Roundup: Stupak Dismisses Findings of Experts on Effects of Amendment

Nov 24, 2009, 10:53am

Jodi Jacobson

Cong. Stupak takes issue with the GWU analysis which found that his anti-abortion amendment to House health care legislation would have "industry-wide effects" and ultimately cause insurance companies to stop covering abortions altogether. Republican activists seek to impose "purity test" on candidates for office.

Stupak dismisses GWU study on effects of amendment

In keeping with the commitment of the Republican party and the far right to ignore any evidence, science, analysis or data inconsistent with their ideological worldview, Congressman Bart Stupak (D-MI) has said he simply does not believe the findings of the George Washington University analysis of the industry-wide effects of the Stupak-Pitts Amendment on coverage for abortion care. Rewire covered this study and another one by the Kaiser Family Foundation last week.

Stupak told Talking Points Memo that he takes issue with the GW analysis, which found that his anti-abortion amendment to House health care legislation would have “industry-wide effects” and ultimately cause insurance companies to stop covering abortions altogether.

The report was written by chair of the Department of Health Policy Sara Rosenbaum, research professors Lara Cartwright-Smith and Ross Margulies, professor Susan Wood, and lead researcher D. Richard Mauery.

Republican activists seeking “purity test” for GOP candidates

Conservative Republican Party activists want to withhold money from GOP candidates who stray too far from party orthodoxy, reports the Wall Street Journal.

Ten Republican National Committee members are distributing a plan to impose a purity test – calling for money to be withheld from anyone who disagrees with conservative principles on more than two of 10 core issues.

Among the required stances: oppose President Barack Obama’s health care and cap-and-trade proposals as well as his stimulus plan; reject government funding for abortion; vote “no” on legislation to help unions organize; and support keeping the Defense of Marriage Act.

“The problem is that conservatives have lost trust in the Republican Party that we will govern as conservatives,” said James Bopp Jr., an Indiana lawyer and one of 168 RNC members who will debate the idea during the party’s winter meeting in January. “And I think that loss of trust is warranted to a certain extent because of the fact that we in the final several years of the Bush administration were supporting increased government, earmarks and, ultimately, bailouts.”

Bopp and other conservatives have tried in the past to convince RNC Chairman Michael Steele to label Obama a “socialist.” The new resolution brings back the ‘s’ word, arguing that, “Republican solidarity in opposition to Obama’s socialist agenda is necessary to preserve the security of our country, our economic and political freedoms, and our way of life.”

The resolution underscores a simmering tension within the party about how to remake the GOP and regain power in Washington, coming as conservative candidates such as Florida U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio, are challenging establishment Republicans viewed as too accommodating to the left.

Other News:

November 23, 2009

Adoption Study Says Identity Questions Last a Lifetime; Urges Open Birth Records ABC News

Promote adoption Northwest Herald

Adopting A New Attitude Huffington Post

NJ lawmakers may consider legislation that would unseal birth records in adoptions The Star-Ledger

Family planning critical in HIV-ridden Uganda: U of A study Edmonton Journal

Medicaid Coverage of Family Planning Services Kaiser Family Foundation

Bishops reaffirm Natural Family Planning CathNews

Health care will reform birth control choices too Kansas.com

5 Reasons Why Women Should Consider An IUD YourTango

Congressman rejects SPHHS study on abortion amendment The George Washington University Hatchet