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RNC Planning Immediate Review of Its Abortion Coverage

November 12, 2009 8:58 PM

Teddydavis ABC News’ Teddy Davis reports:

Ken McKay, the chief of staff of the Republican National Committee, has prepared a memo to all 168 members of the RNC informing them that party chairman Michael Steele has called for the party's 27-member executive committee to conduct an immediate review of the elective abortion coverage contained in the RNC’s health insurance policy.

“I can assure you that the Chairman takes this issue very seriously,” writes McKay.

Cigna offers its customers the opportunity to opt out of abortion coverage but the RNC chose not to opt out in 1991. The RNC’s current leadership says that it was not previously aware of the abortion coverage under its Cigna plan until a Politico reporter contacted the press office on Wednesday.

Even though the decision to include an abortion service was made 18 years before Steele took the party reins, the abortion issue is a politically sensitive one for him because although he describes himself as pro-life, he parts with some fellow Republicans by believing that the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision upholding a federal right to abortion should be left in place under the principle of stare decisis.

No date has yet been set for the abortion review but McKay’s memo calls for it to take place in “the immediate future” as part of a broader review of the RNC’s health insurance policy.

McKay’s memo gets in a jab at Cigna, saying that “much of the information” on the RNC’s policy was provided by the insurance company.

The executive committee is the body responsible for deciding the content of the RNC’s health insurance policy.

Read more coverage from ABC News HERE.

See below for the memo from RNC chief of staff Ken McKay to the RNC’s executive committee:

###

Members of the Republican National Committee:

On Wednesday morning, the RNC’s Press Office received a phone call from a reporter asking questions about the health care policy the RNC offers employees through Cigna, and specifically whether or not our plan covers elective abortion procedures for our employees.  Upon learning of this story, at the Chairman’s direction, we immediately contacted the Executive Committee. The story was published this afternoon with much of the information on our policy being provided by Cigna. We will be scheduling a call with the Executive Committee in the immediate future to discuss this matter more fully.

Our current insurance plan was put in place in 1991. Chairman Steele had already called for an official review of our health insurance policy along with a number of other operational items.  The review of our health insurance policy has been underway for some time and that review continues.  I can assure you that the Chairman takes this issue very seriously.  The Chairman began travelling to state party events on Wednesday evening this week and will be out of the office attending party building events until Saturday evening.  He has been engaged by phone on this issue.  In accordance with Chairman Steele’s instructions we will update you and discuss the steps we are taking to address this issue.

Sincerely,

Ken McKay

###

November 12, 2009 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (17)

User Comments

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Awesome! Simply awesome. You just can NOT make stuff like this up!!

Posted by: lovebugs | Nov 12, 2009 9:11:05 PM

Sounds like another conspiracy to me.

Posted by: factscount | Nov 12, 2009 9:35:54 PM

LOL,Hypocrites!!

Posted by: Dom | Nov 12, 2009 9:36:54 PM

The GOP, still the do as I say,not as I do crowd.

Posted by: pamp205 | Nov 12, 2009 9:39:22 PM

F.I.G.U.R.E.S. Flipping hypocrites. And let's not forget they did cover those illegals in their pill bill as well.

Posted by: secondlook | Nov 12, 2009 9:50:46 PM

HCR is a pro life bill. each day 122 uninsured Americans die from lack of health care. Why do certeain groups put the emphasis on a fetus and disregard the Americans dying for lack of health care insurance. many opof those same people claim to be the true Americans and yet they put scripture before the Constitution. If they want the ROE V Wade ruling over turned. Let them put out a new law to be voted on by the Superior court. Instead they sneak arounfd health care to get laws changed. It doesn't work thatn way, and the culprits know that. Republicans have been tearing into our president. What ever direction he takes, over zealous Republicans and R-PACS claim its wrong. Comparing Obama to Hitler, using 9/11 as a way of presenting their message is wrong and immoral. When you place the scriptures come before the Constitution, you are not a good loyal American. You are a blinded by the light zealot who has no idea what the meaning of a Democracy is.

SECREG_756

Posted by: minority-rulers | Nov 12, 2009 10:00:42 PM

I supposed they are covered for viagra too!!!
What a bunch of whining hypocrites. "The
pot calls the kettle STEELE"

Posted by: spacerook1 | Nov 12, 2009 10:02:37 PM

Hmmmm GOP really have nothing else to do, now do they???

What losers

Posted by: Cary | Nov 12, 2009 10:38:13 PM

I'm aware this is really old news. Most of the numbers have been changed for the better. But attempting to be fair and balanced, I am posting this info from 2008. It hasn't anything to do with today, but here it is.

In 2008, American workers who received health insurance through their employers, paid, on average, $881 (single) and $3394 (family), in premiums. The overall cost of their policies was higher ($4386 single, and $12,298 family), but their employers, as most of us know, paid a portion of their cost. So the cost to the employee, in terms of what of the worker paid for premiums, was $881 for single coverage and $3394 for family coverage. In order for a plan to be a group plan the employer must pay at least 50% of the premium. I do not know what the relevence of this posting from 2008 is, but I posted it. A public option will exclude the vast majority of small businesses. This part of the bill was put in after 2008.

SECREG_756

Posted by: minority_rulers | Nov 12, 2009 10:56:35 PM

Jenny 10:22:48 PM, Had to start laughing
at your scripted post. Doesn't even have
anything mentioning about how lost the
RNC is on Healthcare. Heck, the RNC doesn't
even know what coverage they presently
have, as the subject hints!!! LOL ;-), Oh,
that's right, with THEIR coverage, the doctor visits
them, not the other way around.

Posted by: Spacerook1 | Nov 12, 2009 11:04:56 PM

Reminds me of those scams where you are automatically 'signed up' for a free trial period with some bonus items but it's up to you to contact the company to cancel the subscription. If you don't you get billed for it automatically and not realize some of the bonus items that kick-in are contrary to your interest. All this indicates is that we can't trust that the documents we sign will match what we think is in them. It's time to put the trust aside and read them and the fine print before signing. There are just too many slick willies out there. This is another example why the lawmakers have to read the entire health care bill. No one should assume it's 'all' on the up and up.

Posted by: TX_MBell | Nov 12, 2009 11:34:03 PM

They didn't notice because they are all guys. Way to go, guys.

Posted by: Mom | Nov 13, 2009 12:03:04 AM

i wonder how the women who work for the rnc feel about this??

Posted by: justsane | Nov 13, 2009 12:23:38 AM

If this wasn't so tragic, it would be absolutely hilarious. Here we have an organization that moved this country to the brink of destruction, and they want back in control again, after being booted out the door, when they haven't a clue about what they, themselves, have approved, and evidently paid for since 1991, only to have it pointed out to them by a LIBERAL organization. They can't run their own house according to their own rules. How does anyone think they can run the nation?

Posted by: Blazerdad | Nov 13, 2009 12:41:12 AM

Just let one of those high ranking GOP guys have a mistress who gets knocked up and we'll see just how fast they turn to legal abortions.
It's always been that way and always will be. There is a huge double standard with rich and powerful having access to whatever they want or need. But those in society who have to turn to "the system" for assistance and not being able to get what they need.
Abortion should not be used as a birth control substitute but there are other mitigating factors with poverty and quality of live being fairly high on the list. We have plenty of unwanted babies stuck in a system that can't support them either financially or emotionally.

Posted by: chababba | Nov 13, 2009 1:35:30 AM

Heck i know 50 and older old babies no body wants..God blessed/bless them all.

Posted by: Sue | Nov 13, 2009 1:55:13 AM

They Knew what what was in their policy with Cigna....this was to counteract the "viagra" effect....and thought the American people didn't KNOW they were Hypocrites!!!! NONE for YOU....But PLENTY for ME!Me,ME! Clowns!!!!

Posted by: sara | Nov 13, 2009 10:26:37 AM

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