Good News: Bipartisan Group Introduces Pro-Life Initiative in U.S. Houseby Jennifer Mesko, editor
citizenlink.org'We would be doing a disservice to those unborn children if we make this a political issue.'
U.S. representatives on both sides of the aisle are working to prevent taxpayer-funded abortions here and abroad.
Nearly 200 lawmakers — led by Reps. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, Heath Shuler, D-N.C., Bart Stupak, D-Mich., and Chris Smith, R-N.J. — have signed on to a letter calling on the House Appropriations Committee to include pro-life "riders" in the omnibus spending bill.
Pro-life measures, called "riders," typically are added to spending bills and cover issues like taxpayer-funded abortions and abortions for federal prisoners.
As the letter states, "If this Congress intends to rescind these riders, at a minimum, the American people deserve a full debate with an up-or-down vote."
Shuler told Fox News recently that both parties need to do more to protect life.
"We would be doing a disservice to those unborn children if we make this a political issue," he said. "It's time to work together instead of playing politics."
One of the key pro-life provisions — the Kemp-Kasten Amendment — prevents federal funding from going to organizations that support or participate in a program of coercive abortion or sterilization.
Unfortunately, the omnibus spending bill undermines Kemp-Kasten by restoring support for the controversial United Nations Population Fund. President George W. Bush cut the funding because of the group's participation with forced-abortion policies.
Ashley Horne, federal policy analyst at Focus on the Family Action, said it's great to see so many lawmakers coming together to defend life.
"But just because in fiscal 2009, they are going to leave most of the pro-life riders in, doesn't mean we don't have a fight on our hands coming for the fiscal 2010 riders," she said. "So we need to be vigilant."
