Abortion is listed by the Internal Revenue Service as a tax-deductible medical service, but one Republican lawmaker is working to take that option away.
On Wednesday, Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) introduced the Abortion Is Not Health Care Act because “under no circumstances should health care include the intentional taking of a life.”
“It’s time for us to be honest with ourselves — health care is primarily a restorative function, one that helps our bodies heal from a disease or ailment,” he told The Daily Signal, arguing the proposal is “a small step towards ending the federal government’s treatment of abortion as a ‘healing medical practice.’”
According to the IRS, taxpayers are permitted to deduct medical expenses from their taxes if the cost exceeds 7.5 percent of their adjusted gross income. Biggs’ law, though, would eliminate abortion from the list of tax-deductible medical expenses.
In a “Dear Colleague” letter, which are typically circulated between congressional offices in the House of Representatives and Senate, Biggs said one of the “fundamental duties of the federal government is to protect the life of all citizens, beginning at conception.”
“Despite our concerted efforts,” he wrote, “federal funding for abortion continues to be available through various funding streams, including the federal tax code.”
He went on to claim there is “no reason” the federal government “should continue to incentivize ending a life as a healthy form of reproductive care,” noting the hundreds of thousands of legal abortions performed every year.
Biggs’ law has been endorsed by United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Heritage Action for America, the March for Life, Concerned Women for America, the Eagle Forum, and the Center for Arizona Policy.
The pro-life proposal is also being co-sponsored by Reps. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Randy Weber (R-Texas), Ken Buck (R-Colo.), Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), Steve King (R-Iowa), Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.), Bob Gibbs (R-Ohio), Mo Brooks (R-Ala.), Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), Greg Steube (R-Fla.), and Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.).
Biggs introduced the bill just days after Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) signed into law the so-called “heartbeat bill,” which outlaws abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detectable, usually around six weeks into a pregnancy.
And on Tuesday evening, the Alabama state Senate approved a bill effectively outlawing abortion in the southern state. If signed into law by Gov. Kay Ivey (R), it would become a felony for a doctor to perform an abortion during any stage of pregnancy.