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Lawmakers Clash On Language In Abortion Bill

MIAMI (CBS4) -House Resolution Number Three, H.R. 3 or the No Taxpayer Funding For Abortion Act, is heating up a debate among lawmakers.

It calls for limiting federal funding for abortions when a woman is raped, whether through coercion or incest.

The outrage stems from original language that said only in the case of forcible rape -- should the government pay.

"Essentially it says to a woman if you are date raped, if you are unconscious, if you are mentally unstable, then you have to carry that pregnancy to  term and you can't get an coverage," said Florida Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Shultz.

Women's advocacy groups from across the country are angered, and so is Congresswoman Wasserman Shultz.

"What's shocking was that this bill excludes an elimination of the long standing exemption in place for 30 years that says other than rape incest and the life of the mother, federal funding is prohibited for coverage for an abortion," she said.

The bill was sponsored by Republican Congressman Chris Smith has widespread Republican support.

Late Thursday, Smith issued this statement stating "Overwhelming majorities of Americans do not want their tax dollars used to pay for abortion. While some have misconstrued revised language in our bill the use of the term forcible was not intended to change the meaning of the time-tested protections and exceptions currently contained in the Hyde Amendment."

The Hyde Amendment already allows for government funding of abortions in the case of rape and incest and danger to the life of the mother.

While Republicans seemingly backed down by removing the term "forcible" rape from H.R. 3, it would still deny tax credits to businesses that allow employees to have abortion coverage on their insurance plans.

"It's outrageous this is yet another example where they Republicans true priority are not on job creation, turning the economy around, getting people back to work or cutting the deficit but on infringing on the a woman's right to make her own reproductive choices," said Shultz.

H.R. 3 is backed by 173 Republican members of Congress.

Congresswoman Wasserman Shultz says it is highly likely it will pass in the Republican controlled house but face still opposition in the democratically controlled senate.

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