Dan Coats: “This is not, despite what has been said, this is not an issue over whether or not a woman has the right to choose to…”

“This is not, despite what has been said, this is not an issue over whether or not a woman has the right to choose to have an abortion. We do not change any constitutional rulings. We do not change anything in that regard. This is simply an issue as to whether the taxpayer will be forced to pay for an abortion of a Federal employee's demand for an abortion. Mr. President, 70 percent or more of the citizens of the United States, whether they are pro-life, pro-choice, or neutral on the question, have consistently stated in polls and surveys that, regardless of their position, more than 70 percent have said no in an issue that is this controversial, which violates the conscience and religious beliefs of many people, or that is simply a taxpayer issue. We do not believe the taxpayer should be forced to pay for the abortion of someone else. This goes one step further because it limits it to just Federal employees.”