While House of Representatives democrats and liberals alike have been infuriated over the Stupak-Pitts amendment’s inclusion into the proposed health care bill (one which guarantees stricter guidelines on abortion coverage) it appears that another Democrat is prepared to engage in the same level of discourse.
Senator Ben Nelson (D-Nebraska) told the associated press that, “I’m working on an abortion amendment. It’s as identical to Stupak as it can be.”
With this amendment women who are currently receiving government subsidies on the federal level will not be able to purchase any plans that cover abortion (with federal dollars). Though they will be able to purchase any additional coverage with their own money. It has been implied that the language being used insinuates this is referring to people taking safeguards for any unplanned pregnancies.
As written now the Senate Bill allows women to purchase plans with abortion coverage regardless of their federal aid receivership status, but insurers would have to split the public and private money to only use the private funds to pay for the procedure. Additionally, any public option would be able to provide coverage for all abortions if the federal money is not appropriated for any procedures. The Stupak-Pitts amendment prohibited the public option from offering any coverage at all.
Pro-choicers won’t have to worry too much about Senator Nelson’s amendment to the Senate bill as he lacks the votes to allow inclusion.
I think it’s safe to assume that the issue of abortion will not simply disappear and the abortion debate with any public option will continue.
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