Stop Public Funding of Abortion in Pennsylvania

From Maria Gallagher, Legislative Director, Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation

We need to stop public funding of abortion in Pennsylvania! Here's how you can help:

1.  Call your state Senator with this message:  "I don't want public funds to pay for abortion in Pennsylvania.  Please support Senate Bill 3, which would ensure that Pennsylvania opts out of abortion funding under the health insurance exchange which will operate in Pennsylvania under the federal health care law."

2.  Call your state Representative with this message: "I don't want public funds to pay for abortion in Pennsylvania. Please support House Bill 818, which would ensure that Pennsylvania opts out of abortion funding under the health insurance exchange operating in Pennsylvania under the federal health care law."

If you don't know who your state Senator and state Representative are, please go to http://www.house.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/findyourlegislator/#address and type in your street address, city, and zip code.  A window will then pop up with the names and contact information for your state Senator and state Representative  (Please note:  This is a state issue, not a federal issue, so U.S. Senators Pat Toomey and Bob Casey are not involved in this legislation.).

Background:  The Affordable Care Act, also known as the federal health care law, contains a provision which allows states to opt out of abortion funding in the new health insurance exchanges operating in their state as a result of "health care reform."  Twenty-one states have already passed legislation to opt out of this abortion funding.

Senate Bill 3 and House Bill 818 simply continue Pennsylvania's long-standing policy of banning public funding of abortion.  National public opinion polls have consistently shown that the vast majority of Americans oppose taxpayer funding of abortion.  Research has also shown that abortion rates rise dramatically when public funding of abortion occurs.

If you have any questions, please call Legislative Director Maria Gallagher at 717-541-0034.

Thanks for making these critical calls!