FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 21, 2014
Contact: Mallory Quigley, 202-223-8073
*Media Advisory*
Defends Ads on Abortion Funding in Affordable Care Act
WASHINGTON, DC – Tomorrow the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Susan B. Anthony List v. Steve Driehaus. SBA List is petitioning the high court to allow their First Amendment challenge to Ohio’s “false statement” law to proceed on the grounds that the statute criminalizes “false” political speech and empowers a state agency to determine what constitutes true or false political speech. In 2010, SBA List attempted to erect billboards to expose then Rep. Steve Driehaus for supporting taxpayer funded abortion by voting for the Affordable Care Act, but was prevented from doing so because of the Ohio law. The SBA List was threatened with prosecution if it engaged in similar speech about Driehaus or other candidates in Ohio.
Since 2009 the SBA List, as well as Members of Congress like Reps. John Boehner (R-OH), Chris Smith (R-NJ), and Dan Lipinski (D-IL), along with other pro-life groups, and the United State Conference of Catholic Bishops, have argued that the Affordable Care Act permits taxpayer funding of abortion.
In 2010, then House Republican Leader John Boehner said, “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.” Click here for a list of additional quotes from notable parties regarding taxpayer funding of abortion in the ACA.
** MEDIA AVAILABILITY **
Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser and Lead Counsel Michael A. Carvin will be available for interviews outside the Supreme Court immediately following oral arguments, approximately 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM. Please call 703-380-6674 to arrange an interview.
The Affordable Care Act provides new federal tax subsidies that will finance elective abortion coverage for millions of women who did not have such insurance, expands state Medicaid program coverage of elective abortion for millions of women in dozens of states, and uses federal funds to finance elective abortion coverage for members of Congress and their staff.
The Susan B. Anthony List, and its affiliated Political Action Committees, the SBA List Candidate Fund and Women Speak Out PAC, are dedicated to pursuing policies and electing candidates who will reduce and ultimately end abortion. To that end, the SBA List emphasizes the education, promotion, mobilization, and election of pro-life women. The SBA List is a network of more than 365,000 pro-life Americans nationwide.
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