Some House Democrats Balk at Senate Health Care Bill Over Abortion
According to comments made on ABC’s Good Morning America, Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., maintains that he and 11 other House members will not vote for the health care bill unless it includes more stringent language to prevent federal funding from going toward abortion services.
“We’re not going to vote for this bill with that kind of language,” Stupak said, referring to the Senate health care bill.
Stupak said on GMA he is willing to take the criticism that will be hurled at him if he blocks the bill because of the abortion language, but that he won’t back down on his principles.
“I want to see health care pass. I agree… people are being priced out of the market. We must have health care but, boy, there are some principles and beliefs that some of us are not going to pass,” he said. “We’re prepared to take the responsibility. I mean, I’ve been catching it ever since last fall. Let’s face it, I want to see health care. But we’re not going to bypass some principles and beliefs that we feel strongly about.”
“We want see a bill. But the bill that they [White House] are using as a vehicle is the Senate bill,” Stupak said. “You would find in there the federal government would directly subsidize abortions, plus every enrollee in the Office of Personnel management plan, every enrollee has to pay a minimum of $1 per month toward reproductive rights which includes abortion.”
“Give us our language. Let’s keep current law: No public funding for abortion,” he added.
