Senate votes to move Health Care Reform Bill to the floor: Abortion clause still up for debate

November 22, 12:47 PMWomen's Health ExaminerSharon Falsetto

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Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid at a press conference Saturday November 21 2009 before the vote

AP photo/Jose Luis Magana, with permission

Last night, Saturday November 21st 2009, the Senate voted to move the Health Care Reform Bill to the floor for a debate expected after Thanksgiving; the Bill needed 60 votes to clear and scraped through with just that, at a 60-39 vote.

The path to successive legislation for the Health Care Reform Bill

The Health Care Reform has met much resistance along its legislative path so far; despite President Obama's endorsement of the Bill, prior to the House vote, and backing by major organizations such as the AARP, the Health Care Reform Bill was barely passed by the House on Saturday November 7th 2009. The continuing abortion issuing surrounding the Health Care Reform Bill is making the Senate vote difficult too.

The reaction from Pro-Life Groups on the Senate Health Care Reform Bill vote

Pro-life group, Americans United for Life, released a statement last night after the successful Senate vote, which reflected their disappointment. An excerpt from the statement read:

“This was a pro-abortion vote tonight because this bill provides for an unprecedented expansion of federally-funded abortion. Supporters argued that the debate needed to move forward – but life should be at the heart of any health care reform.”

Abortion clause a major point for a successive Senate Health Care Reform Bill vote

Earlier in the week, Catholic Bishops had expressed their deep disappointment at the Senate Health Care Reform Bill. However, some women's rights groups argue that women should have the right to choose, with regard to abortion coverage. The debate on a controversial abortion clause continues and the final legislation, if passed by the Senate, may differ once again to the proposed Senate Health Care Reform Bill, set for debate after Thanksgiving.

For a summary of the Senate Health Care Reform Bill abortion clause proposals click here.

CopyrightSharonFalsetto2009