Anti-Choice Lawmakers Introduce “Bait and Switch” Bill Aimed at Banning Abortion Coverage
(PRESS RELEASE) Today, House Republicans
introduced the so-called “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act,” a radical
measure that is intended to effectively ban insurance coverage for abortion
services, including private insurance. Among numerous dangerous provisions, the
bill creates a host of new tax penalties on individuals and businesses designed
to make abortion coverage unavailable in private health insurance policies.
“The anti-choice contingent has sunk to a new low by
proposing a set of unprecedented tax penalties that raises the taxes on
individuals and businesses, while billing this legislation as eliminating
‘taxpayer funding.’ It’s a bait and switch bill—long on deception while
cutting protections for women’s health. The ink is barely dry on the House’s
repeal vote, and anti-choice lawmakers have zeroed in on legislation that will
effectively deprive millions of women of the abortion coverage that they
already have. No one is exempt—even rape and incest
survivors are targeted by the law. It would also deny protections to
women facing life-threatening emergencies.
Abortion services are an essential part
of reproductive healthcare and one of the most common procedures sought by
women. We expect that pro-choice members will vigorously beat back this
regressive measure and defend the health of the women who put them in office,”
said Nancy Northup, president of the Center for Reproductive Rights.