Repug Rep Shadegg to buck pro-lifers, party, will vote "present" on abortion amendment

[jefferson_dem]

GOP Shadegg to buck pro-lifers, party
By Chris Frates | 11/7/09 @ 6:50 PM EST

Rep. John Shadegg (R-Ariz.) said he plans to buck right-to-life groups and his own party and vote “present” on a Democratic amendment that would prevent federal funding for abortions as part of health-care overhaul legislation.

Shadegg is doing so in the face of strong support from groups like National Right to Life and Americans United for Life, which say they will count present votes as not supporting its pro-life agenda. He said this was a “bad call” for pro-life organizations and he vowed not to “give a vote away” to right-to-life groups for what he considers a very flawed process. Shadegg contends that Pelosi is using this amendment to wrangle votes for the overall bill.

“(Nancy) Pelosi is speaker and she’s pro abortion every minute of every hour of every day as speaker,” Shadegg said in an interview with POLITICO Saturday evening. “This is a vote to help her move the bill forward.”

He said he expects at least four or five other Republicans to join along. Sources say Republican Reps. Phil Gingrey (Ariz.), Steve King (Iowa), and Scott Garrett (N.J.) are likely to also vote present.

The Arizonan has been bickering all day via email with his Republican colleagues. He said he feels House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) circumvented his conference by announcing he would support the amendment, brought by Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), without consensus from GOP lawmakers.

“This is a gut-wrenching issue for a lot of people,” Shadegg said. “But I won't support Pelosi’s bill, which is not pro-life at all.”

-- Jake Sherman

http://mobile.politico.com/blog.cfm?blogid=41386&bloggerid=142

[Hello_Kitty]

1. That's right Johnny, you stick to your principles! eom