Anti-Abortion Groups Attack Health Reform

Anti-abortion groups are launching a full-scale assault on health reform plans, contending that current proposals include an “abortion mandate” and would spend taxpayer money on the procedure, Politico reports. The first claim is based on a plan to federally mandate a basic set of procedures insurers must offer. Abortion isn’t considered likely to end up in that package, but foes want it explicitly excluded.

Federal money would likely fund abortions, in a round-about way, since most private plans cover the procedure, and the government would offer individuals subsidies to purchase private plans. The campaign, which launches tomorrow, is backed by Christian conservative groups like Focus on the Family. “We just realized how urgent the situation was,” said the leader of one group, “what was at stake.” (More abortion stories.)