Read her attached letter!

Yesterday, the US Senate took up Senator Ben Nelson's (D-NE) amendment to the federal health care bill which would have prohibited tax-payer funding of abortion. The amendment needed 60 votes to pass and lost 54-45. Among those voting against the bill was New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Shaheen.

This morning, Cornerstone's Executive Director, Kevin Smith, released the following statement to the press:

"We are very disappointed by Senator Shaheen's decision to reject a common sense amendment to the health care bill which would have prohibited tax payer funding of abortions. Mrs. Shaheen has once again demonstrated her extreme position on this issue by capitulating to the abortion lobby rather than representing her own constituents."

Clearly, Senator Shaheen's position on abortion is about as radical as it can get. Senator Shaheen has written back to many of you who have contacted her about this issue. Attached to this alert is a copy of a letter she sent to a constituent in Ocober of this year, in which she spells out her support for tax-payer funding of abortion. Please give Senator Shaheen a call TODAY: 202-224-2841 to respectfully express your displeasure with the Senator's radical position on abortion.

Richard H. (Dick) Olson
Jaffrey, NH

------Shaheen Letter------
SUITE SO-G55
JEANNE SHAHEEN
DIRKSEN BUILDING
NEW HAMPSHIRE
WASHINGTON, DC 20510
(202) 224-2841

WASHINGTON, DC

October 8, 2009

Thank you for taking the time to contact my office regarding public funding of reproductive health care, I appreciate hearing from you about this important issue.

In 1976, Congress passed a law called the Hyde Amendment, which, in general, prohibits Medicaid from covering abortion services as part ofthe comprehensive health care provided to low-income people by the federal government. In addition to low-income women receiving Medicaid, the Hyde Amendment denies access to federally funded abortions for multiple other groups, including federal employees and their dependents, Native Americans, low-income residents ofWashington, DC, military personnel and their dependents, and disabled women receiving Medicare.

I support a repeal ofthe Hyde Amendment as a crucial step toward ensuring equal access to health care for all women. Bans on abortion funding for low-income women are discriminatory and have dangerous public health implications. While the Hyde Amendment makes exception for lifesaving abortions, women with non-fatal cancers, diabetes, heart conditions or other serious medical risks are denied coverage despite
having had the legal right to abortion for over thirty years. In addition, many Medicaid eligible women are forced to postpone their abortions until late in their pregnancies or seek self-induced or illegal abortions, further jeopardizing their health. The decision to end a pregnancy is a complicated and deeply personal choice for many women, While I strongly support efforts to reduce the number ofabortions, I also believe that-each woman must be trusted to make the right decision for herself and her family.

Thank you again for sharing your thoughts with me, and please do not hesitate to contact my office with any future concerns.

Sincerely,

~~

Jeanne Shaheen
United States Senator