Lipinski Finally Opens Up About "Forcible Rape" Law

By Chuck Sudo in News on Feb 1, 2011 5:20PM

3rd Congressional District Representative Dan Lipinski, the Democratic co-author of H.R. 3 (aka "The No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act") is finally starting to open up about his support of the bill. H.R. 3, if approved, seeks to make certain provisions of the Hyde Amendment.

Lipinski released a statement to Talking Points Memo attempting to clarify the intent of H.R. 3, but only served to muddy the waters more.

"The language of H.R. 3 was not intended to change existing law regarding taxpayer funding for abortion in cases of rape, nor is it expected that it would do so," Lipinski said in the statement. "Nonetheless, the legislative process will provide an opportunity to clarify this should such a need exist."

Here is where it gets muddy. the language in the bill aims to redefine "forcible rape." The rape clause in the bill doesn't take into consideration types of rape where the sexual assault isn't accompanied by other violence. This could have far-reaching ramifications to victims of drug-induced rape, statutory rape victims and victims of incest. It also seeks to redefine what "health of the mother" means if a woman needs to have an abortion. Lipinski is a chair of the House Pro-Life Caucus and one of the more staunch pro-life Democrats in Congress.