Editor's note. The following warning comes from the office of Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ), co-chair of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus. Cong. Smith is talking about language floated by Rep. Brad Ellsworth (D-In.), which was also denounced by NRLC Legislative Director Douglas Johnson.

Johnson said the amendment serves no purpose except to assist the pro-abortion House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, to peel votes away from the authentic pro-life amendment, the Stupak Amendment, and would actually set up a money-laundering scheme under which the Secretary of Health and Human Services would hire a special contractor, in effect a 'bag man,' to deliver federal funds in payments to abortionists -- based on the absurd rationale that it won't really be federal funding of abortion if a private contractor handles the money.

Johnson also warned, There is only one amendment that really fixes the problems, and it is the Stupak-Pitts Amendment. Everything else is theatre and manuvering by the pro-abortion side."
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WASHINGTON, DC--Reports of back-room deals and horse-trading today by Democrat leaders desperate to win over pro-life Democrats who are opposed to abortion provisions in the health care reform legislation were soundly rejected as nothing more than legislative gimmicks that will do nothing to prohibit federal support and the expansion of abortion coverage in America.

Cong. Chris Smith, co-chair of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus.

"The new language does nothing to change the fact that the public option will be authorized to pay for abortion," said Rep. Chris Smith Co-Chairman of the Bi-Partisan Congressional Pro-Life Caucus. "If they truly want to keep abortion out of the health care bill, they must accept the Stupak-Pitts amendment that says clearly and plainly that there can be no funding for abortion and no government subsidies for plans that cover abortion.

"Today we see yet another phony amendment designed to subsidize and expand the abortion industry cloaked in deceptive language," Smith said. "The new language makes clear that abortion will be included in the public option. Under the new arrangement, instead of an HHS employee issuing blood money checks for elective abortions, HHS will pay a contractor to issue checks for abortion on demand

"It is a distinction without a difference," Smith said. "The public should not be fooled nor should any pro-life Democrat.

"This language amounts to the federal government taking out a 'contract' on the unborn. For the first time ever an elaborate government program will be created to pay contractors to pay abortionists for the dismemberment, chemical poisoning and in utero starvation of innocent unborn children."

"Slaughtering innocent children is never health care," Smith pointed out. "True health care reform respects and protects human life. Instead this legislation uses gimmick after gimmick in an effort to hide the radical pro-abortion agenda tucked into the nearly 2000 pages of legislative text."

Smith said that if H.R. 3962 becomes law, "we will see the largest expansion of abortion since Roe v. Wade. He said the results of the new language will be widespread abortion coverage through public programs.

"History has shown that funding restrictions save lives. Unfortunately, rather than protecting the health of the unborn, this legislation will encourage abortion," Smith said.

Part One