(CNSNews.com) - The Senate version of health care reform allows federal funds to go to insurance companies that pay for abortion. When asked if he thinks the House will approve this version of the bill or something similar in House legislation, a spokesman for House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) said that the final outcome rests with pro-life Democrats.
“Everyone knows what Leader Boehner’s position is on protecting human life, and we don’t do the whipping for Majority Leader [Steny] Hoyer,” Michael Steel, Boehner’s press secretary, told CNSNews.com.
“The question is: Will pro-life Democrats support this version of the bill?” said Steel. “Will they pledge to oppose any health care bill that increases the number of abortions, particularly taxpayer-funded abortions?”
Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.) called the Obama administration the “most pro-abortion administration” in the nation’s history.
“It’s a disgrace in my judgment that this administration has turned out to be the most pro-abortion administration in the history of the nation,” Franks told CNSNews.com. “I mean, Mr. Obama is becoming the abortion president.
“One of his first acts in office was to send taxpayer money, in the midst of an economic crisis, overseas. He sent this money to be able to facilitate the killing of children, and I just think it’s an astonishing disgrace,” Franks added.
“Now, that’s of course manifest in this amendment today,” said Franks, in reference to a health care bill amendment by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) to prohibit federal money going to insurers that provide abortions, but which was defeated by the Democrats in committee.
“The administration seems hell bent on the government taking over health care, which I think we could do almost no less damage if we outlaw it. It is a bad way to go in the first place,” Franks said.
“But now, to say that we’re going to encourage insurance companies that pay for the killing of unborn children, that somehow taxpayers want their dollars spent that way, again, I think is another tragedy,” said Franks.
Franks predicted that a version of the health care reform bill with the abortion section would face obstacles to passage in the House.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that there are enough pro-life Democrats that will change their mind on the bill, that it will certainly cause it to have a lot less votes,” he said.
“I don’t know what the ultimate outcome will be,” said Franks. “Obviously, I think that a government take-over of health care is spectacularly insane, so I am not going to vote for it either way. But to add to it blood money to kill the unborn just beggars my ability to express.”
Franks also said a total government takeover of health care will not occur.
“Well, I’m going to predict that a full takeover by government of health care is not going to happen, because I think the Democrats have enough focus on self-preservation politically that they are not going to go against the people that badly,” said Franks.
“But they do seem, like I say, the Obama administration seems committed to socializing this country and essentially erasing some of the foundations of the nation that made us the greatest country in the world,” he added.
Stephanie Lundberg, a spokesperson for House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) issued the following statement to CNSNews.com: “The bill is going through committee. We will see what amendments are offered and accepted.”