If he doesn’t get a chance to offer an amendment on abortion:
Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) on Tuesday threatened that he may work with Republicans to torpedo healthcare reform unless he gets a vote to strip abortion-related provisions out of the House bill.
Stupak wants a floor vote on a measure that would prohibit taxpayer funds from being used for abortions. And in an interview on C-SPAN on Tuesday, he suggested if Democratic leaders don’t give him the vote, he’ll work with Republicans.
One Democrat? So, what? Well, actually, it’s 40!
Stupak said he has about 40 Democrats who will vote no on healthcare reform unless Democratic leaders change their bill on the abortion language. That would be enough to take down the bill if every GOP lawmaker votes no.
Can you believe it? There are 40 pro-life Democrats who are ready to stand up to the House leadership if they don’t get their amendment. Obama has said that his plan wouldn’t fund abortion, so this shouldn’t be a problem, right?
BTW, according to the article this isn’t the only issue holding up the bill. I wonder how much pork they’re going to have to shove in the bill to make it palatable enough to pass.
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posted October 28, 2009 at 3:12 pm
Stupak’s bluffing. I don’t believe he has 40 votes. Those pro-life Democrats aren’t going to jeopardize the most important reform of health care over disagreements about abortion funding. The pro-life movement doesn’t control their votes in the same way it controls the votes of Republicans.
posted October 29, 2009 at 9:18 pm
“Obama has said that his plan wouldn’t fund abortion, so this shouldn’t be a problem, right?”
Wrong Michele. Once we have a single-payer system, abortions will have to be payed for by the government. It’s profoundly naive or delusional to believe otherwise.