The controversy about health care reform and abortion continues. See Richard Doerflinger’s analysis, “Abortion returns to the health care reform debate.” http://usccbmedia.blogspot.com/2010/07/abortion-returns-to-health-care-reform.html
His analysis deals with the recent discovery that certain statewide insurance plans (funding by federal money) covered elective abortions. After an outcry, the Obama Administration eventually made clear that abortion would not be covered under the state plans in question, except in narrow cases.
Here is Helen Alvare’s analysis. http://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2010/07/1423 There have also been comments on the matter on the Mirror of Justice blog. http://www.mirrorofjustice.blogs.com/
This all illustrates the need to make clear in legislation (e.g., the proposed “Protect Life Act”) that federal money should not fund abortion.
Richard M.