2001 Ron Paul 35:1
Mr. PAUL. Mr. Chairman, I rise in
strong support of the Hyde amendment.
I do not think it is the strongest
amendment that we could have, because
ultimately, this debate will not
end until we stop the Federal funding
or taxpayer funding of population control
overseas. But nevertheless, a vote
for this amendment is a strong statement
in opposition to tax-supported
abortion.
2001 Ron Paul 35:2
I would like to address the subject of
the gag rule. As many of my colleagues
know, if there is any violation whatsoever
of any civil liberties or the Constitution,
no matter how well intended
a piece of legislation is, I will vote
against it. On occasion even though
I’m strong pro-life, I have
occassionally voted against pro-life
legislation for that reason.
2001 Ron Paul 35:3
But let me tell my colleagues, this
gag rule argument is a red herring if I
have ever seen one. This has nothing to
do with the first amendment. This
would be like arguing that if we had a
prohibition in this bill against passing
out guns to civilians in some foreign
nation, we would say, we cannot have a
prohibition on that because of the second
amendment, defending the right to
own guns. It would be nonsense. So this
has nothing to do with the first amendment;
but it does have something to do
with the rights of U.S. citizens, Mr.
Chairman, in forcibly taking funds
through taxes from people who believe
strongly against abortion their rights
are violated.
2001 Ron Paul 35:4
Someone mentioned earlier that this
was a violation of the religious beliefs
of people overseas. What about the religious
beliefs of the people in this country
who are at the point of a gun forced
to pay for these abortions? That is
where the real violation is. It is not an
infraction on the first amendment.
2001 Ron Paul 35:5
As a matter of fact, I think this is a
bad choice and bad tactics for those
who support abortion, because this is
like rubbing our nose into it when the
people who feel so strongly against
abortion are forced to pay for abortion,
to pay for the propaganda and to pay
for the lobbying to promote abortion.
Ultimately, the solution will only
come when we defund overseas population
control.
