Dem abortion foes to offer amendment

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- Anti-abortion Democrats are being given the opportunity to amend the healthcare reform bill in the U.S. House of Representatives, political sources say.

Citing three unnamed Democratic Party sources, CNN reported Saturday that the House leadership has agreed to allow several anti-abortion Democrats, including Reps. Brad Ellsworth, D-Ind., and Bart Stupak, D-Mich., to offer language that would ban most abortions from being covered by private insurers or under the government-run public option portion of the bill.

The bill was expected to come before the House for a vote Saturday. The U.S. broadcaster said the move to allow abortion opponents the chance to insert the language would clear the way for its passage in the House, whether or not the amendment is adopted.

"We didn't have a choice," a Democratic leadership source told CNN. "We didn't have the votes" on health care without agreeing to this.

"This amendment would violate the spirit of health-care reform, which is meant to guarantee quality, affordable healthcare coverage for all by creating a two-tiered system that would punish women, particularly those with low and modest incomes," Planned Parenthood said in a statement.