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November 10, 2009

40 Democrats Threaten to Reject Healthcare Bill over Abortion Restrictions
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More than forty Democratic lawmakers have vowed to vote against a final
healthcare bill if it contains language the House agreed to on Saturday
that adds sweeping new restrictions on abortions. Anti-abortion
Democrats, led by Congressman Bart Stupak of Michigan, helped push
through an amendment to prohibit any woman who receives government
health insurance subsidies from enrolling in an insurance plan that
covers abortion. In addition, abortions won’t be covered under the
proposed government-run insurance plan. NARAL Pro-Choice America called
the House provision an “outrageous blow to women’s freedom and privacy.”
On Monday, President Obama appeared on ABC News and discussed changing
the final language in the House healthcare bill.

President Obama: “You know, I laid out a very simple principle, which
is, this is a healthcare bill, not an abortion bill. And we’re not
looking to change what is a core principle that has been in place for a
very long time, which is federal dollars are not used to subsidize
abortions. And I want to make sure that the provision that emerges meets
that test, that we are not in some way sneaking in funding for
abortions, but on the other hand, that we’re not restricting women’s
insurance choices. There needs to be some more work before we get to the
point where we’re not changing the status quo.”



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