St. Mary Council OKs anti-abortion stance

The St. Mary Parish Council voted 9-1 – with one abstention – to send resolutions to Congress seeking support for the Stupak Amendment, which would prohibit abortion funding within the health-care reform bill.

“I don’t want to get into the pro-life argument,” said Councilman Albert Foulcard, who initially opposed the idea. “This is something one should take up individually with their own representatives.”

However, Councilman Glen Hidalgo, who authored the resolution, argued, “It doesn’t matter if you’re pro-life or pro-abortion. What I’m asking you tonight is to vote for this resolution, which supports an amendment that prohibits federal taxpayer dollars earmarked to pay for an abortion by anyone. Why should we as U.S. citizens have to pay for someone else’s decision?”

Councilman Charles “Butch” Middleton cast the lone vote opposing the resolution. Councilman Steve Bierhorst was absent.

“When you start mixing abortion with health care, you muddy the water,” Middleton said. “Again, I want to see health care passed, period.”

At the previous week’s parish council meeting, Middleton opposed expanding the council’s agenda to consider Hidalgo’s resolution.

“I’m against abortion,” Middleton said. “I’m very much pro life. But this resolution is a red herring conservative ploy, simply to just oppose [President Barack Obama’s] plans. I’m sick of conservative tactics like this.”

The Stupak Amendment restricts access to abortion coverage in newly-created health-care plans, but it undermines the ability of millions of women to purchase private health insurance that covers abortion, even if they pay for all or most of the premium out of their own pocket.

Abortions can cost anywhere from $350 to $10,000, Hidalgo said.

Also, under the public plan proposed, it would be forbidden for any company or plan to offer abortion as part of its benefits care package.

The amendment’s author is U.S. Rep. Bart Stupdak, a Democrat from Michigan.

According to the amendment, “No funds authorized or appropriated by this Act (or an amendment made by this Act) may be used to pay for any abortion or to cover any part of the costs of any health plan that includes coverage of abortion, except in the case where a woman suffers from a physical disorder, physical injury, or physical illness that would, as certified by a physician, place the woman in danger of death unless an abortion is performed, including a life-endangering physical condition caused by or arising from the pregnancy itself, or unless the pregnancy is the result of an act of rape or incest.”