Politics of abortion threaten health care reform

November 9, 11:46 PMPortland Progressive ExaminerMichael Stone

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Health care reform
(darkmatterpolitics)

The politics of abortion threaten health care reform. The Stupak-Pitts Amendment, a last minute agreement that made possible passage of healthcare legislation in the House by restricting insurance coverage of abortion, threatens to split Democrats and stall health care reform.

For progressives the Stupak-Pitts Amendment represents a profound and disturbing set back in women's reproductive health rights. The Stupak-Pitts amendment prohibits the public option from funding abortion. In addition, it effectively bans coverage for most abortions from all public and private health plans, even if paid for entirely with private premiums. It also effectively penalizes abortion providers.

The Stupak-Pitts Amendment goes farther than the Hyde Amendment in blocking a woman's access to the full range of reproductive health care. The Hyde amendment prohibits any federal funds being used to pay for abortion. Stupak-Pitts goes farther.

The draconian restrictions are the price Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi was willing to pay to get a health care bill passed; health care passed on a narrow 220-215 vote. Yet the treatment of abortion services has prompted an angry backlash among progressives.

Some progressives are threatening to withhold support for health care legislation if it continues to be loaded with anti-woman, anti-choice restrictions. Others suggest that Democrats go after the Hyde amendment once and for all, and remove the religiously inspired discrimination. Still other progressives see Stupak-Pitts as nothing but a pragmatic political maneuver to get health care through the House, but not something that will remain with the legislation by the time it reaches President Obama's desk.

One thing is certain, the first act of health care reform is concluded. Act two will take place in the Senate. How the story ends remains a mystery. Stay tuned for further developments.

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