Why Rep. Richard Hanna stood alone on House Republican abortion bill

WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Richard Hanna explained today why he voted against his House Republican colleagues on a bill that bans federal payments for abortions.

Hanna, R-Barneveld, was the only Republican to vote against the legislation, which passed the House Tuesday night by a vote of 227-188. The bill faces certain defeat in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

The “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act” prohibits the use of federal subsidies for health insurance plans that cover abortion services through the Affordable Care Act.

Hanna, of Oneida County, opposes spending federal money on abortions, but he said such spending is already banned under the Hyde Amendment. He said the bill approved Tuesday took additional steps that he could not support.