Roundup: Rep. Boehner Gets Anti-Abortion Award, Promises to Expand Hyde

Jun 28, 2010, 10:20am

Robin Marty

Someone's been busy this weekend. Rep. John Boehner has a big award and some big plans for the week.

House Minority Leader John Boehner spent his weekend being lauded by the National Right to Life convention for his opposition to health care reform. Boehner, a Republican from Ohio and staunch anti-abortion supporter, was called a “a faithful defender of unborn children, disabled persons and seniors whose right to life may be jeopardized,” under a plan to allow everyone to have access to health insurance.

From Lifenews:

“Boehner has been an active supporter of a number of successful pro-life efforts over the years.

“He has been a major impediment to the advance of the Obama-Pelosi-Reid pro-abortion agenda,” [NRLC co-director Darla St. Martin] said. “Boehner relentlessly used his office to attempt to thwart” the massive abortion funding in the health care bill and he used the “sheer force of his his as he confronted Pelosi and other pro-abortion leaders” on the legislation.

“Not a single one of the 178 House Republicans voted for that deadly pro-abortion Obamacare bill,” thanks to Boehner, St. Martin added. “On behalf of every pro-lifer here and across America, we thank you John Boehner.”

Rep. Boehner had some very glowing words for the NRLC in return. Via The Corner:

To be recognized by those who have devoted their lives to defending life is a true badge of honor. Truly awe-inspiring. I’m humbled, and inspired, by your confidence in me.

…

I never sought to be recognized as a leader of the movement. Never wore my pro-life credentials on my sleeve.

I was what you might call a quiet warrior. I just voted for what I thought was right, and stood up for what I thought was right, like all of you do every day.

But over the past few years, I’ve been compelled to raise my voice; to speak out a little more loudly.

…

You invited me here to give me an award, and I gratefully accept it. But let’s be clear: the true leaders are sitting out there in the crowd right now. What I do matters less than what you do.

Rep. Boehner then followed up by announcing that this week will be a push to institutionalize and expand the national Hyde Amendment, banning any federal funds from being used at all in abortion coverage. The Hill reports:

House Minority Leader John Boehner intends to press Democratic leaders to vote on a bill to ban federal funding of abortions.

The Ohio Republican told anti-abortion activists gathered at the 40th annual National Right To Life Convention (NRLC) on Saturday that he will co-sponsor a measure to ensure taxpayer dollars don’t fund abortions.

“Codifying the Hyde Amendment so that it applies to all federal funding, whether those funds are appropriated by Congress or authorized by Congress” has traction with individuals participating in the GOP’s new effort to solicit ideas from the public, Boehner said to the crowd of nearly 1,000 on the third day of their convention in Pittsburgh.

NRLC honored Boehner on Saturday as “Legislator of the Year 2010.”

Is it just another promise to an anti-choice activist group hungry to try and regain power, or could it be what many of us feared when reproductive rights unraveled before our eyes during healthcare reform, and Hyde will not only become permanent but much, much stricter? In the Blog Briefing Room, The Hill states:

Boehner said his party will push for an expansion of the Hyde Amendment–which bans use of certain Medicaid funds from paying for abortion–to cover all federal funding with no exceptions.

Such an expansion would be devastating to those states, such as Minnesota, that do allow Medicaid and other funding to be used due to state Supreme Court intervention and other means.

Rep. Boehner touts in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that expanding Hyde is “the will of the people”:

“I believe this must be the next objective for pro-life America. It’s clear from the health care debate that the American people don’t want their tax dollars paying for abortion, and a bipartisan majority in the House of Representatives agrees. It’s the will of the people, and it ought to be the law of the land – right now,” he said.

Seems like he may only be listening to a certain set of “the people” these days.

Mini Roundup: In honor of National HIV Testing Day, a pastor take an HIV test in church to encourage his congregation to get tested, and a letter writer nails why it’s impossible to be a anti-choice feminist.

June 25, 2010

Barber: For most of us, abortion is not topic – SDNN

Epidemic played large role in shift of attitudes on abortion, author says – Genetic Engineering News

Abortion as genocide group regains club status – National Post

Anti-abortion group raises questions with Kagan’s position on healthcare … – The Hill

Andy Dillon courts voters who’ve had it with politics as usual – Detroit Free Press

The Obama Omelette: Euthanasia, Abortion, Obamanomics… Death is Death – Big Hollywood

Abortion rights advocate protests, then joins Right to Life convention – Pittsburgh Post Gazette

Abortion and Excommunication: An EZ Cartoon Lesson 4 Kidz – Politics Daily

Probe of rural Iowa system for dispensing abortion pills is urged – DesMoinesRegister.com

UK doctors: fetus can’t feel pain before 24 weeks – The Associated Press

When personal beliefs on abortion cross the line – Washington Post