FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 27, 2013
Contact: Mallory Quigley, 202-223-8073
SBA List Calls on Terry McAuliffe to Take Stand on McDonnell Health Exchange Abortion Amendment
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The national pro-life group Susan B. Anthony List (SBA List) called on Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe to clarify his position on taxpayer-funded abortions, and to take a stance on whether Virginia’s health exchange under Obamacare should force taxpayers to subsidize abortions. SBA List raised the question on the heels of Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell’s introduction of an amendment to bar abortion coverage by insurers operating in the federal health exchange in the state. The plans offered by the exchange are subsidized with taxpayer dollars.
“Virginia taxpayers deserve to know if McAuliffe stands with his abortion lobby allies, Planned Parenthood and NARAL, in supporting taxpayer funding of abortion on-demand,” said SBA List President Marjorie Dannenfelser. “If elected governor, will Terry McAuliffe undo the work of pro-life Governor McDonnell and force Virginia taxpayers to subsidize the abortions of others?
“Taxpayers in the Commonwealth do not want their hard-earned taxpayer dollars used to fund abortion. Not only is Governor McDonnell’s amendment common ground legislation that a majority of Virginians support – the right of states to opt-out of abortion coverage in the health care exchanges programs is an integral part of the Obama health care law.”
Last week, Terry McAuliffe’s campaign was asked by the Washington Post to confirm or refute McAuliffe’s stance on abortion as being one of supporting “a platform of abortion on-demand at any time, for any reason, paid for by Virginia taxpayers,” including “sex-selective abortion, late-term abortion, partial-birth abortion, and abortions on teenage girls without parental consent – all paid for by Virginia tax payers.” McAuliffe spokesman Josh Schwerin declined to comment.
Terry McAuliffe has authorized a website paid for by Planned Parenthood to speak for his campaign.
According to the Charlotte Lozier Institute, at least 20 states have prohibited abortion coverage in plans offered through the exchanges.
The Susan B. Anthony List and its affiliated Political Action Committees, the SBA List Candidate Fund and Women Speak Out PAC, are dedicated to pursuing policies and electing candidates who will reduce and ultimately end abortion. To that end, the SBA List emphasizes the education, promotion, mobilization, and election of pro-life women at all levels of government. The SBA List is a network of more than 365,000 pro-life Americans nationwide.
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