McIntyre & Shuler Won't Support Public Health Plan that provides funding for abortions

[ccharles000]

The following letter was sent to Nancy Pelosi by 19 conservative Democrats. North Carolina's Heath Shuler and Mike McIntyre were among those who signed the letter.

June 25, 2009

Dear Honorable Pelosi:

As the debate on health care reform continues and legislation is produced, it is imperative that the issue of abortion not be overlooked. Plans to mandate coverage for abortions, either directly or indirectly is unacceptable.

We believe in a culture that supports and respects the right to life and is dedicated to the protection and preservation of families. Therefore, we cannot support any health care reform proposal unless it explicitly excludes abortion from the scope of any government-defined or subsidized health insurance plan. We believe that a government-defined or subsidized health insurance plan, should not be used to fund abortion.

Furthermore, we want to ensure that the Health Benefits Advisory Committee cannot recommend abortion services be included under covered benefits or as part of a benefits package. Without an explicit exclusion, abortion could be included in a government subsidized health care plan under general health care. The health care reform package produced by Congress will be landmark, and with legislation as important as this, abortion must be addressed clearly in the bill text.

Furthermore, funding restrictions save lives by reducing the number of abortions. The Guttmacher Policy Review, a leading pro-choice research organization noted "that about one third of women who would have had an abortion if support were available carried their pregnancies to term when the abortion fund was unavailable."

Thank you for taking the time to consider our request. By ensuring that abortions are not funded through any health care reform package, we will take this controversial issue off the table so that Congress can focus on crafting a broadly-supported health care reform bill.

Respectfully yours,

Reps. Dan Boren (D-OK); Bart Stupak (D-MI); Colin Peterson (D-MN); Tim Holden (D-PA); Travis Childers (D-MS); Lincoln Davis (D-TN); Heath Shuler (D-NC) Solomon Ortiz (D-TX); Mike McIntyre (D-NC); Jerry Costello (D-IL); Gene Taylor (D-MS); James Oberstar (D-MN); Bobby Bright (D-AL); Steve Driehaus (D-OH); Marcy Kaptur (D-OH); Charlie Melancon (D-LA); John Murtha (D-PA); Paul Kanjorski (D-PA); and Kathleen Dahlkemper (D-PA).

Ah, yes, Shuler and McIntyre..those morally superior men, always concerned about those most at risk in our society. I guess we women should all just feel lucky that we aren't gang raped, beheaded or stoned to death for our "transgressions."

http://www.bluenc.com/mcintyre-shuler-wont-support-public-health-plan-provides-funding-abortions

[BrklynLiberal]

1. Screw 'em all. Do they feel it should cover Viagra? What about vasectomies?

Disgusting bunch of hypocrites....

[dflprincess]

2. If they were all that concerned about a "right to life"

they'd all be very vocal supporters of a single payer system.

[DrToast]

3. Is abortion covered under most insurance plans?

If so, I can't see why you'd exclude a legal procedure from any public plan.

[colinmom71]

11. Actually, no it's generally not covered...

Few procedures are covered by private health insurers. Usually, they will only cover D&C's to treat incomplete miscarriages or procedures that are medically indicated (terminations for threatened maternal health, fetal demise, fetal health issue). But the majority of health insurers do not cover first trimester abortions "by choice" where the procedure is not due to medical causes. Though to be fair, all health insurers prefer to be presented with a medically justified reason for covering *any* procedure.

I do have to give credit my husband's employer's provided health plan. They do cover abortions for any reason...

[angee_is_mad]

4. You act like U R Surprise

Being a North Carolinian myself, I would have been surprise if those two would have been for Public Option.

[Clio the Leo]

5. Exactly.........

..... we often forget that some of our Democratic Reps are not representing what is exactly the most progressive parts of the country. It's either a slightly left of center Democrat, or a Bible Thumpin Republican.

As a Tennessean who is represented by the later, I'm JEALOUS of anyone who is priviledged to have the former.

[DAMANgoldberg]

7. Cong. Heath Shuler ...

Is in a seriously RED district of Western North Carolina, he only won because of the Democratic tide and Buncombe County (Asheville) with a good turnout from Cullowhee, the home of Western Carolina University. After all, Eric Rudolph called it home.

[billyoc]

6. Don't need 'em.

No R's or Blue Dogs needed.

[quaker bill]

8. If constructed properly, I agree

I do not think the plan should cover elective procedures. The very notion of calling it "choice" suggests an elective procedure. The plan should not cover viagra, breast enhancement, liposuction, gender reassignment, or rhinoplasties, either.

Now, if any such procedure is medically necessary, it should be covered. Plastic surgery to reconstruct is fine and should be covered, abortions necessary to protect the life and health of the mother should be covered. I think funding abortions for cases of rape and incest should be provided. Birth control medications and devices should be funded (free or with nominal co-pay).

I ardently support the pro-choice position, I just think it is a choice and should not be free of charge. The choice should be easily available to all and we should work to keep the costs down on this and every other medical procedure. The public plan however should be generally limited to medically necessary procedures.

[and-justice-for-all]

9. Conservtive Democrats? fuck me...

What the hell is wrong with people? This shit pisses me off.

All these 'pro-life' idiots share this delusion that all pregnancies are healthy ones, that every fertilized egg is going to produce a healthy child; well it doesn't.

How ignorant and stupid, to be so naive must be great, no intelligence necessary.

[Vinca]

10. It boggles the mind. You'd think women went and got abortions

because it's a fun thing to do with the girls. Jeeeeez. Usually there is a very valid reason and unless the 19 are willing to either foot the bill for unwanted pregnancies and then adopt all the resulting children, they should STFU.

[colinmom71]

12. Dear Honorable Democratic Posers...

As the debate on health care reform continues and legislation is produced, it is imperative that the issue of abortion not be overlooked. Plans to mandate coverage for abortions must be instilled in any publicly provided health coverage plan.

We believe in a culture that respects the law and the general principles our country's laws were founded upon, in particular, our stated rights to pursue a happy, fulfilling life and the liberty with which to do so. In 1973, the US Supreme Court ruled that the right to seek an abortion is Constitutionally legal and valid as a matter of medical privacy between a woman and her doctor. Since when is it a proper function of governance to concertedly thwart a person's right to seek a legal medical procedure, simply because some people may not agree with the choice?

Furthermore, your argument to not cover abortion services also can easily apply to contraception and birth control measures such as surgical sterilization. Your argument is that respecting life means being "dedicated to the protection and preservation of families". Persons who are using birth control are not having families, so clearly your stated philosophy here means that in order to preserve the traditional family unit, efforts to thwart having families must not be funded or subsidized by a public health coverage plan. Which of you are willing to be the first to step on that political land-mine?

Furthermore, restricting funding on abortion from public health plans does not always "save lives". I can think of one expressed example where it could endanger a life - mine. Without going into overt detail, another pregnancy for me (and any women like me) could be fatal. Previous medical complications make another pregnancy too precarious to attempt, and should our chosen birth control method fail, my doctor has advised a first trimester abortion to avoid a threat to my life. I hope I don't come across as arrogant when I say that I'm pretty sure my husband and son would prefer my living presence to a funeral for myself and an already doomed fetus.

Furthermore, you cite a study claiming women carried unwanted pregnancies to term when abortion funding was unavailable. So you're implying here that you believe it is a valid government action to manipulate women financially, in denying them coverage for a legal medical procedure, in order to compel them to remain pregnant against their will. Well, if your aim here is to promote more unwanted pregnancies being carried to term, I think it's only fair then that you also support a new program that greatly increases subsidies for childcare, as well as food, housing and TANF assistance to families who "chose life" instead of abortion. Prove that you are pro-life Democrats and introduce these measures before Congress in conjunction to the health plan that you believe should deny coverage for legal abortions...

Thank you for taking the time to consider my request. I look forward to watching your efforts to improve the health and well-being of American families in these trying economic times...

Respectfully,
Stacey W. (citizen, wife, mother, and a real Democrat)