Rep. Richard Hanna visits SMG Editorial Board 1/13/14

U.S. Rep. Richard Hanna, R-Barneveld, was the only House Republican to vote against a bill Tuesday that targeted the Affordable Care Act and abortions. Hanna is shown during a visit to the Syracuse Media Group editorial board on January 13, 2014. Stephen D. Cannerelli | scannerelli@syracuse.com

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep. Richard Hanna explained today why he voted against his House Republican colleagues on a bill that bans federal payments for abortions.

Hanna, R-Barneveld, was the only Republican to vote against the legislation, which passed the House Tuesday night by a vote of 227-188. The bill faces certain defeat in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

The "No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act" prohibits the use of federal subsidies for health insurance plans that cover abortion services through the Affordable Care Act.

Hanna, of Oneida County, opposes spending federal money on abortions, but he said such spending is already banned under the Hyde Amendment. He said the bill approved Tuesday took additional steps that he could not support.

Here is Hanna's explanation:

"It is clear to me that the majority of taxpayers in my district do not want their hard-earned tax dollars sent to Washington and spent on abortion. I agree. I have always supported and will continue to support the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits spending federal dollars on elective abortion through appropriations bills.



"H.R. 7 would prohibit the use of federal funds to pay for abortion or health insurance coverage for abortion, similar to the Hyde Amendment. It would also prohibit individuals and small businesses from utilizing tax credits to purchase health care plans that cover abortion. Exceptions are provided for abortions in cases of rape and incest and for procedures intended to save the life of the mother.



"The legislation includes miscellaneous other abortion-related provisions, including disallowing multi-state qualified health plans offered in an exchange from providing abortion coverage, as well as a new requirement that health plans which provide abortion coverage 'prominently' display that information in marketing or advertising materials, comparison tools and benefit summaries.



"I have been a consistent supporter of women's rights and healthcare organizations in Upstate New York that aid women, especially those most vulnerable in our community. While I personally oppose abortion, individuals should be free to make that very difficult and personal decision without heavy-handed government involvement.



"This legislation goes beyond the Hyde Amendment to create financial penalties, red tape and paperwork requirements. These are new government barriers for small businesses and individuals who would choose to provide their employees or themselves with health plans that include abortion coverage. I continue to oppose spending federal tax dollars on abortion, but this legislation goes too far in finding new ways to insert government influence into personal and employer health care decisions best left to families and consumers."

Contact Mark Weiner at mweiner@syracuse.com or 571-970-3751. Follow him on Twitter @MarkWeinerDC