RNC to opt out of abortion coverage

WASHINGTON, Nov. 13 (UPI) -- The Republican National Committee no longer will offer its staff an insurance plan that covers abortion, RNC Chairman Michael Steele said.

Steele told the committee's director of administration to opt out of coverage for elective abortion in the policy it has from Cigna Thursday after Politico reported the anti-abortion RNC has had an insurance policy that covers the procedure since 1991, Politico reported Friday.

"Money from our loyal donors should not be used for this purpose," Steele said in a statement. "I don't know why this policy existed in the past, but it will not exist under my administration. Consider this issue settled."

As of Thursday, the RNC's plan covered elective abortion, a procedure the party's platform calls "a fundamental assault on innocent human life."

When told of the abortion coverage, RNC spokeswoman Gail Gitcho told Politico the policy pre-dates Steele's tenure.

"The current policy has been in effect since 1991, and we are taking steps to address the issue," Gitcho said.

The RNC also reached out to its membership.

In a letter obtained by Politico, RNC Chief of Staff Ken McKay wrote to the 168 committee members nationwide that Steele "takes this issue very seriously."