Washington, DC – Rep. Bart Stupak caved in on his commitment to oppose the pro-abortion health care bill today by making a deal with the White House. In exchange for Stupak’s vote and that of the others in his coalition, Obama has agreed to sign an executive order after the health care bill is passed that would supposedly prohibit public funds from paying for abortions, especially in community health clinics that are slated to receive a huge boost in tax funding.
However, Obama’s executive order can be rescinded at any time, and will likely expire well before the health care plan will go into effect four years from now – if he even signs the order at all. More importantly, the law as written trumps an executive order making it likely that the order would not hold up in court if challenged by the abortion lobby.
The Stupak coalition support will presumably allow the highly unpopular health bill to pass later this evening.
“This should really be called the Planned Parenthood bailout bill,” said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. “Obama told Planned Parenthood that abortion funding is at the heart of his health care proposal and that he would not yield on that issue. When you take out something’s heart it dies.
“Stupak’s, executive order isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on. We predict that as surely as the sun rises in the east, something will happen to negate that executive order between now and when the funding will begin. Stupak has made a deal with the devil that will cost millions of lives.”
Even if Obama’s health care bill is finally signed into law, there remain constitutional questions about provisions, especially those that would force the uninsured to buy government insurance then levy fines and other punishment on those who do not buy the required insurance. Over 30 State Attorneys General have vowed to challenge the legality and constitutionality the bill in court.
“Operation Rescue supports efforts to oppose this ill-conceived abortion-funding scheme in the streets through peaceful protest, in the courts, and at the ballot box,” said Newman. “We are taking notes, and will let it be known that a vote for this health care bill is a vote for abortion. It is certain that in spite of the outcome of today’s political shenanigans, this is not over yet.”
