Bart Stupak appeared on MSNBC’s Daily Rundown today, to again defend his stance on not voting for Health Care Reform because of his views that the reform bill covers abortions.
Bart Stupak
Mr. Stupak’s position is that the Federal Government will be funding abortion. However, Bart Stupak contradicted himself today when asked about the Hyde amendment and its reference to the Senate’s health bill.
The question was asked;
Do you feel at all concerned that, here you have a bill that works very very hard to keep Federal funds out of abortions. It may not be perfect, but it tries to do that and you’re voting no against it at the lost of perhaps 31 million Americans.
Bart Stupak replied;
Number one, the bill doesn’t give a tax credit to the individual. Under the bill, the refundable tax credit goes to the insurance company that’s paying for the abortion coverage.
Mr. Stupak went on to say;
The person does write a $1.00 check per month okay, but the policy is paid for directly by Federal funds going to the insurance company.
And this is where the contradiction comes in. The interviewer asked;
But are they (the insurance companies) permitted to use that tax money, that tax credit for abortion services? Isn’t that banned by the Hyde Amendment?
Stupak looks off to the side, knowing he’s put on the spot. After thinking for a split second, he says;
Yes. And that’s why, that’s why you want the Hyde Amendment in there so we cannot do that.
You’ve been caught Bart! The Hyde amendment already prohibits any Federal monies from paying for abortion services. You just admitted that the money or tax credits going to the insurance companies will not be used for abortions, because that’s “banned by the Hyde Amendment.”
It’s time you grow up! Do what other anti-abortion members of congress have done, and realize that the Hyde amendment is protected in this bill, like you just admitted. To quote an anti-abortion representative, Rep Dale Kildee (D-MI);
We must not lose sight of what is at stake here. The lives of 31 million American children, adults and seniors – who don’t have Health insurance.
I totally agree. And it will be a huge mistake if the Dems in congress allow “the Party of NO” to run the agenda. That is when they will see that elections matter, when they get voted out in November.
Just further evidence that Rep Stupak is in the pocket of the lobbyists and the GOP – he keeps changing his story, from the number of those ‘behind him’ to the lies about the money (that won’t be) spent on abortions thanks to the Hyde Amendment. The law – already enacted legislation – prevents what this man has been haranguing about for God knows how long and the time has come for people to stand up and demand him to do the job that he was elected to do: Pass Health Care Reform NOW.
The HCR bill is not perfect, not by any stretch of the imagination, but it is better than anything currently tabled by the Party of No and Not – it is a beginning from which many other things can be started, from which true(er) reform can grow. Pass Health Care Reform NOW; don’t let the Party of No define the agenda.