When Congress gets back from its 4th of July recess, an important Subcommittee will make a decision that could impact taxpayer funded-abortions for years to come.
The Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, headed by Rep. José Serrano (D-NY), will vote on whether or not to include legislation that would permit government-funded abortions in the District of Columbia as long as they were paid for by local taxes and not federal funds.
President Obama is directly responsible for the change, as wording in the “Dornan Amendment” was altered through a budget recommendation that came from his office. The Dornan Amendment has prohibited any taxpayer funding of abortions since 1996, but Obama would change that by adding the word “federal” before the word “funds” in this section of the Amendment, thereby permitting “local” funds to be used:
None of the [Federal] funds appropriated under this Act shall be expended for any abortion except where the life of the mother would be endangered if the fetus were carried to term or where the pregnancy is the result of an act of rape or incest.
Joy Yearout, communications director for the Susan B. Anthony List, an anti-abortion group, was hopeful that the Subcommittee would reverse Obama’s directive.
“The House Committee on Appropriations still has time to restore the Dornan Amendment at next week’s hearing,” she said. “Americans overwhelmingly oppose funding for abortion on-demand, and tax dollars spent in our nation’s capital should respect the consciences of taxpayers.”
Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List, estimated that 1,000 more abortions would be performed in the District of Columbia if the revisions to the Dornan Amendment were allowed to go through. She spoke at a press conference last week along with Republican Reps. Jean Schmidt (Ohio), Virginia Foxx (N.C.), Michele Bachmann (Minn.) and Mary Fallin (Okla.).
Fallin said Obama's proposal "represents a gigantic step in the wrong direction.”
“His plan will increase the total number of abortions performed in our nation’s capitol and allow minors to receive taxpayer-funded abortions without parental consent,” she said.
The Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government is scheduled to vote on the Amendment on July 7. If no change is made to the bill at that time, it’s possible that an objection could be raised when the bill hits the House floor.
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