FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, December 10, 2009

In a statement on Thursday, Family Council Director, Jerry Cox, expressed concern over a vote this week by Senator Blanche Lincoln. Lincoln voted against an amendment sponsored by Senators Ben Nelson, D-Nebraska, and Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, that mirrored language in the House bill that prevents any health plan receiving federal subsidies from offering coverage for abortion. In a 54 – 45 vote, the amendment failed.

“We are deeply concerned about Senator Lincoln’s vote that allows public funding of abortions in the Senate health care bill,” Cox said. As the Senate health care bill currently stands, taxpayer-funded abortions would be allowed.

“For a number of years, no federal funds have been used to pay for abortion, and for over 20 years the Arkansas Constitution has prohibited public funding of abortions. Senator Lincoln’s vote flies in the face of current federal law and our state constitution. Her vote goes against the moral beliefs of most Arkansans,” Cox said.

Cox praised Senator Pryor’s vote for the same amendment. “Senator Pryor knows that most Arkansans oppose public funding of abortions. By voting for the amendment, he voted with the people he represents.”

Cox expressed concern over media reports on Thursday in which Senator Pryor was quoted as saying that he believes the Senate health care bill is one the people of Arkansas will like.

“The current Senate health care bill allows our tax dollars to be used to pay for abortions. As long as that’s in the bill, we will never like it, and neither will the people of Arkansas,” Cox said.

Cox urged both Arkansas senators to vote against the Senate health care bill as long as abortion funding is part of the bill.