Senator Blanche Lincoln Voted to Support Using Federal Health Care Funds for Abortion

In the U.S. Senate this evening, the Senate rejected, 54-45, a proposal by Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE) and Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) that would have barred individuals who receive federal health insurance subsidies from purchasing private insurance policies that covers abortion, and would ban a government-backed insurance plan popularly known as a "public option" from covering the procedure. The measure included exceptions in cases of rape, incest, or where a doctor certifies that the woman is "in danger of death unless an abortion is performed."

Senator Nelson said during the debate about the amendment, "It's a debate about whether it is appropriate for public funds to, for the first time in more than three decades, cover elective abortions. In my opinion, most Americans and most of the people in my state would say 'no.'"

Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) voted against the amendment. Lincoln faces serious competition to retain her seat in 2010 and the majority of Arkansans do not favor using federal money to subsidize or in any other form fund abortion. Lincoln may have voted with her liberal constituents in the Senate but she did not vote with her Arkansas constituents. Some have noted that although as an elected Senator from Arkansas, her positions have become even more liberal after she relocated her family to live in Virginia.

Tabling an amendment only takes 51 votes, so Lincoln could have passed. However, she clearly demonstrated her position in supporting government funded abortions. Obviously, faced with increased opposition in Arkansas, Lincoln was protecting her need for campaign funding and support from the pro-abortion organizations.

Republican United States Senate candidate Col. Conrad Reynolds (U.S. Army, Ret.) issued the following statement condemning Sen. Blanche Lincoln’s vote to table an amendment to the Senate health care bill which will allow federally subsidized health care plans to pay for elective abortions:

“I wholeheartedly condemn Sen. Lincoln’s vote in which she chose her chairmanship over children. It is the height of irony that Sen. Lincoln would vote to table this amendment and deny it an up-or-down vote after being the 60th vote which allowed this mistake of a bill to move forward.

It is well known to all that the liberal Democrats would balk on the health care bill if the ban on abortion funding was added. Tonight, Sen. Lincoln voted to guarantee passage of the bill by the Democrat-controlled Senate – as continued payment for her committee chairmanship – instead of fighting for the conservative values of Arkansans.

Sadly, she no longer hears our voice. She has gone so far to embrace the left she can no longer credibly call herself a conservative as she tries to convince constituents to let her continue as a career politician.

Spending the tax dollars of Arkansans to end the lives of children is an affront to us all. Sen. Lincoln knows this, but chose to ignore it and us. We must restore our commitment to life in this nation. I am proud to be pro-life and, as your Senator, I will fight to ensure our tax dollars are not spent on abortions.”

Update 12/9/09: Republican United States Senate candidate Curtis Coleman issued said today in a news conference in Fayetteville, AR that Arkansas has a “bad case of senatorial laryngitis”.

"We have no voice in the U.S. Senate,” Coleman said in reference to Sen. Blanche Lincoln’s vote last night to table the prolife Nelson-Hatch-Casey amendment to the Reid healthcare reform bill now being debated in the U.S. Senate. The proposed amendment mirrored the Stupak-Pitts amendment passed earlier by the House, prohibiting federal funds from being spent on abortions. “This crushing blow to the majority of Arkansans opposed to federal funding of abortion occurred after Sen. Lincoln voted to table the amendment, a procedural move that spells defeat,” Coleman said.

“Sen. Lincoln’s claim that the Nelson amendment would impose significant new restrictions on abortion is simply not accurate,” Coleman said. “The Nelson amendment would have done exactly what the clear majority of Arkansans would have wanted – prevent their tax dollars from paying for insurance companies to provide abortions. It is clear that where Sen. Lincoln is concerned, (Senate Majority Leader) Harry Reid (D-NV) has two votes and Arkansas has none,” Coleman said.

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