Health Care Vote Held Up By Abortion Opponents

But there could be a vote Saturday if they get over the abortion hurdle.

According to Rep. Bart Stupak of Michigan, he and other abortion opponents will be given a chance to insert tougher abortion restrictions into the legislation during debate on the House floor.

The issue is whether federal funds will pay for abortions.

House Rules Committee Chairwoman Louise Slaughter said she expected the rule-setting guidelines for the healthcare debate would incorporate anti-abortion language proposed by Representative Brad Ellsworth, a moderate Democrat.

His amendment would prohibit the use of federal funds to cover abortions and also guarantee access to insurance plans that would agree to refrain from covering abortion.

But the anti-choice crowd says this isn’t good enough, as evidenced by a press release quoting Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council.

“We are very disappointed that someone who claims to support the protection of unborn children would offer language designed to ensure the government pays for elective abortions behind smoke and mirrors. However cleverly worded the proposal might be, Rep. Ellsworth’s plan would authorize a government run public option to fund elective abortion and subsidize private plans that cover elective abortion.

By: Alan

Alan Colmes is the publisher of Liberaland.