Senate Debate to Focus on Abortion

The health care reform bill that made it through the House of Representatives last month didn’t exactly win rave reviews from the pro-choice camp, and now it’s the Senate’s turn to have it out over whether government-subsidized health care should ever include coverage for abortions and, if so, under what circumstances that should be allowed. –KA

CNN:

The amendment by moderate Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska would mirror language from the health care bill passed by the House last month that prevents any health plan receiving federal subsidies from offering coverage for abortion. It was unclear if a Senate vote on Nelson’s amendment would occur Monday.

Anti-abortion legislators say the House language that Nelson seeks to adopt maintains the current level of restriction by preventing any federal funding for abortion, except in the case of rape, incest or a threat to the life of the mother.

Opponents of the tougher language say the amended language would expand the current level of restriction because women receiving coverage under a federally subsidized health care plan would be barred from purchasing abortion coverage with their own money.

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