Democrats in Congress will soon “concede defeat” in their push to directly fund abortion with federal funds, according to a new report in Politico.
For months, Congressional negotiators have been in discussions over the FY22 spending bill. Congress passed a short-term stopgap spending bill back in December 2021 to continue funding the government through February 18. This continuing resolution has kept the government funded while debate over a longer-term spending plan has played out.
But with February 18 coming up quickly, Congress is rushing to approve either another continuing resolution, as the House did recently to provide funds through March 11, or a bill to fund the government through the rest of the fiscal year.
The Hyde amendment has been an annual provision in Congress’ spending bills since 1976. It is a pro-life measure that stipulates that American taxpayer dollars can’t fund abortions through Medicaid.
Last year, for the first time 45 years, the House of Representatives passed a spending bill without Hyde, followed promptly by the U.S. Senate’s decision to do the same.
Thankfully, the effort to exclude Hyde from these bills, which fund the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Departments, among others, may ultimately end in failure.
“After months of tense negotiations, the two parties joined together last week on a government spending framework they insist will swiftly lead to a massive deal to boost agency bottom lines into the fall,” Politico reports.
“Officially, they’re agreeing to save specific policy disputes for later, including the longtime debate over the half-century ban on federal funding for abortions, known as the Hyde amendment.”
Joining with Senate Republicans, Democrat Senator Joe Manchin has been forceful in his determination that any appropriations bill needs to include the Hyde amendment.
Last year, Manchin said, “We’re not taking the Hyde amendment off. Hyde’s going to be on … It has to be. It has to be. That’s dead-on-arrival if that’s gone.”
With the U.S. Senate currently divided 50-50 between both parties, Manchin’s support of Hyde may prove critical in negotiations over spending legislation.
Politico confirms this, noting that “Democrats fighting to hold only their slim majorities in both chambers currently lack the votes to push through a repeal of Hyde — not only because of across-the-board opposition from Republicans but also because Sen. Joe Manchin … and a handful of Senate Democrats similarly oppose unwinding the funding ban.”
And earlier this month, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell reiterated that the Hyde amendment must be included in any spending bill.
“The Hyde amendment prevents taxpayers from having to pay taxes for abortions,” McConnell said. “In a 50-50 Senate, we need to honor the bipartisan status quo.”
For pro-life Americans, and preborn babies, this is welcome news.
The measure protects pro-life Americans, ensuring they don’t have to violate their conscience by directly funding the destruction of innocent human life.
Congress should keep this provision in place.
Photo from Shutterstock.
