Quick Fact: Hemmer uses poll to falsely portray Senate health bill as funding abortion

From the March 16 edition of Fox News' America's Newsroom:

HEMMER: How are you going to vote this time?

ALTMIRE: I'm listening to my constituents. I'm not going to cast a vote that my constituents aren't comfortable with, and this issue is too important for me to just say, hey, I've made my mind up, I don't care what you have to say. I'm going to give them the opportunity to be heard. Our phones are ringing off the hook. People are visiting my offices, both in the district and here in Washington. I want to hear what my constituents have to say before I make my decision.

HEMMER: Well, your constituents are apparently talking. I want to show you a poll that was done in your home district. This had to do with the question not so much about funding but abortion funding. A poll in your home district finds if abortion language is not changed, 58 percent say they will likely not vote for you. How does that weigh on your decision if you're listening to them?

ALTMIRE: I'm pro-life. I voted for the Stupak amendment. I wish that the abortion language in this bill were different. I'm hopeful that they're going to make a change and make it more like was in the House bill with the Stupak amendment. Again, I'm spending this week talking to my constituents. That is certainly one of the issues I hear the most about.

HEMMER: But that poll clearly tells you they're not in favor of this bill. So if they're not in favor of the bill, does your vote at the moment say no?

As Hemmer discussed the poll, the following image appeared on-screen:

FACT: Senate bill does not allow federal funding for abortion above current law

The Senate health care reform bill -- now being considered by the House -- as passed states that if a "qualified health plan" offered under the health insurance exchange provides coverage of abortion services for which public funding is banned, "the issuer of the plan shall not use any amount attributable" to the subsidies created under the bill "for purposes of paying for such services."

Senate bill establishes a separate premium to segregate funds used to pay for abortions from federal funds. The Senate bill as passed further requires insurers to "collect from each enrollee" in plans that cover abortions a "separate payment" for "an amount equal to the actuarial value of the coverage of" abortion services. This value must be at least $1 per enrollee, per month. All such funds are deposited into a separate account used by the issuer to pay for abortion services; federal funds and the remaining premium payments are used to pay for all other services.

Current law allows for Medicaid to provide coverage for abortions restricted by Hyde by using similar fund segregation. According to a November 1, 2009, study by the Guttmacher Institute, 17 states provide coverage under Medicaid for "all or most medically necessary abortions," not just abortions in cases of life endangerment, rape, and incest. Those states "us[e] their own funds" -- not federal funds -- "to pay" for the procedures. Therefore, in 17 states, Medicaid, a federally subsidized health care program, covers abortions in circumstances in which federal money is prohibited from being spent on abortion.

FACT: Poll Hemmer cited was paid for by anti-abortion group

Susan B. Anthony List "dedicated to advancing, mobilizing and representing pro-life women in the political process." While the on-screen text Hemmer displayed noted that the poll was conducted by The Polling Company, Hemmer did not disclose that the poll was conducted on behalf of The Susan B. Anthony List, which states that it is "dedicated to advancing, mobilizing and representing pro-life women in the political process."

FACT: Poll apparently did not inform respondents that Senate bill does not fund abortion

Poll falsely suggested that Senate bill contains funding for abortion. The Susan B. Anthony List/The Polling Company poll was conducted in several congressional districts. The following questions were asked in Altmire's district:

• Regardless of your personal position on abortion, do you support or oppose using tax dollars to pay for abortions?

• Regardless of your personal position on abortion, do you support or oppose taxpayer funding of abortions as part of healthcare reform?

• In November 2009 the U.S. House of Representatives passed healthcare reform with an amendment that would prevent a new government-run healthcare program from paying for abortions. This amendment had bipartisan support from Democrats and Republicans. When the House of Representatives votes on the next version of healthcare reform, do you think that your Member of Congress should: vote for the bill even it if allows for federal funding of abortion; vote for the bill only if it has the amendment preventing federal funding of abortion; vote against the bill regardless of whether it has the amendment preventing federal funding of abortion.

• Please tell me whether you agree or disagree with the following statement: "Abortion and abortion funding have no place in healthcare legislation."

• Would you be more likely or less likely to vote to re-elect Congressman Jason Altmire this year if he votes for healthcare legislation that includes federal government funding of abortion?

At no point is it indicated that respondents were informed that the Senate bill currently under consideration does not fund abortion beyond current law.