House Republican Leader John Boehner: Abortion-Executive Order Won't Work

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
March 21, 2010

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Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- House Republican Leader John Boehner issued a statement this morning saying he opposes the idea to exchange pro-life votes for the pro-abortion health care bill for a promise of an executive order from President Barack Obama. He says the idea won't work and that pro-life groups oppose it.

Several pro-life groups have already spoke out against the idea, that would have Rep. Bart Stupak and several pro-life Democrats give Nancy Pelosi 216 votes for the measure in exchange for an order to ban abortion funding in it.

“The law of the land trumps any Executive Order which can be reversed or altered at the stroke of a pen by this or any subsequent President without any congressional approval or notice," Boehner said.

"Moreover, while an Executive Order can direct members of the executive branch, it cannot direct the private sector," he added.

Opposition to the idea comes in part because technically it won't work to authentically ban abortion funding and can easily be reversed.

“Because of Roe v. Wade, courts have interpreted the decision as a statutory mandate that the government must provide federal funding for elective abortion in through federal programs. In other words, no Executive Order or regulation can override a statutory mandate unless Congress passes a law that prohibits federal funding from being used in this manner," Boehner explained.

The GOP leader then cited the opposition from pro-life groups.in the statement he sent to LifeNews.com.

"Legal experts at the US Catholic Conference of Bishops, National Right to Life Committee, Americans United for Life, and Family Research Council have confirmed this view that if the Senate bill is signed into law, it is a statutory mandate for the new health plans to include federal funding of elective abortion," he continued.

"The need for an Executive Order is evidence that this is true, and Congressional Democrats know it. Make no mistake, a ‘yes’ vote on the Democrats’ health care bill is a vote for taxpayer-funded abortions," Boehner concluded.