As Congress works to reach a deal addressing the expiration of Affordable Care Act subsidies, President Donald Trump revealed abortion funding is a “factor” in the decision.
The Daily Signal asked Trump Friday night if he would assure Republicans he won’t propose or accept a health care deal that continues to allow abortion funding under Obamacare.
“We’re going to look into it,” he responded. “We’re going to look into a lot of things. That’s one of many factors.”
“What we do wanna see is the money go to the people, not the insurance companies,” he added.
Obamacare is currently exempted from the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits taxpayer dollars from funding abortions. Republican senators have said they will not support a deal without the Hyde Amendment in place.
“Our members are very concerned, obviously, and with good reason, to ensuring that the Hyde protections apply to Obamacare policies,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune said.
House Republicans released their health care package on Friday. The bill includes Hyde protections to cost-sharing reduction funds that prohibit paying for abortions except to save the life of the mother or if the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest.
The commitment of many Republicans to oppose a health care deal that funds abortion puts negotiations with Democrats in a precarious place, as Democrats are expected to oppose any deal that excludes abortion funding.
“It’s a nonstarter,†Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., told NBC News.
The pro-life movement is throwing its weight behind ensuring the health care deal includes Hyde protections, with Kelsey Pritchard of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America telling The Daily Signal her organization “will continue to oppose any health care plan that does not include that safeguard.â€
She said that is where the majority of senators are going to land as well.
“We’ve seen many pledges of the importance of pro-life policy in the health care space,†Pritchard said.
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