November 24, 2009
Abortion to Be New Flashpoint in Senate Bill
by Naftali Bendavid
The Wall Street Journal
WASHINGTON - Abortion-rights groups, acknowledging they were caught off guard by a last-minute amendment toughening abortion restrictions in the House health-care bill, are mobilizing to ensure that doesn't happen in the Senate.
Activists hope to flood Washington to rally and lobby on Dec. 2, during the week that Senate floor debate begins. The Center for Reproductive Rights has aired television ads criticizing the restrictions. On Tuesday, activists will announce the creation of the Coalition to Pass Health Care Reform and Stop Stupak, a network of more than 30 groups. Planned Parenthood -- which says it will oppose the final bill if it contains the restrictions -- has started a petition drive that has been promoted by Cosmopolitan magazine.
"At least it will be a fully engaged debate on both sides," said Nancy Northup, president of the Center for Reproductive Rights. "It really wasn't, the first time around. It was a midnight deal."
In the House debate earlier this month, an amendment offered by Rep. Bart Stupak (D., Mich.) stipulated that the bill's publicly run health-insurance plan couldn't cover abortions. It also forbids anyone who receives a federal health subsidy under the bill from buying an insurance policy -- even mostly with their own money -- that covers abortion. People would be allowed to purchase a rider covering abortion with their own money, however. Abortion riders are available in only a handful of states.
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