
Late Saturday evening, the House of Representatives passed the national health care bill initiated by President Obama.
The successful battle for the bill included an agreement to add strict language which prohibits the funding of abortions. The prohibition of funding for abortions, is called by pro-choice supporters, a back-alley method of taking away a woman's right to choose whether she will be pregnant or not.
The US Conference of Catholic Bishops led a spirited lobbying effort to impact the passing of the new bill. The amendment to the bill, penned by Rep. Bart Stupack of Michagan prohibits the use of federal funds to pay for abortion, including barring abortion coverage from insurance plans which consumers purchase on their own using government subsidies.
In a public email, Cecile Richards, President of Planned Parenthood of America told supporters, "If there's anything we learned yesterday, it's that women's health is being targeted as expendable in health care reform."