Research Briefing

‘The Stupak 7’ Became Deciding Votes For Obama’s Government-Run Health Care, Cutting “Fig Leaf” Deal That Doesn’t Prevent Federal Funding Of Abortions

SEVEN SO-CALLED “PRO-LIFE” HOUSE DEMS CUT A DEAL WITH OBAMA,

BECAME THE DECIDING VOTES FOR HIS GOVERNMENT-RUN HEALTH CARE EXPERIMENT …

Obama’s Government-Run Health Care Experiment Passed With A Margin Of Only 4 Votes. (H.R. 3590, Roll Call Vote #165, Approved 219-212; D 219-34; R 0-178, 3/21/10)

Because Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI) Ended Up Voting “Yes” By Making A Deal With Obama, Claiming Federal Funding Of Abortions Would Be Banned Through Executive Order. “Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) announced a deal at a press conference. He said the deal means Democrats will have the 216 votes they need to win a healthcare reform vote on the floor. … ‘Eight or nine’ Democrats, including Stupak, will support the healthcare bill because of the deal, according to an anti-abortion rights Democrat.” (Jared Allen & Jeffrey Young, “Stupak, Dems Reach Abortion Deal,” The Hill, 3/21/10)

And Six Other Congressman Joined Him In Becoming “Yes” Votes: Reps. Driehaus (D-OH), Kaptur (D-OH), Rahall (D-WA), Mollohan (D-WA), Dahlkemper (D-PA) And Donnelly (D-IN). “Besides Driehaus and Stupak, other Democrats attending the press conference, who will now support the bill, were Reps. Marcy Kaptur (Ohio), Nick Rahall (W.Va.), Alan Mollohan (W.Va.) and Kathy Dahlkemper (Pa.). All said they would vote for the healthcare bill. Stupak said Rep. Joe Donnelly (Ind.), who was unable to attend the press conference, will also vote yes.” (Jared Allen & Jeffrey Young, “Stupak, Dems Reach Abortion Deal,” The Hill, 3/21/10)

ALL FOR EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT FAILS TO PREVENT FEDERAL FUNDING OF ABORTIONS …

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL): “Well It Can’t Be Changed By Executive Order Because An Executive Order Can’t Change The Law ...” (FOX News, 3/21/10)

San Francisco Chronicle’s Carolyn Lochhead: “House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Has Now Turned, Or Shall We Say Rolled, Rep. Bart Stupak, Giving Him The Fig Leaf Of A White House Executive Order He Needs That Will Affirm The Long-Standing Hyde Amendment Prohibition On Taxpayer Funding Of Abortion.” (Carolyn Lochhead, “Pelosi Overpowers Stupak, Path Is Cleared,” San Francisco Chronicle’s “Politics Blog,” 3/21/10)

National Right to Life Committee: “If The [Senate] Bill Is Signed Into Law, These Statutory Requirements And Defects Are Not Subject To Correction Or Nullification By The Chief Executive Or His Appointees, Whether By Executive Order, Regulation, Or Otherwise.” (National Right To Life Committee, “National Right To Life Committee Update: H.R. 3590 And Abortion,” Press Release, 3/19/10)

U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops: “Only A Change In The Law Enacted By Congress, Not An Executive Order, Can Begin To Address This Very Serious Problem In The Legislation…” (Steven Ertelt, “Catholic Bishops Join Pro-Life Groups Against Abortion-Executive Order Idea,” LifeNews.com, 3/21/10)

Pro-Life Group Planned To Honor Stupak At Gala Dinner On Wednesday, Instead Vows To Defeat Him. “This Wednesday night is our third annual Campaign for Life Gala, where we were planning to honor Congressman Stupak for his efforts to keep abortion-funding out of health care reform-We will no longer be doing so. By accepting this deal from the most pro-abortion President in American history, Stupak has not only failed to stand strong for unborn children, but also for his constituents and pro-life voters across the country. Let me be clear: any representative, including Rep. Stupak, who votes for this healthcare bill can no longer call themselves ‘pro-life…’ We will actively seek out true pro-life candidates to oppose Members who vote ‘yes’ on this bill, whether it be in general or primary elections. The executive order on abortion funding does absolutely nothing to fix the problems presented by the health care reform bill that the House will vote on this evening.” (Marjorie Dannenfelser, Susan B. Anthony Candidate List Fund President, “Stupak Stripped of ‘Defender Of Life’ Award,” News Release, 3/21/10)

WRITTEN BY A PRO-ABORTION PRESIDENT AND HIS PRO-ABORTION LAWYER

In 2007, Then-Sen. Obama Said Abortion Coverage “At The Heart” Of His Plan. “In my mind, reproductive care is essential care. It is basic care. And so it is at the center and at the heart of the plan that I propose.” (Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks To Planned Parenthood Action Fund, 7/17/07)

Obama’s White House Counsel Bob Bauer Headed Up The Deal Cutting. “It was the power of the presidency that put the Democrats over the top on Sunday afternoon. ... The president's chief lawyer, Bob Bauer, spent most of the weekend working with [Rep. Bart] Stupak on how to word a presidential executive order.” (Chuck Todd, NBC’s “The Today Show,” 3/22/10)

• Bauer Served As Counsel To Pro-Abortion Group, EMILY’s List. “[T]he lawyer representing EMILY’s List, an independent group that backs Democratic women candidates who support abortion rights, is Bob Bauer, a bona fide member of the Obama inner circle who is rumored to under strong consideration to replace White House Counsel Greg Craig…” (Kenneth P. Vogel, “FEC Puts Obama In A Bind,” Politico, 10/28/09)