From the ArcaMax Publishing, News & Features Newsletter:
http://www.arcamax.com/news/newsheadlines/s-644198-765294
WASHINGTON (UPI) -- Anti-abortion Democrats are being given the
opportunity to amend the healthcare reform bill in the U.S. House of
Representatives, political sources say.
Citing three unnamed Democratic Party sources, CNN reported Saturday
that the House leadership has agreed to allow several anti-abortion
Democrats, including Reps. Brad Ellsworth, D-Ind., and Bart Stupak,
D-Mich., to offer language that would ban most abortions from being
covered by private insurers or under the government-run public option
portion of the bill.
The bill was expected to come before the House for a vote Saturday.
The U.S. broadcaster said the move to allow abortion opponents the
chance to insert the language would clear the way for its passage in
the House, whether or not the amendment is adopted.
"We didn't have a choice," a Democratic leadership source told CNN.
"We didn't have the votes" on health care without agreeing to this.
"This amendment would violate the spirit of health-care reform, which
is meant to guarantee quality, affordable healthcare coverage for all
by creating a two-tiered system that would punish women, particularly
those with low and modest incomes," Planned Parenthood said in a
statement.