By fitsnews – October 5, 2010
Claiming that U.S. President Barack Obama’s socialized medicine law provides taxpayer funding for abortions – a pro-life group is taking aim at the U.S. lawmaker most responsible for its passage.
House Budget Committee Chairman John Spratt – who rammed “Obamacare” through his committee this spring (in lieu of passing a federal budget) – is being targeted by Americans United for Life (AUL). In fact the political action wing of the Washington, D.C.-based group will conduct “online grassroots organizing, a radio ad campaign, and email blasts” in Spratt’s district, according to a news release.
“Americans are overwhelmingly opposed to taxpayer-funded abortion,” said Dr. Charmaine Yoest, AUL’s leader. “Candidates who supported the largest expansion of federal funding of abortion ever are going to find out that in this election, Life Counts.”
Abortion became a key issue in the debate over “Obamacare” earlier this year. Specifically, U.S. Rep. Bart Stupak insisted that Obama sign an executive order affirming his administration’s commitment to the Hyde Amendment, which theoretically bans taxpayer-funded abortions.
That “concession” earned Obama just enough votes to pass the $2.5 trillion legislation.
AUL contends that Obama’s Executive Order was meaningless.
In fact according to a legal analysis prepared by the organization, Obama’s order “does not even attempt to address the broad mandate authorities in the bill that could be used to require private insurance plans to cover abortions. For instance, the Mikulski amendment to the Senate bill allows an administrative agency to determine what is ‘preventive care.’ If abortion is categorized as ‘preventive care,’ private insurance plans will be required to cover abortions.”
Seeking a fifteenth term in Washington, Spratt is one of the most liberal (and vulnerable) Democratic leaders in America. Given his left-leaning record, polls currently show him trailing GOP challenger Mick Mulvaney – one reason why he has recently decided to go negative against Mulvaney.
UPDATE: Here’s the radio ad AUL is running against Spratt.
***
