Senator Nelson caved on abortion, giving the Senate the votes it needs to pass the bill.
Here’s the National Right to Life’s analysis of the hoax manager’s amendment that gives him coverage for his vote:
http://www.nrlc.org/AHC/NRLCManagersAmendScoreLetter.pdf
The manager’s amendment is light years removed from the Stupak-Pitts Amendment that was approved by the House of Representatives on November 8 by a bipartisan vote of 240-194. The new abortion language solves none of the fundamental abortion-related problems with the Senate bill, and it actually creates some new abortion-related problems.
NRLC will score the upcoming roll call votes on cloture on the Reid manager’s amendment, and on the underlying bill, as votes in favor of legislation to allow the federal government to subsidize private insurance plans that cover abortion on demand, to oversee multi-state plans that cover elective abortions, and to empower federal officials to mandate that private health plans cover abortions even if they do not accept subsidized enrollees, among other problems.
In addition, if the final bill produced by a House-Senate conference committee does not contain the Stupak-Pitts Amendment, NRLC will score the House and Senate votes on the conference report as votes to allow federal mandates and subsidies for coverage of elective abortion. Unless the Stupak-Pitts Amendment is included in the final bill, and the new pro-abortion provisions dropped, a significant number of House members who voted for H.R. 3962 will not vote to pass the final legislation.
They are still voting in the Senate – contact Nelson and tell him this language is unacceptable:
http://bennelson.senate.gov/email-issues.cfm
Phone: (202) 224-6551
Also contact Rep. Stupak and urge him to stand up to Pelosi and reject this hoax:
email: http://www.house.gov/stupak/IMA/issue2.htm
Phone: (202) 225 4735
Stupak’s statement on his website:
“While I appreciate the efforts of all the parties involved, especially Senator Ben Nelson, the Senate abortion language is not acceptable. I will continue to work with my colleagues on this issue as the process moves forward.
A review of the Senate language indicates a dramatic shift in federal policy that would allow the federal government to subsidize insurance policies with abortion coverage.
Further, the segregation of funds to pay for abortion is another departure from current policy prohibiting federal subsidy of abortion coverage.
While I and many other pro-life Democratic House members wish to see health care coverage for all Americans, the proposed Senate language is unacceptable. I look forward to working with members of the House, Senate and the Obama Administration to find common ground on this issue and draft language that guarantees continuation of current law of no public funding for abortion.
Earlier today an unauthorized email from a member of my staff was sent to interested parties. I was unaware of this email and it was sent without my knowledge or approval. The above statement reflects my position on the proposed Senate language.”