NRLC: New Rule Would Deliver Government Money to Abortionists

Thursday, November 05 2009
"This is a money-laundering scheme -- a federally funded 'bag man' will deliver government funds to abortionists," says National Right to Life Legislative Director Douglas Johnson.
 
Learn more about the National Right to Life Statement  on the latest pro-abortion ploy by U.S. House Democratic Leadership.

For immediate release:
Wednesday, November 4, 2009

For more information:
Communications Dept., (202) 432-3329 mobile, mediarelations@nrlc.org
Federal Legislation Dept., (202) 626-8820, legfederal@aol.com

National Right to Life Statement on latest pro-abortion ploy by U.S. House Democratic Leadership

WASHINGTON (November 4, 2009, 7 PM EST) – The House Democratic leadership today announced that it will propose a "Rule" on the health care bill, H.R. 3962, that will insert language proposed by Rep. Brad Ellsworth (D-In.), and exclude a House vote on an amendment proposed by Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mi.). The House is expected to vote on the "rule" late Friday or early Saturday. The National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), the federation of right-to-life organizations in all 50 states, supports the Stupak Amendment and opposes the pro-abortion Ellsworth-Waxman-Pelosi language. NRLC issued the following statement, which may be attributed to NRLC Legislative Director Douglas Johnson.

"Any House member who votes for the Pelosi rule is voting to establish a federal government insurance plan, the public option, that the bill explicitly authorizes to pay for all elective abortions. When a federal agency pays for abortions, that is federal funding of abortion in reality, whatever contrived labels Speaker Pelosi or her acolytes slap over it. The Ellsworth language is a political fig leaf made out of cellophane -- it directs the federal Secretary of Health to hire a contractor to deliver to abortion providers the payments for elective abortions, payments that are explicitly authorized by the bill [on page 110]. This is a money-laundering scheme -- a federally funded 'bag man' will deliver government funds to abortionists. This is federal funding of elective abortion."

NRLC's objections to the abortion-related provisions of H.R. 3962 are explained in detail in a letter sent to House members on November 2, posted here (or in PDF format, here).

Additional documentation is posted at http://www.nrlc.org/ahc
 
Phone your U.S. House member AGAIN --
urge a NO vote on the pro-abortion "Rule" on H.R. 3962 before Friday!
 
WASHINGTON (UPDATED Nov. 4, 2009) --
Pro-abortion Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Ca.) is planning to try to ram the massive health care bill (H.R. 3962, previously H.R. 3200) through the U.S. House of Representatives this week. The most critical roll call will occur on a procedural vote -- called "the Rule" -- that is expected to occur late on Friday, November 6, or Saturday, November 7.

National Right to Life is urging every pro-life citizen to immediately TELEPHONE the Washington, D.C. office AND the in-district office of his or her representative in the U.S. House of Representatives with a clear and firm message:
 
 "I am a constituent, and I urge you to vote NO on the Rule on the health bill, H.R. 3962, because it does not allow the House to vote on the pro-life Stupak Amendment [pronounced STEW-pak]. The so-called pro-life language that Speaker Pelosi has put into the bill is completely phony. We are not fooled. A vote for this Rule is a vote to set up a new nationwide federal health insurance program, called the "public option," that will be authorized to pay for abortion on demand with federal funds. The only pro-life vote is NO on the Rule on H.R. 3962."

Even if you have already called and written your federal representatives about the health care bills, it is critical that you call again now. Pelosi's party currently controls the House by a margin of 256-177 -- but if as few as 40 Democrats are persuaded to vote with Congressman Stupak in opposition to the "closed rule," it would be impossible for Pelosi to ram the abortion-funding H.R. 3962 through the House. Time is short.

To read NRLC's November 2 letter to U.S. House members, explaining in detail the pro-abortion problems with the bill, click here.

TAKE ACTION NOW!
Call your representative now in order to register your opposition to Speaker Pelosi's strong-arm tactic, the "closed rule," that would allow passage of the pro-abortion H.R. 3962. NOTE: The best times to call the Washington, D.C., office of your representative is generally between 9 AM and 6 PM Eastern Time.

Encourage like-minded friends and family members to also make such calls. 
Contact your Representative NOW! 
 
If you do not know who your U.S. Representative is, click here: http://www.legis.state.ia.us/FindLeg/ 
 
U.S. House of Representatives-Iowa 
Bruce Braley (D-01)
Telephone: 202.225.2911
E-mail: https://forms.house.gov/braley/webforms/issue_subscribe.html 
 
David Loebsack (D-02) 
Telephone: 202.225.6576
E-mail: http://loebsack.house.gov/contactform/ 
 
Leonard Boswell (D-03)
Telephone: 202.225.3806
E-mail: http://boswell.house.gov/messageform.htm   
           
Tom Latham (R-04)
Telephone: 202.225.5476 or Toll Free at 866.428.5642
E-mail: tom.latham@mail.house.gov  
 
Steve King (R-05)
Telephone: 202.225.4426
E-mail: http://www.house.gov/steveking/email.shtm 
 
 
The most important thing is that your representative's staff registers that you want the representative to vote NO on the pro-abortion "Rule" on H.R. 3962, and that you INSIST on adoption of the real pro-life amendment, the Stupak Amendment.

NOTE: If you wish to also fax a letter to your representative in opposition to the "rule" that would allow passage of the pro-abortion H.R. 3962, click here to reach the page that, once you enter your zip code, will lead you to detailed information about your representative in the U.S. House of Representatives, including (in most cases) his or her fax number. Faxed letters are an excellent way to register your opinion. (But do NOT rely on U.S. mail to communicate with your federal representatives, because time is too short.) This link will also give you phone numbers for your representative's in-district offices.
 
For maximum effect, phone during local business hours, as well as to the Washington, D.C., office of your representative, between the hours of 9 AM and 6 PM Eastern Time. The same page will offer you information on how your representative has voted on the key pro-life issues that have come up in the past.
 
For more information:
Communications Dept., (202) 432-3329 mobile, mediarelations@nrlc.org
Federal Legislation Dept., (202) 626-8820, legfederal@aol.com

For More Information:
Kim Lehman
President
C 515.202.2517
kim@iowaRTL.org 
 
Learn More About Iowa Right to Life:  www.iowaRTL.org
 
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Contact us:  515.244.1012
 
Our Mission:
"The mission of Iowa Right to Life is to present detailed and factual information upon which individuals and the general public may make an informed decision about fetal development, abortion, and alternatives to abortion, euthanasia, infanticide and prevention of cruelty to children.  We encourage an understanding of the dignity and worth of each human life, whatever his or her state of circumstances.  We promote, encourage and sponsor amendatory and statutory measures which will accomplishment those purposes for human life."