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DeGette pleased with abortion provisionCritics say it’s not pro-lifePeter Marcus, DDN Staff WriterFriday, November 20, 2009 | |
Congresswoman Diana DeGette is “pleased” with the abortion provision included in the Senate’s version of health reform legislation.
Having first said she would not vote for health reform that contains an anti-abortion amendment — following inclusion of the Stupak-Pits amendment earlier this month in the House version of health reform legislation — DeGette said yesterday that the Senate compromise is a “reasonable, common ground approach on abortion provisions.”
“By adopting a common-sense abortion provision, the U.S. Senate is ensuring that no federal funds will be spent on abortion coverage while not further restricting a woman’s right to choose,” said the Denver Democrat, who is co-chair of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus. “The health care bill is about providing access to quality health care to over 36 million Americans. I encourage the U.S. Senate to work towards producing a bill that works for everyone.”
The Senate bill unveiled Wednesday would allow women who receive federal subsidies to enroll in health plans that cover abortion, but insurance companies would be required to segregate subsidies so that only private dollars could be used for the procedure. The provision is one similar to the Capps amendment, which House Democrats had in their original bill before the Stupak-Pits amendment passed.
In contrast to the Senate version, the Stupak-Pits amendment would bar the federal government’s new public insurance plan from covering abortions, except in cases of rape, incest or if a mother’s life is in danger. Insurance companies that receive federal subsidies would be prohibited from offering abortion coverage. Private insurers would be allowed to sell separate coverage for abortion if individuals use their private money.
DeGette voted for the House health reform bill — even though it included the anti-abortion amendment — because she didn’t want to slow the process of passing health reform. But the next day she began drafting a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, along with more than 40 other pro-choice Democrats, saying they would not vote for a health reform compromise if it contains an anti-abortion amendment.
Local pro-life groups oppose both the House and Senate abortion provisions. Keith Mason, co-founder of Arvada-based Personhood USA, said abortion procedures would still be a possibility, which means the provisions are not pro-life.
“This so-called pro-life bill is not pro-life at all,” said Mason, who is running several pro-life initiatives across the country, including in Colorado. “Most people think it would prohibit monies for abortions, but they forget that it’s written in the bill that monies will still be provided for abortions for rape, incest and for the life of the mother, and there’s no qualifications for that.”
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