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News Release
For Immediate Release: March 24, 2010
Contact: Diane Gramley 1.814.437.5355 or 1.814.271.9078

Four PA Elected Officials Play Part in Sham of Executive Order Signing

(Harrisburg) - Today President Obama signed the Executive Order that supposedly would prevent the use of taxpayer dollars to fund abortion. Obama, a usual ‘media hog,’ signed the order behind closed doors without the presence of media. The American Family Association of Pennsylvania (AFA of PA), a statewide traditional values group, noted that Senator Bob Casey, Jr. and three of Pennsylvania’s Congressmen (Carney, Dahlkemper and Doyle) were among the fourteen invited guests.

“Four of Pennsylvania’s so-call pro-life Democratic politicians took part in this effort to further mislead Americans who truly oppose abortion. If this executive order was really a means to stop federal health care dollars from being spent on abortion, why would Planned Parenthood applaud the passage of the bill? If this signature really meant something why not celebrate it before the world?“ asked Diane Gramley, president of the AFA of PA.

Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood, said in a statement released shortly after passage that stopping the Stupak amendment was their top priority. The pro-abortion organization was ecstatic about the additional funding they would receive upon passage in the Senate.

“This executive order is simply words void of meaning placed on a blank piece of paper for a feel good affect. An executive order cannot trump federal law. Obama’s signature on the health care bill yesterday made it the law of the land, not this meaningless executive order witnessed by politicians who are so desperately trying to hide behind it,” Gramley further stated.

The inclusion of mention of the Hyde Amendment and the Weldon and Church Amendments carry no weight. These amendments only apply to funds appropriated under the Labor, Health and Human Services (LHHS) appropriations bill. The abortion funding provisions in the new health care law and the lack of conscience protections do not come under the umbrella of the LHHS appropriations bill. In addition, the existence of the Hyde Amendment and the Church and Weldon Amendment are dependent on re-authorization every year by Congress.

The Executive Order is simply a mirage created for desperate politicians looking for political cover so they can claim they did not vote for abortion -- totally ignoring the truth.

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