GOP senators warn of more abortion fights in spending bills

Republican senators put Democratic leaders on notice Monday that they'll expand the chamber's abortion battles to appropriations bills.

35 GOP senators, led by Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), wrote Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to notify him that they would not allow FY2010 Financial Services and State/Foreign Operations appropriations bills to move forward in the Senate unless subsidies for coverage of abortion services are eliminated from the bills.

"We have grave concerns regarding the exclusion of longstanding funding limitations on abortion in the various appropriations bills that are currently before Congress," the senators said. "We cannot, in good conscience, allow these provisions to move forward, even in an omnibus appropriations bill."

"We want to assure you that we are prepared to take full advantage of our rights under Senate rules to prevent massive taxpayer subsidies for abortions and abortion-related activities," the Republican added.

The letter effectively warns that the battle over abortion that's played itself out in the debate over healthcare reform legislation may soon enter the realm of those appropriations bills. In that debate, at least one Democratic senator, Ben Nelson of Nebraska, has held up his party's movement toward passing health reform over concerns about abortion.

The five Republican senators who didn't sign the letter were Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Olympia Snowe (Maine), Thad Cochran (Miss.), Richard Lugar (Ind.), and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska).

The full letter is after the jump:

December 2, 2009

The Honorable Harry Reid
Majority Leader
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Mr. Leader:

We have grave concerns regarding the exclusion of longstanding funding limitations on abortion in the various appropriations bills that are currently before Congress.  These measures, which have enjoyed broad bipartisan support for many years, are meant to ensure that taxpayers are not forced to pay for or promote elective abortions either in the United States or abroad.   

Yet provisions calling for taxpayer financed abortions and the promotion of abortion have been included in the FY2010 Financial Services and State/Foreign Operations Appropriations bills. We cannot, in good conscience, allow these provisions to move forward, even in an omnibus appropriations bill.  

We want to assure you that we are prepared to take full advantage of our rights under Senate rules to prevent massive taxpayer subsidies for abortions and abortion-related activities.                  

Sincerely,

Lamar Alexander (R-TN), John Barrasso (R - WY), Robert Bennett (R-UT), Bond, Christopher S. - (R - MO), Sam Brownback (R - KS), Jim Bunning (R - KY), Richard Burr (R - NC) , Saxby Chambliss (R - GA), Tom Coburn (R - OK), Bob Corker (R - TN), John Cornyn (R - TX), Mike Crapo (R - ID), Jim DeMint (R - SC), John Ensign (R - NV), Michael Enzi (R - WY), Lindsey Graham (R - SC), Chuck Grassley (R - IA), Judd Gregg (R - NH), Orrin Hatch (R - UT), Kay Bailey Hutchison (R - TX), Jim Inhofe (R - OK), Johnny Isakson (R - GA), Mike Johanns (R - NE), Jon Kyl (R - AZ), George LeMieux (R - FL), John McCain (R - AZ), Mitch McConnell (R - KY), James Risch (R - ID), Pat Roberts (R - KS), Jeff Sessions (R - AL), Richard Shelby (R - AL), John Thune (R - SD), David Vitter (R - LA), George Voinovich (R - OH), Roger Wicker (R - MS).

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