On Thursday, Representative Chris Smith introduced the “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act” — a chilling bill that will greatly reduce access to safe, legal abortions for women in this country.

This bill is undoubtedly only the first of many attempts by the anti-choice majority in the new Congress to restrict access to health care for women.

And while Republican control makes it likely that this bill will pass the House, weak or fragmented opposition from Democrats will only invite more extreme attacks on women’s rights.

As House Minority Leader, Nancy Pelosi has the ability to bring Democrats together against this radical expansion of abortion restrictions. But she needs to know that we have her back as she goes up against the extreme anti-choice members of Congress, including members of her own caucus.

Tell Nancy Pelosi that we need her leadership to bring Democrats together against this anti-choice bill. Click here to automatically sign the petition.

Supporters of Rep. Smith’s bill say it simply codifies the current “Hyde amendment” into law, which prohibits federal funds from being used for abortion services.

That is a lie.

We heard the same lie from supporters of the notorious Stupak amendment during the health care fight, and we saw how that lie was effectively wielded to minimize opposition to what were in fact major attacks on reproductive choice. Rep. Smith’s bill not only includes the provisions in the Stupak amendment, it takes the attacks further.

Currently, 86% of private insurance plans cover abortion as part of a woman’s health care. If signed into law, the bill could be used to effectively end private insurance coverage for abortion for most women in the United States, even those who pay for private insurance themselves.

Among other provisions, the bill would deny tax credits to businesses or institutions that pay for or provide abortion services, even if no federal money is used for abortion procedures. It would also eliminate tax deductions for businesses that pay for insurance that covers abortions.¹

It would also prevent someone from taking income tax deductions for medical expenses for any health plan that covered abortions. And if a woman who was risking blindness due to pregnancy paid for an abortion out of a tax-exempt health savings account, the money would be treated as income for tax purposes.²

In a number of ways, this bill is heir to the Stupak amendment, which showed how readily even some nominally pro-choice Democrats would stand aside in the face of significant attacks on choice.

In the wake of Stupak fight, we need Leader Pelosi to put up a fight against this bill and show the Republicans and anti-choice Democrats that women cannot be thrown under the bus again when it comes to reproductive health care.

Tell Nancy Pelosi that it is imperative that she bring Democrats together against this anti-choice bill and that we will have her back as she goes against the Republican leadership to secure women’s rights. Click here to automatically sign the petition.

Your support will go a long way in rallying support against this extremist, anti-woman and anti-choice bill.

Thank you for protecting women’s health.

Becky Bond, Political Director
CREDO Action from Working Assets

1. “A quick note on the ‘No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act,’” Nick Baumann, Mother Jones, 01-20-2011.

2. “Extreme Abortion Coverage Ban Introduced,” Jessica Arons, Center for American Progress, 01-20-2011.