As you may recall, 176 Republicans voted "Aye" for the Stupak-Pitts coathanger amendment this week. Only one GOP vote was contrary, and it was a "Present."
Pretty solid Republican opposition to providing a level playing field for all women when it comes to obtaining a medical procedure that has been legal for 36 years (despite right-wing efforts at intimidation, harassment and murder to turn it around). Supposedly there are some pro-choice Republicans in the House. But they were nowhere to be found.
The public point of view of the party seems to be, no abortions except under the strictest of circumstances. Not being able to cram that approach down the nation's throat, they opt for the fallback position of: Anyone who wants an abortion should pay for it herself. Unless, of course, it comes to insurance that covers our elephant pals.
Meredith Shiner and Jonathan Allen at Politico report
The Republican National Committee’s health insurance plan covers elective abortion – a procedure the party’s own platform calls "a fundamental assault on innocent human life."
Federal Election Commission Records show the RNC purchases its insurance from Cigna. Two sales agents for the company said that the RNC’s policy covers elective abortion.
Informed of the coverage, RNC spokeswoman Gail Gitcho told POLITICO that the policy pre-dates the tenure of current RNC Chairman Michael Steele.
"The current policy has been in effect since 1991, and we are taking steps to address the issue," Gitcho said. ...
There is no indication that any RNC employee has used the abortion coverage, but Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards said it’s "no surprise" that the RNC is offering it.
"It’s an employer that wants to provide standard health benefits for its employees," she said. "That’s why the Stupak amendment goes too far in taking away benefits that women have today, and that’s why women won’t allow the Stupak amendment to become law."
Of course, as Amy Sullivan pointed out recently in Time, Focus on the Family also offers insurance with abortion coverage to its staff.
I'm glad that the RNC supplies this reproductive health care coverage for its employees. Unplanned and health-crippling pregnancies can happen to any woman, and they should not be financially hampered from the full array of choices in dealing with such matters. No woman should. So, for once, hurrah to the hypocrites for not doing as they say the rest of us should do.
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*IOKIYAR: It's OK If You Are Republican
