WASHINGTON, March 20 (UPI) -- The U.S. House of Representatives will hold no separate votes on abortion, a single-payer health plan or the public option, Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Saturday.
If Pelosi, D-Calif., keeps to her plan, she would be unable to negotiate a new deal with U.S. Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., leader of anti-abortion Democrats in the House, The Hill said. She would not comment on whether President Obama plans to sign an executive order barring the use of federal funds for abortion.
Rep. Dan Lipinski, D-Ill., one of Stupak's allies, said he believes at least seven votes still hang on the abortion issue.
"They're still short on votes," he said. "There's still time and they still need votes."
The abortion issue has been a divisive one for Democrats and for Catholic groups. While Catholic bishops oppose any legislation that does not include strong language on funding abortion, Catholic hospitals and groups of nuns have called for the adoption of the healthcare bill now before Congress.
