Gov. Nathan Deal is backing the Senate’s surprise move to make it illegal for any state-sponsored insurance plan to pay for abortions.
“Within the context of the state employees’ health benefit plan, this should be an auxiliary benefit that’s paid for separately,” said Deal, who said he was taken by surprise by the legislation. “That’s the effort that was undertaken in the Senate yesterday, and I support that.”
The Senate added the restrictions on Monday as an amendment to unrelated legislation that would allow the Georgia World Congress Center to make its own decisions related to employee benefits. The proposal, House Bill 246, passed by a 34-15 vote and is now pending in the House.
It prompted an emotional debate that brought memories of last year’s legislative fight over new restrictions on late-term abortions in Georgia. That measure, which banned most abortions in Georgia after 20 weeks of pregnancy, was signed into law by Deal.
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