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Health insurance reform vote near

Article Source – freep.com

WASHINGTON — The House will vote Saturday on legislation to overhaul the nation’s health insurance system, Rules Committee Chairwoman Louise Slaughter said Wednesday.

Slaughter, D-N.Y., said Republicans will be allowed to offer a substitute proposal.

No determination has been made on whether Democratic liberals will be allowed to offer a substitute plan for a single-payer health care system. If a vote is permitted, it is expected to fail.

The rule for floor debate will contain language proposed by some Democrats opposed to abortion rights, led by Rep. Bart Stupak of Michigan, to clarify that the legislation does not change current federal laws prohibiting the use of federal money to pay for abortions.
Abortion could be a hurdle

House leaders are trying to satisfy demands from some Democrats that health care legislation specifically bar the use of taxpayer money for abortions. Those Democrats say that if House leaders don’t accommodate them, they will vote against the bill, which could doom its chances for passage.

QUESTION: Why are these Democrats worried that health care reform legislation might allow the use of taxpayer funds for abortions?

ANSWER: Under the legislation, lower-income people who don’t get insurance through an employer would get government subsidies to help them afford coverage through a health insurance exchange. Lawmakers who oppose abortion don’t want those subsidies to be used to obtain abortions.

Q: Does the federal government pay for abortions now?

A: The Hyde Amendment, enacted in 1976, bars Medicare and Medicaid from paying for abortions.

Q: What are these Democrats demanding?

A: Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., has proposed adding language to the health care bill saying that the Hyde Amendment applies to all plans offered through the health insurance exchange. Exceptions would be abortions performed in cases of rape, incest or when the mother’s life is threatened.

Q: Where does the debate stand now?

A: House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said Tuesday that he was “reasonably confident” the bill could be amended to satisfy Stupak and the other Democrats opposed to abortion.

Q: What are groups outside of Congress saying?

A: The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which opposes any expansion of abortion rights, has urged parishioners across the country to contact Congress and demand that the bill bar the use of federal money for abortions.

NARAL Pro-Choice America opposes the Stupak amendment as an attempt to restrict private insurance companies from covering abortions. Nancy Keenan, its president, said people who have coverage for abortion services now could lose it.