‘A Priority’ – Pelosi Will Push for Taxpayer-Funded Abortion in 2021, She Tells Allies

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has told allies that she will push Democratic lawmakers in 2021 to approve federal funding of abortion, thus ending a four-decades-long compromise between the two major parties on one of the most contentious issues in Congress.

At issue is the Hyde Amendment, a legislative provision dating to the 1970s that prohibits federal funds from being used for abortions. It originally passed a Democratic-controlled House and Senate just a few years after Roe v. Wade and has been backed publicly by Democratic presidents, including Presidents Carter, Clinton and Obama. Obama signed an executive order opposing taxpayer funding of abortion in his healthcare plan.

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden opposes the Hyde Amendment.

Because the Hyde Amendment must be renewed by each Congress, its future has always been tenuous.

Prior to the amendment, roughly 300,000 abortion were performed each year in the 1970s using taxpayer funds.

Two of Pelosi’s legislative allies – Democratic Reps. Barbara Lee (Calif.) and Rep. Diana DeGette (Colo.) – say she told a small group of House Democrats last month the House will not add the Hyde Amendment to budget bills next year, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Democrats are framing the issue as one of justice for lower-income women.

“It’s an issue of racial justice and it’s an issue of discrimination…