Michael Sean Winters, this time around, accuses me of being a "deceitful bogeyman."  Well, it's almost Halloween, and time to get into the trick-or-treating spirit! 

Mr. Winters objects to my argument that a "public option" would inevitably lead to abortion coverage, even if it were removed from the present legislation. 

In response, however, Mr. Winters offers a trick, rather than a treat, when he says: "The bishops are right to insist that no federal dollars go to abortion. The Hyde Amendment is nearly as settled law as is Roe."

The nimble Jack Smith over at the Catholic Key Blog has ducked the rotten egg to answer Winters, the most salient part being this:

The Hyde Amendment . . . is about as ethereal a law as can be.  It is a limitation amendment to an annual appropriations bill for the Department of Health and Human Services. It expires every single year and must be renewed, debated and passed each year to remain law. 

Mr. Winters is an entertaining writer and usually very well-informed, but in this particular case he has failed to make a credible argument.

I repeat, the reason the bishops should oppose any health care reform with a public option is because abortion coverage will inevitably be added. There is no law in place that can keep this from happening -- so I ask Mr. Winters to join with me in encouraging the Catholics in Congress to follow the lead of Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI) in passing an amendment explicitly declaring federal funds, whether taxes or premiums, cannot be used to fund abortions.