Planned Parenthood says U.S. bishops have ‘hijacked’ health care reform with Stupak Amendment


Planned Parenthood has condemned the addition of the Stupak/Pitts Amendment to the U.S. House’s proposed health care reform legislation, saying it would undermine private health plans that cover abortion. One pro-life leader said the criticism, which characterized pro-lifers as hijackers, was an ‘over the top’ attempt at self-promotion.


Cecile Richards, President of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, claimed in a Nov. 7 statement that the Stupak Amendment to Congress’ proposed health care bill has further reach than the Hyde Amendment, which bars federal funding for most abortions.

She also charged that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and “anti-choice opponents” have been able to “hijack” health care reform in their “dedicated attempt” to ban all legal abortion. Richards characterized the USCCB as a hijacker twice in her 700-word statement.

“On behalf of the millions of women Planned Parenthood health centers serve, the Planned Parenthood Federation of America has no choice but to oppose HR 3962,” Richards said, charging that the bill would violate President Obama’s promise that no one would be forced to lose his or her present coverage under health reform.

Saying the Stupak Amendment would eliminate private health insurance coverage of abortion, she claimed the majority of these plans currently offer abortion coverage.

Other sources have questioned this claim. In July, the Congressional Quarterly quoted Robert Zirkelbach, a spokesman for America’s Health Insurance Plans, the insurance industry’s trade association.
“Most insurers offer plans that include this coverage but most employers choose not to offer it as part of their benefits package,” he said.

Kathleen Sebelius during her confirmation hearings to become Secretary for Health and Human Services in April told the Senate Finance Committee that private plans do not cover abortion except in “limited circumstances,” the New York Times reports.

Richards’ attack on the Stupak Amendment continued by saying its allowance for a separate, single-service rider to cover abortion is illogical because women do not plan to have unintended pregnancies or pregnancies that “require ending the pregnancy.”

She said it was “telling” that most House members who supported the Stupak Amendment do not support the overall legislation, alleging that they have used health care reform to advance their “extreme, ideological agenda.”

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