'The fact is the U.S. government always has and always will subsidize abortions.'

[Are_grits_groceries]

Let's Keep The Abortion Fight Out of the Health Care Debate

It’s become pretty routine for members of Congress to hold up legislation of all sorts in order to press unrelated political and social agendas. It’s one of the factors that make it so hard for lawmakers to stick to the merits of any particular issue and find constructive compromises. And it certainly contributes to the complete lack of respect that Americans have for Congress.

The latest example is the big fight over abortion on the health care bill. Abortion is a huge issue in its own right, and one on which every American has a strong opinion. Most of those opinions are in between the polar opposites of never and sure, but Congress has a lot of trouble parsing grays and usually prefers a black-and-white approach. So it is with amendments to the health care bill.
<snip>
The current fight, which threatens passage of the bill, is allegedly over the use of taxpayer dollars to pay for abortion. I say “allegedly” because that’s not the real fight – it’s only the excuse to turn an important debate over health care into a polemic to excite one political base or another. Abortion opponents are demanding language preventing anyone who gets a government subsidy to buy health insurance that covers abortion. In other words, if you’re poor, forget it. Those with jobs who get coverage through their employers face no such restrictions because most private plans do cover abortions.

Let’s leave the argument about abortion per se for another day and consider the real issue. And as you read this column, please don’t assume you can guess my own views. I’m not arguing for or against abortion rights – only for separating the issue from the health care debate. I think most everyone can understand why abortion opponents may be morally outraged at the thought of their tax dollars financing abortions, just as conscientious objectors might be outraged to see their taxes go to supporting war.

Here’s a fact that’s hard to dispute: The government has always subsidized abortions. Always has, always will.
<snip>
I know, I know. The famous Hyde amendment supposedly bars that, and we have this fight every year when the appropriations bills come due. The amendment results in real restrictions for some -- mainly the poor and government workers.
<snip>
But the U.S. government still subsidizes abortions for lots of other people through tax deductions. Everyone who get insurance through their employers pays their health premiums in pre-tax dollars. In other words, a portion of their premiums are subsidized in the form of a lower tax bill. The self-employed get to deduct their premiums as well. How is that not using taxpayer money to subsidize their insurance? And the cost of an abortion is a deductible medical expense that can reduce an individual's taxes. Isn’t that using taxpayer funds?

When you think of it this way, the demands of Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE), Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI) and others who may think they need to burnish their anti-abortion credentials are ridiculous. If they genuinely want to outlaw abortions, they need to persuade the Supreme Court to do it. And if they insist on using the tax code and federal subsidies to get around the court, then the only fair thing is to do it across the board and end tax deductions for all health premiums. That won’t happen, of course, because the rich and powerful, who will always have access to abortions, won’t let it happen.

But that’s no excuse for this hypocrisy. So let’s be honest with ourselves and drop it from the health care debate.
http://kiplinger.com/columns/washington/archives/lets-keep-the-abortion-fight-out-of-the-health.html

Stewpot and whoever else has their paws in this are working from a much larger agenda. There are some unseen hands guiding this IMHO. If HCR is derailed, so much the better.

I'm not sure of all the players, but this is about power pure and simple. the fact that C-street and the Catholic Bishops are mucking about in it, and quite openly, suggests that there is a corporatist-theological basis for this fight.

[ixion]

1. if healthcare were actually regulated and made affordable

the government wouldn't have to subsidize anything.

Just sayin'.

[cali]

2. huh? If it's single payer, it's subsidized

and hw would you regulate it and make it affordable without subsidizing it?

[ixion]

4. by not allowing Big Med to game the system

which is why health care costs in this country are outrageous, in my opinion.

I see health care as a component of any healthy society. It's a utility, akin to public schools, electric, water, gas and so on. It should not be over-priced, and should be readily available to all who need it, without discrimination.

There was a day in this country when it was so. Now, the playing field is controlled by insurance companies, healthcare conglomerates, pharmaceutical companies, and the like, and they've locked it up and jacked prices sky high.

I don't think the things that are required for a society to survive and be healthy should be so restricted.

[Are_grits_groceries]

3. If the government would enforce some regulations

already on the books and pass others, the system wouldn't be such a mess. The new HCR will depend on this also.

The economic crisis was as much a failure of risky business and other factors as it was of people like the SEC ignoring what they should have done.

[ixion]

8. fat chance of that...

the government has a poor history in this regard.

[defendandprotect]

5. We're now subsdizing the Vatican with our tax dollars ...Pelosi works for US Catholic Bishops...???

and takes phone call from "Rome" . . . . and you say all is well?

The Vatican is a much a corporation with as much inerest in influencing our

goverment and legislation as any other corporation --

Notice that they succeeded in getting handouts from taxpayers -- subsidies for the

"faith based" religions -- just about the time that they urgently needed it to pay

lawsuits resulting from their pedophile priests --

There's at least one investigation going on now into questions of the Catholic Church

having used that money to pay their lawsuits!!!

Meanwhile, Catholics support government run health care by 70%++

and also majority support CONTRACEPTION AND ABORTION BEING COVERED IN HEALTH CARE REFORM.

Catholic women have just as many abortions as any other women ---

and the US Catholic Bishops are acting in their own self-interests in trying to destroy

the right to birth control and abortion.



The FAKE rw religious act is being moved into the Democartic Party . . .

"You can only be betrayed by those closest to you --"

And Pelosi's activities with US Catholic Bishops and call from "Rome" in

aiding and abetting the Stupak Amendment make it clear that the Democrats are

introducing a new dealer/new pack -- and its stacked.

[Are_grits_groceries]

7. Did I say all was well?

Believe me I don't.

I don't like the amendment, Stupak, or whatever else is lurking. The forces lurking really worry me.

[marshall]

6. I'd like to see a study on the cost effectiveness of abortion

How much taxpayer dollars are saved by ending unwanted pregnancies?