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WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Gene Taylor, D-Bay St. Louis, has deeply held beliefs against abortion.
He also has deeply felt objections to the Democratic Party’s health care bill as too costly and too bureaucratic.
Taylor is one of 40 pro-life House Democrats who are poised to vote as soon as today with most House Republicans to block the health care bill from proceeding to floor debate – because the bill does not include a prohibition against federal funding for abortions.
“I’m very much supporting Rep. Bart Stupak,” said Taylor, referring to the Michigan Democrat who is leading the fight against abortion funding.
Stupak said Tuesday that Democratic leaders had not changed the bill, the Affordable Healthcare for America Act, to ensure federal monies will not be spent on abortions.
“I am disappointed the manager’s amendment introduced Tuesday night does nothing to change, let alone improve, the inadequate language on federal funding for abortion currently in the health care bill,” said Stupak. “I will continue to oppose, and will continue whipping my colleagues to oppose, bringing the bill to the floor for a vote until there is satisfactory language to prevent public funding for abortion.”
Stupak is promoting the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits federal abortion funding, and is seeking the removal of the bill’s current language, which requires that at least one plan in the public option provide abortion coverage and allows individuals receiving federal affordability credits to purchase a plan with abortion coverage.
Taylor, a Roman Catholic, said that his views are long-standing and that he has a 100 percent pro-life record.
“My very first vote in 1989 was to override a Bush veto that would have allowed public funds for abortions,” he said. Taylor, elected in a special election in 1989, said that past polling in his district shows “two-thirds of South Mississippians are pro-life.”
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