tell that to all the people who donate money to the RNC which, in this case, the funds were used!! May not be tax dollars but was private donations from people who are pro life! The same people who stand and protest outside abortion clinics! Little did they know their contributions were paying for the abortions too!! So tell me, still ok with you?; Reply to this comment


by SSBlakeley November 13, 2009 10:45 AM EST: Also, it turns out that the RNC didn't choose to opt out of abortion coverage when given the opportunity, as told by several CIGNA employees!! I LVOE IT!!! Nothing like a red two faced elephant!!!; Reply to this comment


by Cattzen November 13, 2009 9:35 AM EST: The RNC always USES this issue to gain political support or in this case obstruct the majority. Affordable and Comprehensive HealthCare for every American is the issue not the right to life vs. the privacy of choice for women.; Reply to this comment


by SSBlakeley November 13, 2009 9:12 AM EST: This just proves the continuous hypocracy of the RNC! I hope the loony left leaning media jumps on this and blasts it in every media outlet there is!! I have no doubt that many of these RNC workers knew about this coverage and still went out and protested at abortion clinics. The RNC is toast baby!!!; Reply to this comment

by lami987 November 13, 2009 12:21 AM EST

Same thing with publicly funded health care. All members of congress get publicly funded health care but almost all republicans member of congress object to even public option in health care choices for Americans. They just want we the people pay for theirs while they protect their beloved private health insurance companies.

Reply to this comment


by endurorob_5 November 13, 2009 6:58 AM EST: There is a difference between publically funded for all and publically funded for those who work for the government. If you work for the government and your employer provides health care how else would it be funded other than from tax dollars.


by retm-w November 13, 2009 9:14 AM EST: It's not just the repubs, the dems don't want to go on the public option either. Does that tell you something, it's their bill.


by actornaught November 12, 2009 10:31 PM EST: Oh, and let me throw another hypocrite log on the fire.

Just like their favorite entertainers, the phony conservative representatives don't believe their own spew and have nothing but contempt for their audience/constituents.

You're ALL food...; Reply to this comment

by actornaught November 12, 2009 10:25 PM EST

Republican and Bluedog input for the Healthcare overhaul will never be anything but sabotage. Even with the vile lobbyist influence, the dems by themselves more closely represent the overall will of the electorate.

Reply to this comment