With all the problems and controversies surrounding health care “reform”, it is rather unbelievable that Senate Democrats on the Finance Committee defeated two pro-Life amendments today, both on 10-13 votes.

The two amendments were offered by Utah’s senator, Orrin Hatch.

The first of his proposals would have ensured that no federal tax dollars would be used to pay for abortions. Our own Mike Crapo joined with Hatch in supporting the amendment. Unfortunately, the measure garnered only one Democrat vote (Sen. Conrad), with “Republican” Olympia Snowe supporting a broad expansion of taxpayer-subsidized abortions.

History demonstrates that “free” abortions increase demand; so we are talking not just about tax dollars here, or the conscience rights of American pro-Lifers who understand such use of their money to be a moral outrage. The heart of the matter is that this dark vote, if sustained by the Congress and President, will directly translate into a death sentence for thousands of preborn children. We’re talking about lives that would probably have otherwise been spared by mothers enticed into abortion by the lure of a “free” solution to their problem.

The other Hatch amendment would have afforded medical care providers with conscience protections – another item President Obama claimed to support in his national address earlier this month. Despite such rhetoric, the protections were rejected on the same 10-13 vote.

These votes do not bode well for the future of this nation, and mark yet another assault in the unrelenting war against preborn children being waged by the current national regime.