A coalition of 67 pro-life organizations, including the Susan B. Anthony List and the March for Life, sent a letter to members of Congress Tuesday emphasizing their opposition to any funding of Obamacare subsidies, known as cost sharing reduction (CSR) programs, without Hyde Amendment language prohibiting taxpayer funding of abortion.
Obamacare currently allows the CSRs to go toward plans that cover abortions, but insurers are required to keep those funds separate from abortion services.
“We are strongly opposed to Obamacare stabilization funding unless amended so such funds cannot be used for plans that include elective abortion,” they write. “In addition, we will oppose any larger legislative package that includes stabilization funds for abortion-covering plans.”
“Any Member voting for the Alexander-Murray proposal, or other Obamacare stabilization legislation not covered by the Hyde amendment,” they emphasize, “would not only be voting to sustain what many have called the largest expansion of abortion since Roe v. Wade, but would also be voting to directly appropriate taxpayer dollars for insurance that includes elective abortion.”
The Alexandar-Murray proposal would give CSR payments to Obamacare insurers for two years to reimburse them for a requirement that they reduce co-pays and deductibles for low-income Obamacare participants.
Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD), one of the bill’s proponents, said that he wants to ensure that the funding money doesn't go toward abortions.
“I am pro-life and I don’t want any of it being used for abortion services,” he said Wednesday.
Sen Patty Murray (D-WA), one of the bill’s co-authors, insisted Wednesday that they are not going to add Hyde Amendment language.
The battle over Hyde protections in Obamacare measures has been postponed for now after Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) announced that they will not add the bill to the must-pass year-end spending bill with a December 22nd deadline, but will wait until early next year.
