Hoyer: Separate abortion bill a possibility

WASHINGTON, March 5 (UPI) -- House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer says a separate bill could be drafted to get anti-abortion Democrats to back healthcare reform legislation.

Hoyer said Thursday the possibility of an abortion bill comes amid concerns that certain Democrats may not support healthcare legislation because of abortion language in the Senate proposal, The Hill reported.

Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., has suggested that 12 lawmakers who previously supported healthcare reform legislation may oppose the current legislation if its abortion language is not altered.

Hoyer, a Maryland Democrat, said after meeting with Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., legislation with abortion language could be created to address such concerns.

"Separate pieces of legislation could be passed that would relate to that," Hoyer said. "That's a possibility. I talked to Mr. Stupak today, and I'm going to be talking to him next week and he indicated he wanted to have some discussions with people. And I will do that."