During the debate over health care reform the last couple of years, one claim that critics kept making was that the legislation would result in new taxpayer funding of abortions. As I reported for Ethics Daily, even religious leaders made this claim, despite the fact that numerous journalists and independent fact-checking organizations proved it was not true. Now a federal court has weighed in and reiterated the fact that the health care reform law signed last year by President Barack Obama does not allow for new taxpayer funding of abortion. Regardless what one may think about the legislation, it is important to tell the truth. During the midterm elections last November, pro-life Democratic Representative Steve Driehaus of Ohio--who voted for the health care reform--was attacked by a conservative pro-life organization--the Susan B. Anthony List (SBA List)--that claimed his vote allowed for more government funding of abortion. Even before the election, the Ohio Elections Commission ruled in his favor that the ads were false (see post here). Now a court concluded in a defamation lawsuit Driehaus filed against SBA List that their claim was false. The ruling proclaimed:
The express language of the PPACA does not provide for tax-payer funded abortion. That is a fact, and it is clear on its face.The ruling allows the lawsuit against SBA List to continue and is a clear victory for Driehaus, who lost reelection in large part because of the backlash against health care reform. As I argued last year, the efforts by conservative pro-life groups to defeat pro-life Democrats because of support for health care reform hurt the pro-life movement overall. This is particularly problematic since the evidence continues to mount that the main argument used by the conservative groups was false. SBA List's statement in response to the ruling is itself quite troubling. Here is what a group's counsel said in the statement:
The SBA List's speech was true, or at the very least it was its protected opinion about the meaning of Obamacare.So now even SBA List leaders are acknowledging that their claim might not have been true. They are instead arguing that they should be allowed to say it regardless of if it is true. Although that argument might help them legally--even though it should not--such an attitude means they should be rejected by any who cares about the truth. It is time to reject candidates and groups of all political persuasions who care more about winning elections than being truthful.
There are similar things said about UN aid, it's assumed it goes toward abortions but supposedly is not allowed to by UN charter.
ReplyDeleteI know a lot of people who say things like "I hate paying taxes because I know some of those dollars go to fund abortion." Some of those tax dollars indeed go to Planned Parenthood. The idea that there is some firewall separating those funds for counseling and other services from the funds used to perform abortions seems ludicrous to many. And if the money goes to counsel someone toward having an abortion, or helps her schedule an abortion, is that any different than funding the actual procedure? It's still "abortion funding" in the eyes of many, even though they be legally different.
Money is fungible, but since most of what Planned Parenthood does has nothing do with abortion (and PP is often the only provider of important medical services) the case you bring up is not as big as it is often purported to be. Additionally, many Christians seem to have a double-standard here as they demand money for their private schools with the understanding that courts have ruled that such money can only pay for non-religious aspects of the education (like busing). Why is Planned Parenthood's funding fungible but that of Christian schools is not? If conservative Christians set the standard that money cannot be separated at all, then they will inadvertently create a standard that could be used to end government funds for Christians schools. Just something to think about.
ReplyDeleteI agree about the double-standard, but the Christians I know who complain about this-- who morally struggle with paying taxes-- don't see public funding for Christian education as unbiblical or sinful. They see the church/state line established by a court ruling as being man's law and not God's (and they lobby for man to change the law or to have judges appointed who will overturn a ruling).
ReplyDeleteThey see funding organizations who promote abortion (murder) as a violation of God's law, and therefore evil. One is a violation of God's law where the other one isn't, so they argue.
Now a federal court has weighed in and reiterated the fact that the health care reform law signed last year by President Barack Obama does not allow for new taxpayer funding of abortion. www.rx247.net/urso.html
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