Pro-Life Democrats: 12 Still Oppose Pro-Abortion Health Care Bill, Votes Lacking
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
March 18, 2010
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — Two of the leading pro-life Democrats against the Senate health care bill because of its pro-abortion provisions say their 12-member coalition that puts opposing funding before advocating health care is still solid. Their remarks comes as two longtime pro-life Democrats say they will back the bill.
Congressman Bart Stupak of Michigan is the leader of the Stupak 12, and he says the group is still airtight and none have committed to supporting the Senate bill during an expected vote this weekend.
He told Fox News yesterday that he met with the 12 members on Tuesday and none of them have peeled off to support President Barack Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
"K Street thinks they know who is on the list. They don’t. There are some surprises on there," he said.
Illinois Democratic Congressman Daniel Lipinski backed up Stupak’s contention that the group of 12 pro-life Democrats is solid.
"My vote is now no based on the fact the Senate bill funds abortion through community health centers and also gives federal subsidies for people to purchase insurance that can cover abortion. Both of those are in direct contradiction of the Hyde Amendment, which is right now the status quo," he told Fox News last night about his own vote.
"No doubt in my mind," he said about his stance against the bill, saying nothing short of dropping abortion funding would move him. "Absolutely not. If that language is not changed, I will vote no."
"Yes, there are," other Democrats who oppose the bill over its pro-abortion provisions, Lipinski affirmed. "Bart Stupak is in the same position. And there are others. I’ve decided to come forward and speak on this, but we have other members who are like minded."
"Bart has said 12. We had a meeting yesterday morning. I’d say that’s an accurate number," he told Fox News.
Lipinski also told Fox News he has communicated his concerns about the abortion funding to Democratic leaders, specifically House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, the number two House Democrat.
"We talked a little about it. He said well where do you see this does cover abortion? I plainly went through the bill and said I think it’s very obvious that funding is in there. I just cannot vote for that," he said, adding that Hoyer gave no indication top Democrats would be willing to cut the abortion funding.
Lipinski said, as Stupak has before, that he doesn’t think there are enough votes to pass the measure given the opposition over abortion.
"It is never comfortable being in a Democratic caucus and having such overwhelming support for the bill — obviously not enough to pass it, but yes, it’s uncomfortable," he told Fox News.
Michigan Congressman Dale Kildee and Minnesota Rep. James Oberstar, both of whom have decades-long pro-life voting records, are two of the pro-life Democrats who have caved on the pro-abortion bill.
Rep. Marcy Kaptur of Ohio is thought to be one of the 12 and she is still saying she is undecided but doesn’t like the abortion funding in the bill.
"I feel there’s more work to be done," she said in a phone interview with the Toledo Blade newspaper. "What I’m working for is to maintain the restrictions in existing law."
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