Now that the family values-smaller government crew has gained a foothold in our Congress they are beginning to make their mark. At a time when we are all concerned about the economy, jobs, outsourcing, escalating health care costs, Mother Jones reports:
But the “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act,” a bill with 173 mostly Republican co-sponsors that House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) has dubbed a top priority in the new Congress, contains a provision that would rewrite the rules to limit drastically the definition of rape and incest in these cases.
Should HR 3 pass, among other limts, parents would no longer be permitted to use Health Savings Account funds to pay for their teenager daughter’s pregnancy, unless it was from “forcible rape”. Hmm, you say, what defines “forcible rape”? That is unclear. No definitions are provided, and some states do not have a definition. Mind you, HSA accounts are funded by the individual contributor on a pre-tax basis.
Oh, there is an incest exception, but only if the woman is under 18. No coverage for women who were drugged, given excessive alcohol, or with limited mental abilities.
Contact your Congressman, let him know that HR 3 takes us backwards and that there are much more pressing issues we want them to address.
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