On Eve of Values Voters Summit, Rasmussen Poll Shows Widespread Opposition to Government Funding of Abortion in Health Care Reform
by Staff
September 18, 2009
WASHINGTON, (christiansunite.com) -- Today the Susan B. Anthony List commented on the results of a nationwide poll conducted by Rasmussen Reports on government funding for abortion in health care reform."Today's Rasmussen poll should remind lawmakers that including government funds for abortion on- demand in health care reform is not a winning policy for large segments of the American people," said Marjorie Dannenfelser, President of the Susan B. Anthony List. "Tomorrow the Values Voters Summit will kick into high gear, and there is no more urgent matter for many passionate grassroots activists than opposing the inclusion of abortion coverage in health care reform. If the Congressional leadership and the President fall on the sword of abortion coverage, pleasing their allies and weaving it into the fabric of our daily lives, they do so at the peril of the entire bill and their own political futures. Taken with the findings of the Susan B. Anthony List poll released last week, this evidence of public sentiment is just the latest compelling reason for Congress to reject the President's health care proposal without authentic language to exclude abortion funding."
The Susan B. Anthony List will be collecting petition signatures to oppose abortion coverage in health care from Values Voters Summit attendees this weekend. The organization will also be distributing stickers with the slogan, "Abortion is NOT Healthcare.
A summary of the Rasmussen poll is available online. Key Findings of the Rasmussen Poll include:
48% of Americans believe any government-subsidized health care plan should be prohibited from covering abortion procedures.
Of those who are already opposed to the health care plan, 72% support prohibiting abortion coverage.
13% of Americans surveyed believe government- subsidized plans should be required to cover abortion.
58% of Americans say abortion is morally wrong, most of the time.
52% of Americans say it is too easy to get an abortion.
Full poll results and analysis for the recent Public Opinion Strategies Poll commissioned Susan B. Anthony List are available on the Susan B. Anthony List website at www.sba-list.org/poll. Key findings of the poll include:
The Inclusion of Government Funded Abortions in the President's Health Care Reform Plan Turns Off Five Times More Voters Than it Gains. More than four- in-ten voters (43%) say they would be less likely to support the president's proposed health plan if the government pays for abortions. Intensity is strong, with over one-third (36%) of voters saying they would be much less likely to support the plan. Forty-six percent (46%) say it would make no difference to their support for the president's plan. Only 8% say it would make them more likely to support the plan.
58% of Americans disagree with the statement, "If the government is going to make a public health plan available for all Americans it has an obligation to provide abortion services under that plan."
55% of Americans agree with the statement, "Whatever my opinion on the issue, I think it would be wrong for the government to pay for abortions."
52% of Americans agree with the statement, "I do not want the government to help fund health care plans that fund abortions."
By a ratio of two-to-one Democrats are less likely to support the president's plan. Twenty-five percent (25%) of Democrats are less likely to support the president's plan if it contains abortion funding while only 12% say they would be more likely to support the president's plan if it contains abortion funding.
The Susan B. Anthony List is a nationwide network of Americans, over 162,000 residing in all 50 states, dedicated to mobilizing, advancing, and representing pro-life women in politics. Its connected Candidate Fund increases the percentage of pro-life women in the political process. www.sba-list.org
