Mississippi Opts Out Of Health Care Abortion Funding
via LifeNews:
Today, Barbour signed a bill, SB 3214, that takes effect immediately -- well before the abortion provisions in the health care measure come into play.
"Mississippi continues to be the safest place to be an unborn child in America today," Barbour said. "This bill ensures that taxpayers' money will not fund abortions if the health insurance exchanges are implemented under the federal health care law."
The state follows Arizona and Tennessee in having such a law on the books. Oklahoma has sent a bill that is the sixth in the nation to its governor, though it, like two others, has not been signed into law.
The Mississippi House voted 88-25 last month to give final approval to the measure.
Backers of the bill say they want to make sure none of the money the state would authorize under the health care bill when it goes into effect in 2014 would pay for abortions.
Senate Appropriations Chair and first district congressional candidate Alan Nunnelee was the main sponsor of the legislation.
"The Legislature of the State of Mississippi finds that Section 1303 of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, states are explicitly permitted to pass laws prohibiting qualified health plans offered through an exchange in their state from offering abortion cove," the bill says. "It is the purpose of this act to affirmatively opt out of allowing qualified health plans that cover abortions to participate in exchanges within the State of Mississippi."
Three down, 47 to go.
About the Author
Ian Kelly is the "arm chair pundit" at Moral Outcry. He has worked full time for Bound4LIFE since 2007. His other responsibilities include local chapter development and new media communications. Besides being a political junkie, he enjoys history, sci-fi, super heroes and grilling.
