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Dem joins push for health reform repeal


WASHINGTON (BP)–Rep. Gene Taylor of Mississippi has become the first Democrat to sign a petition to bring a bill to the floor of the House of Representatives to repeal the new health care reform law that will subsidize abortions in insurance plans.

Taylor signed a discharge petition Sept. 14 that, if it receives a majority of representatives’ signatures, would bring H.R. 4972 to the floor from the Appropriations Committee without its approval. To date, the petition has received 173 representatives’ signatures toward the 218 majority needed.

Taylor, a pro-life advocate during his 22 years in Congress, said Sept. 16 of the health care law enacted in March, “I didn’t vote for it, people don’t want it and the taxpayers cannot afford it.”

Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, wrote Taylor and the other members of the Blue Dog Coalition July 30 to seek their support for repeal of the health care law — citing abortion funding as one of the ERLC’s reasons for its opposition. He also urged the Blue Dogs to support the discharge petition.

The Blue Dog Coalition is an alliance of 54 moderate or conservative Democrats in the House.
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Compiled by Baptist Press Washington bureau chief Tom Strode.

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