NARAL hits GOP for tax hikes in abortion bill

Abortion-rights advocates say House Republicans are being hypocritical about healthcare taxes.

NARAL Pro-Choice America sent letters this week to the 24 lawmakers who support a bill that would repeal the healthcare law’s tax on tanning salons. As The Hill reported, the bill’s supporters say this isn’t the time to be levying new taxes on small businesses.

“This unfair punishment of small businesses must be repealed,” said Rep. Michael Grimm (R-N.Y.), the bill’s lead sponsor.

But an anti-abortion bill that passed the House last month would effectively raise taxes for small businesses that choose health plans with abortion coverage, NARAL noted.

“We don’t have a position on the tanning tax,” NARAL President Nancy Keenan said in a statement. “But we are curious about how the same lawmakers who decry tax increases could be OK with supporting a bill that takes tax credits away from small businesses. We would hate for them to be unaware of this contradiction. As we all know, there’s nothing worse than a politician who says one thing and then does another.”

The abortion bill, H.R. 3, would revoke existing federal tax credits for businesses whose healthcare plans cover abortion. That could raise employers’ taxes by tens of thousands of dollars, according to NARAL.

The organization says all 24 co-sponsors of the tanning-tax repeal voted for H.R. 3.

“These are facts of which you may have been unaware when you voted for H.R. 3,” NARAL said in its letter to lawmakers. “In light of your concern this week for the tax burden on small businesses and working women, I hope you will give new consideration to your position on H.R. 3.”

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