Dem abortion foes to offer amendment

Published: Nov. 7, 2009 at 6:44 AM

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.

© 2009 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Order reprints


Additional News Stories
NASA selects small business projects (58 min)
Toronto man wins Silverdome auction
Watercooler Stories
Jockstrip: The world as we know it.
Your Daily Horoscope
The almanac
UPI Sports Calendar for Tuesday, Nov. 24
fark
Sign number 34 the recession is over? Illinois zoo stands to make $16,500 on jewelry made from reindeer...
Campaign season for next Philippine presidential election gets underway, with "Samia Chicken" and...
If you've just rubbed rosemary-infused alcohol all over your body, you may want to wait a bit before...
Tired of Wasilla getting all the mockery, Juneau couple break neighbors' window, taunt them, then...
Katie Couric, you look good, won't you back that azz up, you's a fine anchorwoman, won't you back...
Ft. Lauderdale man smokes 115,000th joint after years of averaging 10 a day, but never gets high....