Stupak Amendment – Victory… or Not? An Analysis

As many of you know, we worked very hard last week to defeat an amendment to the Health Care Reform bill offered by Indiana 8th District Congressman Brad Ellsworth (Evansville) and pass the Stupak-Pitts amendment to remove tax payer funded abortions from the legislation. Some leaders in the pro-life movement and political pundits say that passage of the Stupak-Pitts amendment is not a pro-life victory because the abortion language can be added in later or added in under court challenge. They contend that that passing the Stupak-Pitts Amendment only helped the other side move this bad legislation along. We understand their concerns and recognize that the amendment is not a victory per se. However the issue of life was front and center – irrespective of the bill - if but for a moment. And, that deserves a moment of celebration – an ‘attta boy – as we move on to the next tasks.  Celebrating one does not mean ignorance of the other. Let’s not take away from the hard work of Mike Fichter (President and CEO of Indiana Right to Life) and Mary Ellen VanDyke (Executive Director of Vanderburgh County Right to Life) and all Hoosiers who called, e-mailed, and “turned up the heat” to defeat the Ellsworth Amendment and pass the Stupak-Pitts Amendment  by saying “yes, but.” Yes is one sentiment.  But is another. (Sue Swayze, Indiana Right to Life lobbyist, contributed to this analysis).

The Chairman of the Legislative sub-committee of Allen County Right to Life, Casey Cox, gives us clear perspective in his analysis: The Amendment sends a “shot across the bow” of the FOCA (Freedom of Choice Act) proponents. In other words, this has to have a huge psychological effect on the prioritizing of the Democrats’ agenda and what they see as viable pieces of legislation to pursue over the next 11 months. Surely (and hopefully), this drops FOCA down the ladder.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9