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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2009
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 OPINION 
35

Privatize Abortion Funding to Save Health Care Reform

Independent fund could finance procedures, diffuse criticisms of govt. plan

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(Newser) – Abortion threatens to derail the push for health care reform, as opponents use the prospect of subsidized procedures to turn pro-life Americans against the whole plan, writes Meredith Simmons for Slate. Progressives are indignant—abortion is a health procedure, they argue, and should be covered like any other. But excluding abortions may be the only way to make any reform politically palatable. Privatizing abortion funding could give both sides what they want.

Simmons proposes establishing a private fund to cover abortions for low-income women, at a projected cost of $311 million a year. That funding already exists in a sense—$250 million of the $1 billion given to pro-choice charities in 2007 was earmarked specifically for abortion procedures. Only a slight reallocation would be needed to "cover abortions for every poor woman in the United States."

In this June 6, 2009, file photo, protesters demonstrate during the funeral of slain abortion provider Dr. George Tiller at College Hill United Methodist Church in Wichita, Kan.
In this June 6, 2009, file photo, protesters demonstrate during the funeral of slain abortion provider Dr. George Tiller at College Hill United Methodist Church in Wichita, Kan.   (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)
Abortion opponents attend a rally on the National Mall in Washington Jan. 22,2009.
Abortion opponents attend a rally on the National Mall in Washington Jan. 22,2009.   (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
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Privatization won't satisfy pro-choicers or pro-lifers. But it might secure passage of a health care bill that Americans on both sides can live with. That's worth a shot.
- Meredith Simons

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35 comments
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Derni
Aug 13, 09 6:25 PM CDT
ANything to make the religious right and those that oppose abortion-so is birth control going to stay-America is self-destructing before our eyes just like the Republican party-where they say one thihing and the change their tone because they got paid off-get what you can passed and vote the _____out of office with new people rhat are middle class and poor Reply
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+3
IN RESPONSE:
Doctor_Zaius
Aug 13, 09 6:27 PM CDT
I really do like your posts. Hope you weren't offended by the "Mittens" comment
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+1
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newsrmandan
Aug 13, 09 7:06 PM CDT
Derni with all due respect your post is incoherent. The problem of abortion in this country is not going away by creating some private fund. It is also not just an issue of the "religious Right" and republicans. Protection of life is good killng the helpless is bad. @dr... a not so subtle straw man. Our tax dollers used to buy the protective gear of war is not the same as - selfish for (my own purpose) killing of innocent helpless babies. But I don't spect you're mind will find the irony in killing babies while at the same time railing against the use of force as protection. This world would be a better place without abortion. Send that 311 mill to adoption use.
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-7
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Fondue
Aug 13, 09 7:17 PM CDT
I understood your post just fine, Derni.
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+4
IN RESPONSE:
DJM420
Aug 13, 09 8:42 PM CDT
the world would be great without abortion, we can all agree on that...but while it does happen( and there are MANY medically legitimate reasons for it), it should be a legal, safe option, and a rare one, in which the person who is considering the procedure/event/option, has the right to decide what happens with her body.... (and that dude in oregon that keeps popping them out, him too, i guess)
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