Senate bill would prevent abortion coverage in state health care exchanges

Taxpayer covered abortions in Pennsylvania are facing a two-for-one attack from the state Senate and Congress.

State Sen. Donald White (R – Armstrong) introduced S.B. 3 a week after the state Senate was back in session, shortly before more stringent U.S. House Resolution 3 would be introduced by Congressman Christopher Smith (R – N.J.).

State S.B. 3 prohibits the use of funding for abortions in Pennsylvania’s state health care exchanges, created by the federal health care law last year, while U.S. House Resolution 3 would cut abortion funding to those of “forcible” rape, where evidence of bruising or broken bones is found.

Among the Congressmen who are cosponsoring House Resolution 3 are 10 of Pennsylvania’s 19 representatives. New or first-time Republican representatives cosponsoring the bill are Mike Fitzpatrick, returning after winning the 8th District back from Patrick Murphy; Mike Kelly, who won the 3rd District from Kathy Dahlkemper; and Tom Marino, who won the 10th District from Chris Carney.

Congressmen Charlie Dent (15th), Pat Meehan and Todd Platts were the only Pennsylvania Republicans not to cosponsor the resolution.

House Resolution 3 would also prevent the claiming of tax credits after paying for an abortion through private health insurance.

Both pieces of legislation have been decried by women’s rights and abortion rights organizations.

“All women deserve access to safe, legal, and critical care,” said Andy Hoover, legislative director of the ACLU of Pennsylvania. “This bill is a form of discrimination against women who participate in the exchanges.”

Mr. White’s bill is cosponsored by 25 state senators, including Democrat Sens. John Yudichak (Carbon) and Richard Kasunic (Fayette).

“State funds or federal funds should not pay for abortions,” said Mr. Yudichak. “In the new era of health care reform I think Sen. White’s bill is simply maintaining current federal and state law covering the use of public money for abortions.”

The bill would prevent coverage for abortion in the health exchanges except in the cases of rape, incest, or protecting the life of the mother. Mr. Hoover argued called S.B. 3 a “giant government roadblock.”

“The bill denies women the coverage they may need and denies insurance companies the right to offer a product that the market demands,” said Mr. Hoover.

Approximately 80 percent of private insurance plans currently offer coverage for abortion services.

Mr. Hoover also noted that Congress debated abortion when writing the federal health care legislation and created a system in which women use their own money and send a separate payment for abortion coverage.

“Congress’s compromise is cumbersome and far from ideal, but at least women can still get the coverage,” Mr. Hoover said. “S.B. 3 shuts down access altogether.”

Tom Sheehan, vice president of the Pennsylvania Family Institute, a socially conservative nonprofit policy center, argued it was a move in the right direction for Pennsylvania.

“If abortion was covered in the plans, individual taxpayers who are paying the premiums are essentially subsidizing someone else’s abortion coverage,” said Mr. Sheehan. “This would protect the conscience of Pennsylvania taxpayers that don’t want to help fund someone else’s abortion, but also in keeping Pennsylvania’s public policy of not using public funds for abortion for a few.”

He also said the U.S. House Resolution was a good idea and something Pennsylvania should consider.

“I would love to see that considered at the state level,” said Mr. Sheehan. “The fact is that most of the funding to groups like Planned Parenthood and others that are in the abortion industry, most of it does flow from the federal funds.”

He also referenced the now infamous abortion clinic in Philadelphia, run by Kermit Gosnell, who has been charged with eight counts of murder.

“I’d love to see [similar legislation] happen so no state money is going to those same organizations,” said Mr. Sheehan. “I know that there’s been a problem in identifying different funding streams in the state budget that go to abortions. Some of that comes to light even with the abortion murders…in Philadelphia.”

Neither the offices of Mr. Critz, Mr. White nor Mr. Kasunic returned calls for comment.

State S.B. 3 was amended in the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee, which Mr. White chairs, and has been referred to the Senate for first consideration.

U.S. House Resolution has been sent to the House Judiciary, Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means Committees.