It seems there is a common strategy to have sensitive and controversial laws overturned and changed by sneaking in bills and amendments to related and even unrelated laws! In the US House of Representatives, there is a House rule that prevents an amendment which alters the purpose of an original bill. A good rule, but only effective if there is someone to enforce it.
An example of this covert behaviour particularly relating to the abortion issue, is the bill introduced in February this year, which would require parental consent for a teenager acquiring a tattoo. The Republicans tried to amend this to include parental consent to a teenager requesting abortion, the Democrats defeated the amendment.
The always present clashes surrounding any change in laws are dogging two pending new health reform bills (the Kennedy bill and the House Democratic leadership bill) and appear to be justified. The primary aim of these bills is to “... begin the process of fixing what’s broken about our health care system, reducing costs for all, building on what works and covering an estimated 97% of all Americans”, says President Barak Obama.
But, not only do the bills expand insurance coverage to nearly all Americans, the "nameplate" of these amendments - and who can dispute that change on the surface? - they include federally mandated coverage of abortion on demand in nearly all health plans, federal subsidies for abortion, mandated creation of new abortion clinics and would also void some state laws regulating abortion, buried in the text of the bills. Several amendments have been proposed but voted down to date, although 19 Democrats have put in writing that they will not vote for any health bills that includes funding for abortions. Time will tell.
If these bills pass as they are, there can only be an increase in the incidence and societal acceptance of and reduction in respect for the value of human life across the nation. And what kind of an example does it set for other nations?
Footnote: 20/7/09 Apparently Mr Obama's public support for his handling of the US healthcare system reform has fallen below 50% according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll.
