Federal Department of Health and Human Services green lights taxpayer subsidies for abortion

Responding to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ approval of Pennsylvania’s plan to implement high-risk insurance pooling under the federal takeover of private healthcare, state Rep. Jerry Stern (R-Blair), a Pro-Life Caucus co-chairman, slammed the plan’s backdoor measures that would subsidize abortion procedures. The Commonwealth will receive $160 million in taxpayer dollars to subsidize high-risk insurance plans, which will cover most cases of abortion.

“Disregarding for a moment the unconstitutionality of the federal healthcare takeover, the implementation of high-risk pooling insurance in Pennsylvania will subsidize abortion procedures – a move that the majority of Americans oppose,” said Stern. “With these actions, the president, Governor Rendell, and Commissioner Ario tried to secretly implement a pro-abortion agenda using taxpayer funds.  Thankfully, in this case, pro-life organizations exposed their agenda.” 

Page 14 of Commissioner Ario’s plan permits taxpayer subsidization of all legalized abortion procedures in Pennsylvania for high-risk insurance, except in the case of sex selection. This language violates the longstanding principles of the Hyde Amendment and the Stupak-Pitts Amendment to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Stupak-Pitts passed the U.S. House and would have prevented all federal funding for abortion coverage, but was not included in the final version.

Agreeing with Pennsylvania Rep. Joe Pitts (R-Lancaster) who said the Rendell-Obama plan “deeply offends the conscience of millions of Americans,” Stern noted that the Commonwealth could unfortunately become a pilot program to expand federal funding for the destruction of life.

“Pennsylvania will not become the guinea pig for the destruction of innocent life. Just as this government takeover forces citizens to pay for a supposed ‘right’ to health insurance, it simultaneously forces citizens to pay for the destruction of the God-given right to life,” said Stern. “This is a last attempt by Governor Rendell’s lame-duck administration and an unpopular president to satiate the far-left’s appetite.”

Stern is a co-sponsor of House Bill 2053, the Freedom of Choice in Health Care Act, which would assert Pennsylvania’s right under the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution to protect the rights of individuals to purchase their own health insurance.

Listen to Rep. Stern Radio Report/Podcast – New Federal Healthcare Law

Rep. Jerry Stern
80th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
(814) 695-2398
(717) 787-9020

Member Site:  JerryStern.com

Contact:  Tricia G. Lehman

 (717) 772-9840

Caucus Site:  PAHouseGOP.com