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‘No funding for abortion,’ Rep. Stupak repeats on Roe v. Wade anniversary
cna ^ | Januay 22, 2010

Posted on 01/22/2010 4:24:59 PM PST by NYer

Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.)

.- Speaking to Catholic News Agency, Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) has repeated his opposition to funding abortion in the proposed health care bill. Though not confident his amendment will be in the draft of the final bill, he said further negotiation is needed. He believes he has enough votes to affect the final outcome.

The Congressman added that he appreciates the dedication of those willing to “stand up for life” at the March for Life on Friday, the anniversary of the pro-abortion rights Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision.

In a Friday interview, CNA asked Rep. Stupak if he was confident the Stupak-Pitts Amendment would be included in the health care legislation.

“Am I confident? No. It will not be in the draft of the final bill,” he replied. “We will have to negotiate.”

Rep. Stupak explained that if there is negotiation on the funding provisions of the bill, the Stupak Amendment will be germane to the discussion.

However, if the negotiations are focused on insurance reform and consumer protection, “there may not be an opportunity to insert the Stupak Amendment into the legislation.”

Stupak told CNA he believes he has enough votes to affect the outcome of health care legislation.

The congressman then described the debate leading to the first vote on the Stupak Amendment, adding that it had been important to “hold the line.”

“I was confident we’d have the votes if we held the line on the Hyde language in the Stupak Amendment,” he continued, referring to the Hyde Amendment restrictions on abortion funding.

“Not everybody was as confident as me.”

Rep. Stupak insisted that pro-lifers were “absolutely not” imposing their values on others with the proposal.

He noted that 55 percent of the newly elected members of Congress opposed public funding for abortion or for insurance policies that provide abortion coverage. He also cited strong public opposition to such funding.

“Most Americans agree with me.”

About 24 of the 64 other Democratic supporters of the Stupak Amendment were pro-choice, he told CNA.

He accused abortion funding proponents themselves of trying to “impose their values against the wishes of the American people.”

Before his amendment, he said, both the House and Senate health care bills required enrollees to pay one dollar per month for “reproductive rights,” which included abortion services.

“That was a mandate, you had to do it. If anyone was imposing their moral viewpoint it was the pro-choice side,” Rep. Stupak insisted.

In the course of his interview with CNA, Stupak also discussed his pro-life convictions.

Support for the right to life has “always been my position,” he said.

He explained that most legislators from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula favor the right to life whether they are Democrats or Republicans. “It’s just who we are up here,” he said.

Asked about his Catholic upbringing, Rep. Stupak said his father was in seminary but left six months short of being ordained to the priesthood.

“I went to Catholic school, my wife went to Catholic school, our sons went to Catholic schools. There’s always been a certain Catholic influence in our families. Both my wife and I have been very strong.”

He added that the U.S. Catholic bishops have been “great to work with” on the pro-life issue.

CNA noted that the March for Life was taking place in Washington, D.C. and asked the Congressman if he would like to address the participants.

“I appreciate their dedication and their willingness to stand up for life,” he replied. “And I certainly appreciate all their help and support and prayers as we fought this amendment on the House floor and we continue to fight this amendment. We must keep the policy as it is, no funding on abortion.”



TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: prolife; stupak

1 posted on 01/22/2010 4:25:00 PM PST by NYer
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To: netmilsmom; thefrankbaum; markomalley; Tax-chick; GregB; saradippity; Berlin_Freeper; Litany; ...
He noted that 55 percent of the newly elected members of Congress opposed public funding for abortion or for insurance policies that provide abortion coverage. He also cited strong public opposition to such funding.

Catholic Ping
Please freepmail me if you want on/off this list


2 posted on 01/22/2010 4:26:27 PM PST by NYer ("Where Peter is, there is the Church." - St. Ambrose of Milan)
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To: NYer

You’re gonna believe a dim-bulb-crat?

Bwahahahahahah!


3 posted on 01/22/2010 4:27:35 PM PST by Da Coyote
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To: NYer

Maybe if Obama promises to put all employed people in Michigan to work for the Federal government, StupaK would be willing to allow paying for the killing of pre-born babies. let the bribing begin.


4 posted on 01/22/2010 4:32:23 PM PST by w1andsodidwe (How can you tell when the President is lying? When his lips move, of course.)
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To: Da Coyote

Whether Stupak is otherwise a complete liberal running dog and whether he personally cares one way or the other about the murder of unborn children, he knows what his constituents expect of him. He has made this his signature issue back home and if he caves in, he’s toast.


5 posted on 01/22/2010 4:32:31 PM PST by Mr. Lucky
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To: Da Coyote
You’re gonna believe a dim-bulb-crat?

No but I will write a nice email and encourage him to do the right thing.
6 posted on 01/22/2010 4:32:37 PM PST by cripplecreek (Seniors, the new shovel ready project under socialized medicine.)
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To: Mr. Lucky

He’s got a huge very sparsely populated district with a lot of college students who come and go and a fairly large number of unionized prison guards. It would be a tough district for either party to represent.


7 posted on 01/22/2010 4:35:17 PM PST by cripplecreek (Seniors, the new shovel ready project under socialized medicine.)
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To: All

Once you snuff out innocent life - anything goes.


8 posted on 01/22/2010 8:35:20 PM PST by Sun (Pray that God sends us good leaders. Please say a prayer now.)
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