Marino questions Carney’s abortion stand

ANDREW M. SEDER

aseder@timesleader.com

Not seeing U.S. Rep. ’s name listed among the 155 cosponsors of a bill that seeks to prohibit the use of taxpayer funding for abortions, his Republican opponent in the November election has raised the issue of just where the two-term Democrat stands on the issue.

“Congressman Carney has a history of saying one thing in the district and doing another when he is in Washington, D.C. Despite playing coy on the pro-life issue at home, his record in D.C. speaks for itself,” said Tom Marino, a former U.S. Attorney from Lycoming County who will square off with Carney on Nov. 2 for the 10th Congressional District seat.

“His recent actions confirm what we have always known – Chris Carney is not pro-life and has no problem spending taxpayers’ money for abortions,” Marino added.

The Carney camp and Carney himself have repeatedly said the congressman is pro-life and took umbrage with Marino’s assertions.

Josh Drobnyk, the congressman’s spokesman, said in a press statement that Carney would look to sign on as a cosponsor once the House reconvenes from August recess in three weeks. He added that Carney does support the bill.

“He has been a staunch supporter of the Hyde Amendment and the push to permanently ban federal funding for abortion and just last week was singled out as a ‘Whole Life Hero’ for his advocacy on this issue,” Drobnyk added. The recognition came from the pro-life group Democrats for Life of America for the representative’s “courageous vote earlier this year to expand quality health care to millions of Americans, while preventing public funding of abortion,” according to a release issued by the group.

Under the Hyde Amendment, federal funds cannot go toward abortion except in cases of rape, incest and when the life of the pregnant woman is at risk.

House Resolution 5939 was introduced last Thursday and listed a bipartisan lineup of cosponsors, including U.S. Rep. Paul E. Kanjorski, D-Nanticoke, and two other Pennsylvania Democrats. Kanjorski was also one of the Democrats recognized by Democrats for Life of America.

Kanjorski said he signed on as a cosponsor as part of his long-standing support of pro-life issues.

“While the Hyde Amendment is currently law, it needs to be reauthorized every year. This legislation makes the ban permanent, ensuring that no taxpayer funding could be used for abortion, as is consistent with the president’s executive order. Since coming to Congress, I have regularly voted to protect the sanctity of human life. As a result, I will continue to remain vigilant to ensure that no federal funding is used for abortion.”

In addition to prohibiting taxpayer funds to pay for abortion, the bill also provides for conscience protections to the procedure.

After the passage of health care reform in March, President signed an executive order banning federal funding for abortion, but some groups and Marino’s campaign spokesman say that the bill, introduced by Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., and Rep. Dan Linkinski, D-Ill., is needed to take any uncertainty out of the issue.