White House Continues to Perpetuate the “Hyde Amendment Myth”

Twice last week, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs falsely claimed that the current Hyde Amendment would prevent government funding of abortion in the health care bills currently being considered by Congress and supported by the Obama Administration.

Last Wednesday Gibbs was asked about government funding of abortion in the health care measures at a press briefing and Gibbs said, “there’s a law that precludes the use of federal funds for abortion. That isn’t going to be changed in these health care bills.”

But Fred Lucas of CNS News brought the subject up again at Friday’s briefing and told Gibbs, “The Catholic bishops have repeatedly said that the Hyde amendment would not apply to the health care bill and yesterday in the letter that they sent to Congress they said that if language expressly prohibiting abortion funding is not added to the health care bill, they will vigorously — vigorously oppose — that’s a quote — the bill. My question on that, does the President support the bishops on this? And to eliminte this as an issue, will he call on Congress to have an explicit prohibition of abortion funding?”

True to form, Gibbs responded, “My answer isn’t different that it was on Wednesday. There may be a legal interpretation that had been lost here, but there’s a fairly clear federal law prohibiting the federal use of money for abortion. I think it is — again, it’s exceedingly clear in the law.”

“But the Hyde Amendment is only for direct appropriations for HHS,” Lucas said, correcting Gibbs.

But Gibbs would not back down by replying, “Again, I think that law is exceedingly clear.”

For months, the National Right to Life Committee has been informing legislators, the media and the general public that the Hyde Amendment only applies to Medicaid funding flowing through the Department of Health And Human Services Budget. The funding for the health care plans supported by the Obama Administration are entirely separate and distinct and the Hyde Amendment would not apply to those funds.

Responding to the exchange between Lucas and Gibbs, NRLC’s Legislative Director said, “Again today, for the second time this week, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs repeated the Hyde Amendment myth. His assertions are without foundation in fact, because there is not current federal law that would prevent government funding of abortion under the proposed public plan that would be created by H.R. 3200 or S. 1679.”

Sue Armacost