"I urge pro-life members to stand strong against the abortion lobby... This will be a career-affecting vote."

Contact: Joy Yearout, Susan B. Anthony List, 703-380-6674

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2 /Standard Newswire/ -- Today the Susan B. Anthony List announced a $15,000 radio campaign in the northern Michigan district of Representative Bart Stupak (D-MI) and the Pennsylvania district of Representative Joe Pitts.  The ads, funded through grassroots donations nationwide, thank both members for their efforts to exclude government-funded abortion from health care reform.  [Listen to the Stupak Ad.]

"Congressman Bart Stupak is a courageous pro-life Democrat in the mold of former Governor Bob Casey," said Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser.  "Susan B. Anthony List members are thankful for his partnership with Congressman Joe Pitts to ensure that health care reform legislation is not used to usher in massive government-funding for abortion."

Earlier this year, Representatives Bart Stupak (D-MI) and Joe Pitts (R-PA) co-sponsored an amendment to exclude government funding for abortion or health plans that cover abortion from the House version of health care reform.  The amendment passed the House on a floor vote of 240 to 194.  Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE) is currently drafting similar language to add to the Senate health care bill.

"Unfortunately Stupak's leadership did not come without a price -- since his pro-life legislative success, abortion advocates have sought to tear him and his pro-life allies down.  They resorted to campaigns of intimidation, including a effort to send coat hangers to Democratic supporters of the Stupak amendment.  I urge pro-life members to stand strong against the desperate tactics of the abortion lobby.  Members who support Stupak also represent the majority of their constituents.  Americans -- women included -- reject the radical feminist vision of an abortion for every home, at government expense."

"Now all eyes are on the Senate, and voters are watching the actions of self-described pro-life Senators and Senators from pro-life states.  For both chambers, in the event Stupak language is stripped, the vote on final passage will be the most significant pro-life vote of this Congress.  This will be a career-affecting vote."

The script of the Stupak ad:  "This holiday season, the people of Northern Michigan can be thankful that they are represented by a principled and effective congressman: Bart Stupak.  Congressman Stupak had the courage to lead the fight in the House of Representatives to stop federal dollars from being spent for abortions.  We can trust Bart Stupak to protect unborn children and women.  And for that, we can be thankful.  Paid for by Susan B. Anthony List, inc." 

The Stupak amendment to the House version of health care reform excludes government funding for abortion and for health plans that cover abortion.  The Senate version, the Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act, explicitly authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to include abortion coverage in the public option.   The bill also allows the use of government subsidies to purchase insurance policies that include elective abortion coverage.

For the last several months, the Susan B. Anthony List has mobilized tens of thousands of pro-life Americans nationwide to urge Congress to exclude abortion from healthcare reform.  Susan B. Anthony List activists have sent nearly 500,000 letters to Congress requesting an explicit exclusion of abortion from health care reform.

The Susan B. Anthony List is a nationwide network of Americans, over 167,000 residing in all 50 states, dedicated to mobilizing, advancing, and representing pro-life women in politics. Its connected Candidate Fund increases the percentage of pro-life women in the political process.

www.sba-list.org