Antiabortion-Rights Dems Continue To Debate Abortion Restrictions in Health Reform Bill

October 23, 2009 — House Democrats are "at an impasse" over language in House health care reform legislation (HR 3200) regarding coverage of abortion services, the AP/Houston Chronicle reports. At least two dozen antiabortion-rights Democrats -- led by Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) -- claim the bill would "effectively allow federal funding of abortion" and have threatened to stall the legislation as floor action approaches, the AP/Chronicle reports.

According to the AP/Chronicle, the federal funds at issue in health care reform legislation include federal subsidies that would help people purchase health coverage from private insurance plans and the proposed government-sponsored plan within the exchange. Currently, the Hyde Amendment prohibits states from using federal Medicaid funding for abortion services except in cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the woman. States that offer to cover abortion services for Medicaid beneficiaries must do so with their own money. Health insurance coverage for federal employees, military women and others has similar restrictions on federal funding for abortion coverage.

House Democrats have included language in health reform legislation specifying that no federal funds can be used to pay for abortion coverage and that abortion care must be financed with private premiums. They say they have "compromised as far as they can," according to the AP/Chronicle. Stupak contends the language does not go far enough because he claims it is not possible to distinctly segregate funds in that way. He said, "Once you get the affordability credits (subsidies) in there, that's public funding of abortion."

House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) said, "We have a difference of opinion at the moment we cannot bridge," adding, "We have done everything we can to ensure that there will be no federal funds for abortion services." Waxman said he will continue negotiations with Stupak over the bill's language, and the two had an "earnest discussion" on the House floor on Thursday, the AP/Chronicle reports. According to Waxman, Stupak's preferred language prohibiting any subsidy funding from going to an insurance plan that covers abortion services would result in denying women access to abortion. Stupak said that how to "get past" the subsidies "is really the issue here. And we can't."

Stupak has threatened to block action on the House's health reform bill unless he is allowed to offer a stand-alone amendment during floor debate to further restrict abortion coverage. According to the AP/Chronicle, the amendment has a good chance of succeeding because it would attract the support of most Republicans and some Democrats. If Democratic leaders refuse to let Stupak offer the amendment. Stupak has said that he would block the bill by urging Democrats to vote "no" on a procedural measure that needs to pass before the House can begin floor debate (Werner, AP/Houston Chronicle, 10/23).