Boehner Hardens Anti-Choice Agenda in Next Congress

By Sharon Johnson

WeNews senior correspondent

Thursday, December 2, 2010

House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio personifies the battles over reproductive health care rights at home and abroad that pro-choice advocates see lying ahead in the 112th Congress, which starts in January.

(WOMENSENEWS)--As pro-choice advocates look ahead to the start of the 112th Congress in January, the view is dominated by House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio.

In addition to pushing for a complete ban on abortion coverage in the new health exchanges associated with health reform, the self-described champion of "Stupak on Steroids" would impose a tax on Americans with private insurance plans that include abortion coverage.

Eighty-seven percent of private plans currently include abortion coverage, so the bill would have a profound impact, said Donna Crane, policy director of NARAL Pro-Choice America, the Washington-based political watchdog of the pro-choice movement for over 30 years.

"Boehner's plans to erode a woman's right to choice are no secret," Crane said. "Since entering the House in 1990, Boehner has cast 142 votes on abortion and other reproductive rights issues--all anti-choice."

Crane said the most important lesson of the midterm election is that the pro-choice movement must work harder than ever.

"In addition to legislation, committee appointments will be important," she said. "That's why NARAL Pro-Choice America opposes Boehner's plan to appoint Pennsylvania Republican Rep. Joe Pitts, who co-authored the Stupak-Pitts amendment, to the health subcommittee of the Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over health care reform and family planning services."

Crane said Boehner's anti-choice agenda emphasizes arguments to attract support among Republicans who were elected in November by voters who are concerned about economic issues.

She also said more than 22,000 people have signed NARAL Pro-Choice America's online petition objecting to Boehner's "ideological extreme agenda," which includes everything from reinstituting abstinence-only programs of sex education to repealing the health reform law that will give millions of women access to birth control and prenatal care.

"Another 5,500 people who saw our ads on Google and Facebook contacted us, because they are concerned about Boehner's co-sponsorship of the dangerous 'Stupak on Steroids' bill, which is even worse than the original Stupak amendment that was defeated in the debate on the Affordable Health Care for America Act," said Crane in a telephone interview.

Infringing on Abortion Access

The original Stupak-Pitts amendment infringed on abortion access in three ways:

It prevented any government-run plan from offering abortion coverage, even if women pay for the service with their own premiums.

It prohibited participants in a proposed health insurance exchange from receiving abortion coverage if they also receive government subsides available to low- and moderate-income earners.

It required private insurance companies in the exchange to only provide abortion as supplementary coverage. The practical aim of the amendment was a "new norm of exclusion" for abortion coverage, found an analysis by George Washington University's School of Public Health.

Emily's List, the Washington-based political action committee that raises money to elect pro-choice female Democrats, predicts that Boehner's lieutenants will fight hard to convince the 242 Republicans in the House to pass other measures to make it harder for low-income women to obtain family planning services and for female troops to receive abortion services at military hospitals.

"The GOP may be pleased as punch about the new Boy's Club leadership team, but Boehner's good old boys are up to no good when it comes to representing women," said Stephanie Schriock, president of Emily's List. "In addition to opposing pro-choice measures, Boehner and the three top Republican leaders in the House oppose the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act to prevent wage discrimination."

Eric Cantor of Virginia, the new majority leader and No. 2 Republican in the House, and Jeb Hensarling of Texas, the House Republican Conference Chair and the fourth-ranking Republican in the House, both received an abortion-rights rating of zero from NARAL Pro-Choice America.

Kevin McCarthy of California, the majority whip and the No. 3 Republican, wants a blanket ban on abortion with no exceptions. All are close allies of Boehner.

Boehner not only opposes abortion coverage, he also wants the health care reform bill thrown out so that Republicans can start over and impose new restrictions on coverage for reproductive services.

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