Rape: No Longer What It Used To Be Under Law?

by O’Donis Person

Sparks are starting to ignite over House Bill H.R. 3: “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion.” It is the proposed legislation that attempts to redefine rape for the purpose of limiting the possibilities for government-funded abortions. H.R.3 is backed by more than two hundred cosponsors, almost all Republican. This bill, presented as a cost-saving measure, proposes to cut federal payments for abortions that are anything outside of forcible rape committed by a stranger.

Right now, while Medicaid does not cover elective abortions, it does pay to terminate pregnancies as a result of rape–for women and girls who become pregnant as a result of date rape or incest, as well as women who are attacked by a stranger.

Under H.R.3, Medicaid would still fund abortions for women and girls attacked by a stranger, but if a father raped his daughter and a pregnancy resulted, the teen would not have access to federal aid to pay for an abortion.

This is because some legislators have decided to define “forcible rape” for themselves, not only to settle out a feud over where the tax payer’s dollars will go, but ultimately to limit treatment for women and girls who need it.

These legislators don’t want to pay for abortions even if it’s at the expense of a deformed baby that could live a life of pain and suffering. All in all it comes down to the money and politics.  Fortunately, since the senate is filled with Democrats, the bill is less likely to pass when it reaches the senate. Still, it is the public’s job to take action and voice their concerns over this bill. Write letters to lawmakers. Tell them to allow pregnant people, who have already been shamed or traumatized, and who may not have a lot of money, to at least have access to choice.

(See www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h112-3 for Main Street Insider’s 90-second summary of the bill and its context.)

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