White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki dodged when pressed about whether President Joe Biden’s coronavirus relief package would provide millions in funding to abortion providers at a Tuesday press conference.
A reporter pressed Psaki on what amounts to billions of dollars in Biden’s relief package that could go to the abortion industry. The Hyde Amendment specifically prohibits taxpayer dollars from funding abortions. Biden had long supported the Hyde Amendment but reversed his position on it during the 2020 Democratic primary. (RELATED: Pro-Life Leaders Condemn ‘Devout Catholic’ Biden Over His Vow To ‘Codify’ Roe V. Wade)
The reporter said pro-life groups are “very concerned that millions of US taxpayer dollars will go to the abortion industry, in violation of the Hyde Amendment. We know where President Biden stand on the Hyde Amendment, but that being said, can this administration right now guarantee that if the American Rescue Plan is passed, that no taxpayer dollars will go to the abortion industry?”
“The president’s view of the Hyde Amendment is well known,” Psaki responded. “Three quarters of the public supports the components of the package, wants to see the pandemic come under control, wants to see people put back to work, vaccines in arms, so I think that answers your question.”
REPORTER: “Can you guarantee Americans — who don’t want their tax dollars funding abortion, can the administration guarantee those tax dollars won’t fund abortion?”
PSAKI: “3/4s of the public supports the components of the package.” pic.twitter.com/2avXhMJtG6
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) February 16, 2021
While Biden has said he intends to repeal the Hyde Amendment, it currently remains the law of the land.
Republicans in Congress have already stated their opposition to any attempt to repeal the Hyde Amendment, with 200 members stating in a letter that such an attempt would “destroy nearly half a century of bipartisan consensus.”
Biden reiterated his promise to codify Roe v. Wade and appoint judges supportive of it within weeks of gaining office.