1.  A new poll by Opinion Research Corporation for CNN found that voters oppose federal funding of abortions 61% to 37% with 2% undecided.

Even with no federal funds involved, Americans were opposed, 51% to 45%, with 4% undecided, to allowing abortions to be covered by private health insurance.  It is possible many of the respondents understood that the costs of such abortions would be paid for by the premiums of all persons in the insurance plan.

On the question regarding the legalization of abortion, neither the strong supporters nor the strong opponents of the procedure had much support.

Just 23% believe abortion should be illegal under all circumstances (a position not advocated by the pro-life community, since abortion to save the life of the mother has always been considered acceptable).

However, a significant 40% think abortion should be legal in only a few circumstances.  Thus, those who hold a general pro-life position totaled 63%.

Just 26% believe abortion should be legal under all circumstances.  An additional 10% think abortion should be legal in most circumstances, for a total of 36%.

1% of the population had no opinion.

The complete poll contains other questions relating to various aspects health care legislation.

2. Politico.com reports that Democrats may lose millions of Catholic voters over the abortion issue.

John Green at the Bliss Institute at the University of Akron, said, “There could be political repercussions in the election.  It could be harder for the Democrats to keep those Catholic voters they gained and they may put some of their members at risk.”

Green added that Catholics are a constituency that favors health care reform if it does not include federal funding of abortion.

“To alienate them on abortion could be be to alienate them on health care reform,” he said.

3.  CNSNews.com reports that the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) has filed an amicus brief in federal court on behalf of 44 Republicans in the Senate and House seeking dismissal of a lawsuit from the Freedom From Religion Foundation that wants to remove the engravings of “In God We Trust” and “under God” from the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center .

Jay Sekulow, Chief Counsel for ACLJ said, “The fact is that Congress acted appropriately and consistent with the Constitution with the inclusion of the national motto and the Pledge of Allegiance in the Capitol Visitor Center. These expressions echo the sentiments found in the Declaration of Independence and recognize the undeniable truth that our freedoms come from God.”

Congressman Randy Forbes, the Chairman of the Congressional Prayer Caucus, said the lawsuit is an effort to erase the nation’s religious heritage.

In addition to Forbes, the other legislators who joined the brief are Senators Jim DeMint, James Inhofe, and Roger Wicker and Congressmen Robert Aderholt, Todd Akin, Michele Bachmann, Roscoe Bartlett, Rob Bishop, Marsha Blackburn, Roy Blunt, John Boehner, John Boozman, Dan Burton, Eric Cantor, Mike Conaway, Virginia Foxx, Scott Garrett, Bob Goodlatte, Ralph Hall, Gregg Harper, Jeb Hensarling, Bob Inglis, Sam Johnson, Walter Jones, Jim Jordan, Steve King, John Kline, Doug Lamborn, Don Manzullo, Thaddeus McCotter, Patrick McHenry, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Jeff Miller, Randy Neugebauer, Mike Pence, Joseph Pitts, John Shadegg, John Shimkus, Bill Shuster, Mark Souder, Zack Wamp, Joe Wilson, and Don Young.