With the health reform issue coming to a head, it is beginning to look like it might come down to abortion. The Democrats and Obama have only one good chance left at passing this massive “reform” bill which is through a process called reconciliation. Of course reconciliation was not made for this kind of thing, but tell that to Republicans who have used this trick to pass their silly bills to perfection.
Abortion and Health Reform the Battle Rages On
But strangely, the abortion issue keeps coming up in the negotiations. What does abortion have to do health insurance or health reform? Well I am not exactly sure. And I have been writing and reading about health reform for months now and reporting on it to you, dear faithful reader. (I used the singular because I am not sure there is more then one of you, thanks dear sweet wife!)
And if this thing passes or if it doesn’t pass the Democrats will pay a steep price for it. If it doesn’t pass, it will be one long year wasted. If it does pass it will be through back room dealings which will anger many Americans come voting time.
So lets unwind this abortion thing. House Democrats who dislike abortion are resisting funding restrictions for abortion that for some reason the Senate health reform bill included. So why not pull it out? Because reconciliation means that the House needs to pass the Senate bill without amending the thing on abortion.
Of course there will be some changes but abortion is not one of them.
Pelosi who agrees with me is quite angered that abortion is possibly going to kill more then just unborn fetuses. She said, “‘This is not about abortion, this is a bill about providing quality affordable health care for all Americans.”
But Bart Stupak who has made big headlines of late and a few of his fellow House members have vocally proclaimed that they will not vote for this Senate bill unless the abortion language is replaced. The House bill only passed last time because Pelosi allowed Stupak to incorporate his strict abortion funding restriction. So the House bill (also passed) would have been great for Stupak who is holding his vote until the bill clamps down on abortion funding.
And Stupak believes that the House will not pass the Senate bill without him and his colleagues who are not going to change the vote. But his buddies over there might not stick with him this time, which is the only chance that the Democrats have of passing this bill through reconciliation.
So what is going on? The Senate bill says health insurance plans operating in a new consumer marketplace can cover abortion, but it may only be paid for with private premiums. Money from federal subsidies would have to be strictly segregated from any funds used to pay for abortion. Consumers would have to write two checks to their insurance plan, one for the regular premium, the other for abortion coverage.
Abortion rights supporters say both measures impose unreasonable restrictions on women’s access to a legal medical procedure now widely covered by health insurance.
Abortion rights supporters backed down once the last time. This time, if House Democratic leaders can’t line up enough votes without placating Stupak, it’s unclear how they will get the abortion language changed.
Pelosi says it can’t be done in a companion package that would move through both chambers as part of deal worked out with Obama. Under congressional rules, the elements of that package would have to have a significant budget impact. A third piece of legislation may be needed.
