Joe Biden’s opposition to taxpayer-funded abortion is becoming a major issue in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination, with every other major contender pledging to overturn a pro-life policy dating back four decades.
At issue is the Hyde Amendment, a 1977 legislation provision that prohibits federal funds be used to fund abortions, including within Medicaid. The current version includes exceptions for rape, incest and to save the mother’s life.
Biden, who is Catholic, supports the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion. This year, he labeled state laws restricting abortion “pernicious” and “wrong.” But as a senator he voted for the Hyde Amendment. His campaign confirmed to NBC News this month that his position has not changed.
Every other major Democratic candidate, though, opposes the Hyde Amendment. The 2016 Democratic Platform even pledges to overturn it: “We will continue to oppose – and seek to overturn – federal and state laws and policies that impede a woman’s access to abortion, including by repealing the Hyde Amendment.”
Biden’s Democratic opponents criticized his stance.
“No woman’s access to reproductive health care should be based on how much money she has. We must repeal the Hyde Amendment,” U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris tweeted.
U.S. Sen. Beto O’Rourke wrote on Twitter: “No matter your…
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