Ways and Means to tackle abortion bill

The measure, introduced by Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.), passed the House Judiciary Committee earlier this month and is expected to eventually pass the chamber. (Just over half the House – 219 members – have signed on as cosponsors to the bill.)

The legislation, dubbed the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, was also referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee and to Ways and Means. The hearing next week will be held by the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures, which deals with taxes.

“The Ways and Means Committee has a responsibility to lend our tax policy expertise to the development of H.R. 3 to ensure that the relevant provisions serve their intended purpose,” Rep. Pat Tiberi, the subcommittee’s chairman, said in a statement. 

In the long run, the measure is not expected to be received as well in the Senate. Democrats in that chamber have said the GOP is misreading the message from last year’s election and should be focusing less attention on social issues and more on the economy.