Some Democrats who are absolutely horrified by the overturning of Roe vs. Wade have suggested that the government set up abortion tents on federal land in states that outlaw abortion. Before we consider this, let’s remember the money aspect of abortion, which I think explains why the Democrats are so upset. For example, in 2018 Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren received $128,407 from Emily’s List, a political action committee that aims to help elect Democratic female candidates in favor of abortion rights to office. Most Democrats receive substantial campaign contributions from Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood is a million dollar business that makes money from performing abortions and selling aborted baby body parts. Corporations like abortions because they are cheaper than healthcare and maternity leave. There are a lot of financial interests in keeping abortion as a million-dollar industry. Those efforts have begun (in spite of the Supreme Court ruling).
On Wednesday, The Daily Caller reported:
Despite demands from several prominent Democrats, the federal government is prohibited from using taxpayer dollars to fund abortions.
The Hyde Amendment, first included in federal appropriations bills in 1976, prohibits the federal government from funding abortions unless “the life of the mother would be endangered if the fetus were carried to term or where the pregnancy is the result of an act of rape or incest.” Activists estimate that the Hyde Amendment prevents at least 60,000 abortions every year.
The amendment is named for Republican Illinois Rep. Henry Hyde, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee who championed it.
Although support for the amendment was initially bipartisan, Democrats in recent years have attempted to pass federal budgets that do not include the provision. President Joe Biden flip-flopped on support for the amendment during his 2020 presidential campaign, and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi attempted to jettison the provision for an early COVID-19 relief package. Democratic West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin’s demand that the Hyde Amendment be included in a social spending package was a key factor in the breakdown in Build Back Better negotiations.
The article concludes:
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre rejected the congressional Democrats’ suggestion Monday, but two cabinet members did suggest that they would use their agencies to promote abortion access.
“Nothing is more important to me or to this Department than the health and well-being of our Service members, the civilian workforce and DOD families,” Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said in a Friday statement shortly after the ruling. “I am committed to taking care of our people and ensuring the readiness and resilience of our Force.”
“The Department is examining this decision closely and evaluating our policies to ensure we continue to provide seamless access to reproductive health care as permitted by federal law,” he added.
When contacted for comment, a Department of Defense (DOD) spokesperson cited a memorandum released Tuesday by Undersecretary of Defense Gilbert Cisneros. The memorandum stressed that the DOD will comply with the conditions laid out by the Hyde Amendment, and “will continue to follow existing departmental policy.”
Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Xavier Becerra promised to “increase access” to abortifacients, claiming that his agency has been planning for “every action necessary to protect women’s access to reproductive healthcare.”
A spokesperson for HHS did not respond to the Daily Caller’s request for comment on compliance with the Hyde Amendment.
Just for the record, abortion is not healthcare. It will be interesting to see if the Biden administration simply chooses to ignore the Hyde Amendment.