Trump announces 'pro-life coalition,' supports making Hyde Amendment permanent

Donald Trump on Friday announced a new “pro-life coalition.” The president of the Susan B. Anthony List — a top national group opposing abortion — will head it.

Marjorie Dannenfelser, who is head of the non profit organization that supports anti-abortion politicians, will be the national chairwoman of the coalition. Additional co-chairs will be announced later this month according to SBA List.

Trump has penned a letter which will be used to recruit other coalition members.

On Friday Trump reinforced his commitment to three anti-abortion platforms and announced he would also back making the Hyde Amendment permanent law, saying in a statement:

“Hillary Clinton’s unwavering commitment to advancing taxpayer-funded abortion on-demand stands in stark contrast to the commitments I’ve made to advance the rights of unborn children and their mothers when elected president. I am committed to:

·         Nominating pro-life justices to the U.S. Supreme Court.

·         Signing into law the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which would end painful late-term abortions nationwide.

·         Defunding Planned Parenthood as long as they continue to perform abortions and reallocating their funding to community health centers that provide comprehensive health care for women.

·         Making the Hyde Amendment permanent law to protect taxpayers from having to pay for abortions.”

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The Hyde Amendment withholds certain federal funds from being used for abortion. There are exceptions to protect the life of the woman or if the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest. It is not a permanent law but has been extended annually in spending bills since it was first passed by Congress in 1976.

The Hyde Amendment has not been a campaign issue in previous election cycles. But the Democratic Party platform this year calls for it to be repealed. Notably, Hillary Clinton’s running mate Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine previously supported the amendment but after he was chosen for the ticket he said he stood with the Democratic nominee in opposing it.

“Not only has Mr. Trump doubled down on his three existing commitments to the pro-life movement, he has gone a step further in pledging to protect the Hyde Amendment and the conscience rights of millions of pro-life taxpayers. For a candidate to make additional commitments during a general election is almost unheard of,” Dannenfelser said in a statement announcing the coalition. “The contrast could not be clearer between the two tickets, and I am proud to serve as National Chairwoman for Donald Trump’s Pro-Life Coalition.”

Dannenfelser was not always behind Trump. In January she was one of a group of women who oppose abortion rights who wrote a letter to Iowa voters requesting that they "support anyone but Donald Trump.” But in May, she published a column on the conservative website Townhall entitled “The pro-life case for Trump.”

The coalition will focus on rallying the anti-abortion voters in battleground states.

Trump is a convert to the anti-abortion rights movement. As recently as 1999 he identified himself as “very pro-choice.” But he added he “hate(d) the concept of abortion.”