Stupak: Amendment Passes on Recorded Vote, 64
Dems Voted For It

post from TalkLeft on 07 November 2009 08:09:00 PM. © TalkLeft

Update: Stupak passes, only 1 present vote (Shadegg)because the anti-choicers said they'd score a present vote as a no vote. Final vote: 240 to 194, 1 present.

Update: Reps. Diana DeGette and Louise Slaughter, co-chairs of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus, issue this statement:

“Placing onerous new restrictions on a woman’s right to choose sets a terrible precedent and marks a significant step backwards. This effort will effectively ban abortion coverage in all plans, both private and public – marking a significant scaling back of the options offered under existing laws. Such a terrible, last minute amendment to a critical, historic piece of legislation is a shame. This kind of outrageous interference in health care by the government marks a sad day in this struggle and will result in women across America losing the right to health care.”

[More...]

Update: 1 minutes left: 179 yes, 1620 no. The callers on C-Span are so stereotypical. The pros for the health care bill all have preexisting conditions. The anti's are all male, spouting false conceptions of the bill.

Update 8:00 pm MT: The recorded vote on the Stupak amendment just began. It will take 15 minutes. With 12 minutes remaining, the amendment is losing it's 88 to 67.

Original Post

Rep. Stupak just spoke on the House floor. He said his amendment does nothing more than apply the Hyde Amendment prohibiting federal funding of abortion. It says only no public funding for abortion and no public funding of policies offering abortion.

Rep: Diana DeGette: To say Stupak Amendment "is a wolf in sheep's clothing is an understatement." The Health Care reform bill does not spend one federal dollar on abortion. (Page 246, line 11.) Under the amendment, those obtaining insurance under the public optio, would not be able to receive an abortion, even if they buy the policy with their own money.

On the amendment's proposal that women obtain supplemental insurance to cover abortion: It is offensive to women. Should someone have to get supplemental insurance for cancer treatment? "This is a legal medical procedure and we should respect those who have to make that decision." "This amendment is the greatest restriction on a women's right to choose in our careers."

Others get 60 seconds or 45 seconds to respond. (They are speaking so fast it's hard to listen let alone type as fast as they speak.)

Nadler: This amendment discriminates against low or moderate income women, such as those who get tax credits for insurance on the exchange -- she can not get coverage with abortion. If she gets insurance under the public option, she can't get abortion coverage at all.

It's great to see Rep. Diana DeGette get out front on the opposition to the Amendment. No one has fought harder in the House for the right to choose than she has. It's interesting that the two sides cannot even agree on what the Amendment means. One side says it's only the Hyde Amendment, the other side it's much more than that. For that reason alone, it should be rejected.

Rep. DeGette closes: Plans in the exchange paid for with private dollars cannot offer abortion. Vote no.

The health care bill will pass tonight, Speaker Pelosi says the Dems have the votes. Stupak Amendment loses on the voice vote. A member asks for a recorded vote. Further proceedings on this amendment will be postponed.

Hopefully, this will be goodbye and good riddance to Stupak. I hope I never have to hear you from you again.

See updates above, since it passed on the recorded vote, we just have to hope it gets stripped from the bill at conference time.

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Stupak: Amendment Defeated on Voice Vote,
Recorded Vote to Follow