House Democrats Key to Future of Pro-Abortion Government-Run Health Care
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
September 8, 2009
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — As members of Congress return from their summer recess and meetings with millions of Americans are who are upset that a massive pro-abortion government-run health care bill is in the works, pro-life and moderate House Democrats appear to be the key to the future of any legislation.
With Republican lawmakers opposing the pro-abortion bill unanimously, Speaker Nancy Pelosi can only afford to lose 38 members of the 256-member Democratic caucus and still get a bill through the House.
However, a report in today’s The Hill, a newspaper that focuses on Congress, shows 23 members have already said publicly in town hall forums or to their local media that they will not vote for HR 3200, the current House bill that includes abortion funding.
They include Democratic lawmakers like Rep. Gene Taylor of Mississippi who has said, “I would hope by now that everyone in this room knows that I am not going to vote for the healthcare plan.”
Rep. John Adler, a Democrat from New Jersey, is also a member of the group and he has said “The bill that’s coming through the House, with or without the public option, isn’t good for America.”
Others, such as Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas, Rep. Joe Donnelly of Indiana, and Rep. Tom Perriello are also listed as likely no votes but are hoping the bill is changed in a way that can earn their support.
The leading pro-life Democrat in the House has already said he has more than the 38 Democrats needed to stop the bill who will vote no if abortion funding remains in it.
Rep. Bart Stupak, a Michigan congressman who is the co-chairman of the House Pro-Life Caucus, told CBS News in July that 40 Democrats will not support the bill or the rules for debate on it unless the abortion funding is nixed.
"I think if they do not have [the pro-life amendments] in there and President Obama says we are going to have a bill with nothing in there on abortion, I think it is going to backfire," he said. "I think we bring down the rule and it will be explicitly discussed in the health care plan one way or another."
Stupak said he is confident he will have "a minimum of thirty nine" Democrats who will join him in opposing the bill.
"If there is not direct language and we are denied our amendment we will focus our attention on the rule," Stupak warned.
However, watering down the bill to earn the support of pro-life Democrats and moderates could cost Pelosi the votes of liberal members who are part of the public option-or-bust coalition of left-wing Democrats.
The Hill indicates Rep. Anthony Weiner of New York has said that dropping the government-run portion of the health care bill would cost the measure 100 votes among liberals.
But if the measure is left as is,the pro-life movement could experience the irony of seeing pro-life members of pro-abortion President Barack Obama’s own party bringing down legislation that could open the doors wide to taxpayer-funding of abortions.
Sign Up for Free Pro-Life News From LifeNews.com
Daily Pro-Life News Report Twice-Weekly Pro-Life
News Report Receive a free daily email report from LifeNews.com with the latest pro-life news stories on abortion, euthanasia and stem cell research. Sign up here. Receive a free twice-weekly email report with the latest pro-life news headlines on abortion, euthanasia and stem cell research. Sign up here.
