ABS pump failure - truth or BS?

[mediocre george]

Hey guys

My girlfriend's 99 contour (2.0, automatic, 120K)has had it's ABS light on for the past week or so. She took the car in to have the light checked out, and the mechanic says that the hydraulic ABS pump is bad. It's ridiculously expensive to replace, and the mechanic says that if it goes untreated, it will eventually cause the power brakes to fail, and stepping on the brakes will be like stepping on a brick. I worked as a certified brake technician for a few years, and i've never heard of a faulty ABS pump causing the vacuum booster to fail. So I ask you... Truth or BS?