By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Writer
Pro life leaders across the country are warning about the President’s so-called “common ground” legislation which is due to be unveiled this week, calling it a bailout for Planned Parenthood that will only result in more abortions.
Called the “The Reducing the Need for Abortion and Supporting Parents Act,” or the Ryan-DeLauro bill, it was crafted by two pro-choice legislators. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, a Connecticut Democrat and former NARAL staffer, and Rep. Tim Ryan, an Ohio Democrat who was kicked off the board of Democrats for Life for abandoning his pro-life views, are the two authors of the bill.
Reports by LifeNews say the bill was originally crafted to ease the pressure women face to have abortions by providing health care, increasing adoption credits and making sure all insurance plans cover pregnancy.
However, Rep. Ryan’s version ended up promoting contraception and sex education programs and directed funds to Planned Parenthood for “family planning programs.”
Pro-life Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ), who heads the pro-life caucus of lawmakers in the House, says the measure will lead to more abortions, not less and warned that pro-life lawmakers won’t support it. He also said that he found it hypocritical that federal funds would go to abortion centers where “in one room, they talk contraception, and in the other room, they kill your baby.”
No major pro-life group is supporting the bill because of it support for Planned Parenthood. However, the pro-Obama Catholic group, Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good, is praising the it, saying the president “has emphasized respectful dialogue and supports efforts to help women avoid the tragedy of abortion.” The group admits that while it may not result in success, but “the goal” of the bill is reducing the number of abortions.
Jack Smith, a pro-life writer at the Catholic Key blog commented on the coming legislation and its fake pro-life status.
“The Ryan-DeLauro Bill looks to be presented as the President’s much vaunted ‘common ground’ approach to reducing abortion – appealing to both pro-life and pro-choice leaders,” he writes. “Problem is, it is sponsored by two pro-choice legislators.”
“This Ryan-DeLauro bill is meant to derail any truly common ground approach to aid women in crisis pregnancies and their families. In its previous incarnations the bill is top heavy with hundreds of millions for Planned Parenthood and light on actual support for women,” Smith continues. “Its unveiling this week will reveal whether it gives more to Planned Parenthood and abortion providers than before.”
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