The Speakers Lobby
  • Abortion Question Lingers on Health Care Reform

     

     

    Abortion remains one of the most-vexing questions for House Democrats as they try to pass a health care reform package later this week.

     

    But there are mixed signals about whether the absence of a key lawmaker involved in the abortion talks could hamper efforts to forge a compromise on the issue.

     

    FOX has learned that Elaine Olsen, the mother-in-law of Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI) passed away unexpectedly Sunday in Escanaba, MI. Stupak signaled last week that unless the abortion impasse was bridged, he had enough votes to blow up the bill. Stupak and other Democrats who oppose abortion are calling for a “vote against using public funds for abortions.

     

    Stupak is not expected to be in Washington this week.

     

    A senior House leadership aide who didn’t wish to be identified indicated that Stupak’s absence wouldn’t hurt talks on the abortion issue.

     

    But another key Democrat involved in the abortion discussions saw it differently. When asked if Stupak’s unavailability could impact the issue, the lawmaker responded “Yeah. Big time.”

     

    House Democrats are now huddled behind closed doors working out what’s called a “manager’s amendment” to the 1,990-page health care reform bill. The manager’s amendment is the final alterations that are made to legislation before it hits the House floor.

     

    When asked by reporters whether it was essential to solve the abortion question before introducing the manager’s amendment, Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) responded “not necessarily.”

     

    Van Hollen serves as special assistant to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and is intimately involved in all health care conversations. Van Hollen told reporters that the leadership could move ahead with the manager’s amendment and “work (abortion) out later.”

     

    But others differed with Van Hollen.

     

    “Obviously (abortion) has to be worked out before they pass the bill,” said Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA).

     

    It’s illegal to use federal money to pay for abortions except in rare instances. Over the summer, Democratic leaders favored a provision that allowed people to use government money to purchase private health plans that could pay for abortions. But policyholders would have to use private money to pay for the actual procedure.

     

    Still, Stupak and others argued that federal dollars shouldn’t be used at all to buy coverage that could potentially cover abortions.

     

    Senior House sources indicate to FOX that the manager’s amendment is essentially complete and just needs to be written in parliamentary language. House leaders are pledging to post this final addendum to the health care bill online for three days before advancing the health care bill on the floor.

     

    A throng of reporters accosted Pelosi outside her office Tuesday night, asking the speaker when she’d introduce the manager’s amendment.

     

    “We’ll let you know when we’re ready to let you know,” Pelosi said cryptically.

Bill

If one person has multiple abortions living in a reckless lifestyle, should we pay for each one? Where is the accountability? Actually one is is too much. I am praying that Bart Stupak's amendment passes. He has my sympathy over the loss of his mother. God bless him.

November 7, 2009 at 6:31 pm

WILLIAM CHARLES LEDFERD

no on abortion. this is a person's choice, but they should pay for it theirself. this must be taken out of the health care bill. gay rights. this is a person's choice. not a political issue. they have a right to do with their life as they want, but not compare it to a regular marriage, that can produce. no legal marriage, next some one will want to marry a dog. then how will you stop that.

November 7, 2009 at 4:45 pm

shannon sullivan

if you do not agree with abortion or believe it is wrong and want nothing to do with it please contact your state senators and reps. and tell them to vote no on hr-3200 otherwise we will all be supporting abortion

November 6, 2009 at 12:33 am

Not it

Abortion is a topic that has been debated for many years, one in which Democrats and Republicans for the most part have very clearly and strongly disagreed upon. Personally I, Amelia, believe this act is very wrong and immoral. For a mother to want to have her unborn child killed because she does not want a baby due to either bad timing, an unexpected pregnancy, or whatever the case may be is completely selfish. I am not judging or condemning women who have an abortion. I just wish they...

November 5, 2009 at 6:45 pm

www.myspace.com/josephvruggiero4president

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new...

November 5, 2009 at 1:44 pm

LEL, White Bear Lake, MN

Abortion funding is the only 'issue' democrats have with obamacare? They have no qualms about taking life and death control of American's lives, power to dictate where, what, and how much medical treatment each of us will be allowed. Forcing the public to purchase what they don't want, or paying a fine should they refuse to buy it. The democrats have no problem jamming a 2000+ page state run medical care plan down America's throat, when they haven't even read the bill --- Oh, excuse...

November 5, 2009 at 1:30 am

james wenger

i am catholic, and if the public funding of abortions is not taken out of any health care bill 100% of the catholic population will totaly be anti-health care,also if AARP is going to sell-out to the bill and LOOSE billions of medicare for seniors we will quit them! 2010 will see the defeat of those who shove this down our throats! NO THREAT, PROMISE!!!

November 5, 2009 at 12:57 am

Allan

This health care bill is a 2000 page mistake!!!!!! in so many ways it's hard to determine where to start trying to fix it. Cost, Abortion, not covering everone, higher taxes, not fixing anything just adding cost etc.... What have they started?

November 4, 2009 at 10:12 pm

WILLIAM LEDFERD

abortion - this is a persons choice, but they must pay and suffer the consiquences. no health insurance company pays for this. no medicare or medicaid plan pays for this. AND NO TAX MONEY OR ANY GOVERNMENT MONEY SHOULD.

November 4, 2009 at 5:10 pm

shannon sullivan

As an american citizen there are two things I value above all else. The right to life, and the freedom of choice. The new proposal to HR-3200 ( The health careplan ) Takes away our freedom to choose. It is a violation of my religous and personal beliefs on the right to life, and gives us no choice but to help fund abortion efforts. If we give the government this right to take our money and fund abortion ( something that to this point has been illegal for them to do ) then who is to say when...

November 4, 2009 at 12:48 pm

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