Axelrod: Obama opposes abortion measure

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama remains opposed to prohibiting abortion coverage in plans offered through a new health insurance exchange, an adviser says.

Obama adviser David Axelrod said Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union" that the president hasn't wavered in his opposition to the Stupak Amendment, a measure authored by conservative Democrats to ban abortion coverage which last week passed the House with solid Republican support.

"The president has said repeatedly, and he said in his speech to Congress, that he doesn't believe that this bill should change the status quo as it relates to the issue of abortion," Axelrod told CNN. "He's going to work with the Senate and the House to try to ensure that at the end of the day the status quo is not changed."

The U.S. broadcaster said progressive, pro-abortion rights congressional Democrats are organizing in an effort to eliminate the Stupak Amendment from the final version of the bill that will be voted on by both chambers.