In a move that puts the official stamp on what pro-life groups have already applauded, pro-life lawmakers were put in top positions on a key panel that will assess ObamaCare.
The committee will begin work on legislation to repeal, de-fund or at least remove the abortion funding from the law.
Fred Upton, the Michigan congressman who has a weak pro-life voting record but will head the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee, gave pro-life advocates the consolation prize by placing pro-life champion Rep. Joe Pitts of Pennsylvania in the position of chairman of the health subcommittee. The move, tentatively announced earlier, was made official today.
The move is seen as giving pro-life organizations assurance that the new Republican-led House leadership and Speaker-elect John Boehner will take seriously their concerns about the abortion funding and rationing aspects of the ObamaCare bill.
Rep. Michael Burgess, a pro-life Texas Republican who is an obstetrician, will serve as vice-chairman of the subpanel.
Upton also announced pro-life Rep. Joe Barton of Texas will serve as the committee’s chairman emeritus and Rep. Sue Myrick, a strong pro-life advocate from North Carolina, will become the Committee’s vice chairwoman.
Upton said in a blog post at The Hill on Monday that “our top priority in the new Congress will be repealing the job-killing health care law.”
