Health care reform issues are clearly not off the table for conservatives, and abortion seems to be the new battleground. According to Americans United for Life (AUL), more than two dozen states are now working on legislation aimed at closing what state lawmakers believe is a loophole for abortion and federal tax dollars. “This was the biggest expansion of abortion since Roe v. Wade,” says AUL President and CEO Dr. Charmaine Yoest, referring to the new health care reform measure. Missouri state Senator Scott Rupp is among those who believe it is necessary for state legislatures to act in response to the federal law. Rupp heads up the state senate committee that quickly passed proposed legislation which would ban any health insurance exchange, like the ones states will create under the new federal law, from offering policies that cover elective abortions. “There are multiple issues where taxpayer funds can and would be going to fund abortions,” according to Rupp.
Many in the pro-choice community say the push for state laws is a politically-motivated smokescreen. “These initiatives are really unnecessary,” says Planned Parenthood’s Laurie Rubiner, adding, “There are no federal funds being used to pay for abortions and that’s made very clear in the bill.” Rubiner also points to the Executive Order signed by President Obama, negotiated primarily to allay the fears of pro-life Democrats headed up by Congressman Bart Stupak (D-MI). The order served to reassure that group to the point of winning key “yes” votes on health care reform, but not everyone’s convinced. “The truth is, everyone knew that the Executive Order was just a fig leaf that was meant to cover up the fact that they were going to pass this huge expansion of abortion funding,” says Yoest.
Planned Parenthood has pledged to work against state efforts to restrict abortion coverage options. Rubiner says it’s also important “that people understand what’s really behind these initiatives” calling them “very political.” It’s certainly an issue that could work its way into state and national elections this fall. Political analysts like Michael Barone say, “I think it’s a fair question to ask a candidate, ‘Are you for or against such provisions?’” Lawmakers want to be clear: this isn’t a referendum on the legality of abortion. “We’re just saying we don’t want our tax dollars to go to fund these types of things,” Rupp says.