Sens. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., and Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, have introduced an amendment to ban federal funding of elective abortions under the Senate health care reform plan and heated debate is underway that could ultimately bring down the bill.
Nelson’s provision would require women who purchase insurance with a government subsidy to buy an extension that would pay for an abortion and prohibit federal funding for abortion under any new health insurance options to emerge from the bill, according to Nelson’s office.
“As written, the Senate health care bill allows taxpayer dollars, directly and indirectly, to pay for insurance plans that cover abortion,” Nelson said. “Most Nebraskans, and Americans, do not favor using public funds to cover abortion and as a result this bill shouldn’t open the door to do so.”
Nelson is threatening to block the health care bill if it does not include this language, but it is already clear pro-choice Democrats will not tolerate it. They argued on the Senate floor late Monday that the bill would go further than current federal restrictions on abortion funding.
Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., called the amendment an insult and humiliating for women.
“I think it demonizes women,” Mikulski said on the Senate floor. “Why don’t you just paint a scarlet ‘A’ on your forehead. Hawthorne lives on in the Nelson amendment.”
Mikulski suggested, “Why not have men buy the abortion rider for the women they get pregnant.”
Nelson has one Democratic co-sponsor, Sen. Robert Casey, D-Pa. Republican co-sponsors include Hatch, John Thune, of South Dakota, and Tom Coburn, of Oklahoma.
A vote on the bill could come as early as Tuesday and with 60 votes needed for passage, it is expected to fail.
That means Nelson could withdraw his support for the bill and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., will have to find a Republican to help him pass the bill. And he would probably have to find some kind of compromise on abortion funding to get Casey’s support.
