Sen. Nelson: I Won't Support a Health Bill Without Stupak Language

By Kathleen Gilbert
WASHINGTON, D.C., December 2, 2009
One Democrat senator has thrown a critical wrench in President Obama's health care plans by stating he will not support the measure unless it includes Hyde-amendment restrictions like those introduced by Rep. Bart Stupak in the bill's House counterpart.
Democrat Senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska says he intends to introduce a Stupak-like amendment for his chamber's bill. The Huffington Post reports that when asked by reporters if he would support a bill that lacked his amendment, Nelson replied, "No."
Nelson's stand against the abortion-funding bill could prove fatal to the already-struggling legislation: Democrats are already scrambling for votes after Independent Senator Joe Lieberman vowed to staunchly oppose any bill with a public option, considered by many liberal Democrats an essential part of the plan. The bill would need support by all 60 lawmakers who caucus with Democrats to defend against a GOP filibuster attempt.
Nelson's amendment, which he said is "as identical to Stupak as it can be," has yet to be unveiled. Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah is at least one co-sponsor of the amendment.
Sen. Bob Casey, another Democrat who often votes pro-life, said that his own negotiations on the abortion funding are "ongoing."
While pro-abortion lawmakers tout the Senate health care bill as maintaining the "status quo" on abortion policy, leading pro-life analysts have decried the bill's supposed ban on federal abortion funding as little more than an accounting gimmick. The Senate bill, like the defunct "Capps amendment" of the House bill, allows a government-run insurance option to cover abortions, and allows taxpayer subsidies to fund private insurance plans that cover abortions.
The Hyde-amendment restrictions won an upset victory in the House last month after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, seeking votes from conservative Democrats, made a sudden about-face and allowed a vote on the easily-passed Stupak amendment. Pro-abortion lawmakers have since promised that the pro-life language would never make it into the final version of the bill.