Governor Corbett Signs a Bill to Prohibit Abortion Coverage in the Federal Insurance Exchange

           Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett, a Republican, signed legislation yesterday to prohibit the use of tax dollars to pay for abortion coverage in the federal insurance exchange created by United States President Barack Obama’s federalization of health insurance.

           The bill had passed the General Assembly, both chambers of which are controlled by Republicans, with strong bipartisan support.  Pennsylvania was one of many States that had opted to defer to the federal government in establishing the insurance exchange instead of creating its own.  The Keystone State has had a longstanding general policy of prohibiting public funding of abortion, with only a few exceptions.  Pennsylvania joins several other States in making a similar move in regard to the federal insurance exchanges.  More States are considering similar proposals.