House Republicans are launching another objection against President Obama’s health care law, now aiming to reinforce the law’s ban on using federal funds for abortions.
The House Judiciary Subcmte. on the Constitution held a hearing on the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act (H.R.3), introduced last month by Representatives Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Daniel Lipinski (D-IL). Though the president issued an executive order agreeing to the long-standing prohibition before he signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, many anti-abortionists expressed concern that loopholes could be found.
To prevent such an occurrence, the pending legislation would make the restrictions under the Hyde Amendment, a provision that initiated the ban and needs to be renewed every year, a permanent law.The ban would only allow exceptions in the case of rape, incest, health problems or if the pregnant woman is a minor.