GOP House Leader Boehner Honored at Right to Life Convention

Yesterday, House Republican Leader Boehner (R-OH) addressed the 40th Annual National Right to Life Convention at the Hyatt Regency in Pittsburgh, PA. Delegates repeatedly stood and applauded Boehner.  They also honored him with their Legislative Leadership award based on Boehner's career fighting to ban partial birth abortion, assisted suicide and federal funding for abortion. Darla St. Martin, co-executive director in hopes of seeing a change in 2010 in the House of representatives referred to Boehner as the House speaker in her introduction which brought thunderous applause from the convention attendees.

During the debate over ObamaCare, Boehner consistently battled against changing the decades-old prohibition against taxpayer-funded abortion. On the House floor, he challenged the three Democratic committee chairman handling the legislation to support the House-backed pro-life language in the final bill. He also raised the issue of taxpayer funding for abortion with the President directly, live on national television during the health care ‘summit’ at Blair House.

Since ObamaCare passed, Boehner has raised the issue of implementing the White House ‘executive order’ that was used to secure the support of Rep. Bart Stupak and other ostensibly ‘pro-life’ Democrats. Thus far, as many of us feared, it is clear that the White House has done nothing to protect the unborn under ObamaCare.

Boehner’s efforts were also recognized earlier this year when Americans United for Life honored him with an award named for one of his personal heroes, Rep. Henry Hyde.

Following are excerpts from Boehner’s speech:
ON THE RIGHT TO LIFE IN AMERICA
“The defense of life and the defense of freedom are necessarily linked.  We know this to be true.  And if we accept it, then the current political agenda in Washington is a threat to freedom.”

ON OBAMACARE & THE PRESIDENT’S EXECUTIVE ORDER ON ABORTION
“The American people – and a bipartisan majority in the House – supported the Stupak amendment, which would have prohibited taxpayer funding of abortion through the health care bill.  [But] instead of heeding the will of the people and a bipartisan majority, [President Obama and Democratic leaders] crafted a disingenuous, last-minute Executive Order that they claimed eliminated the need for pro-life protections.”

“Pro-life America. . .doubted the administration's sincerity – and with good reason.  We're three months into implementation of the new health care law – and as far as anyone can tell, the administration hasn't lifted a finger to enforce the president's Executive Order on abortion.”

ON NEXT STEPS FOR PRO-LIFE AMERICA
“One of the many ideas being discussed right now on America Speaking Out is the idea of codifying the Hyde Amendment so that it applies to all federal funding, whether those funds are appropriated by Congress or authorized by Congress.

“I believe this must be the next objective for pro-life America.  It’s clear from the health care debate that the American people don’t want their tax dollars paying for abortion, and a bipartisan majority in the House of Representatives agrees.  It’s the will of the people, and it ought to be the law of the land – right now.

“I'm pleased to announce today that Congressman Chris Smith of New Jersey will be introducing legislation to accomplish this goal.  I intend to be an original cosponsor of the bill. And once it is introduced, I will call on Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Hoyer to bring it to an immediate vote. It’s time for Washington to stop defying the will of the American people on this critical, common-sense issue.”
Read Rep. Boehner's complete address at the 40th Annual Right To life convention.

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