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Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) made the following statement regarding the Executive Order President Obama is expected to sign surrounding the pro-life issues in the Democrat health care reform package that was signed into law today.  

“On Sunday, March 21, Congress held a career-defining vote on the issue of government funding of abortion and for the pro-life community.  I voted against H.R. 3590, the Senate-passed health care bill, because it contains several provisions that will facilitate the federal funding of abortions.  Furthermore, the bill does not provide for the conscience protection for health care workers.  

Many lawmakers who consider themselves ‘pro-life’ voted in favor of this legislation after a promise from President Barack Obama to sign an Executive Order (EO) to correct the problem of abortion funding in the bill. However, President Obama is the most pro-abortion chief executive to ever reside in the White House and a piece of paper signed with his name will do nothing to make this health care legislation acceptable to protect the unborn.  

An EO cannot change federal statute, which is what H.R. 3590 which was signed into law today.  Even Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), a pro-abortion member of the House Democrat Leadership, admitted during an interview with Fox News on Sunday that ‘an executive order cannot change the law.’  Furthermore, an EO can be retracted just as easily – it does not have the full force of the law.  The American public, including my constituents, have overwhelmingly indicated that they do not want the government to fund abortions, but that is exactly what this legislation will do