The House just easily passed the Stupak amendment barring tax
dollars from funding abortion, by a vote of 240 to 194, with John
Shadegg the lone lawmaker voting "present." In the end, 64
Democrats voted for the measure. Assuming the health care bill
passes tonight with the pro-life language, this creates a huge
rift among Democrats. Pro-choicers will be pushing to have the
language stripped in negotiations with the Senate, and if that
happens, it will become difficult for pro-life Democrats to vote
on the final reconciled bill. It won't be easy for pro-life
Democrats to go back to their districts and argue, "I voted
against taxpayer funding for abortion before I voted for it."
UPDATE: Planned Parenthood has
condemned passage of the amendment in a statement, and
promises, "In the coming weeks, Planned Parenthood will work with
its allies in the Senate to ensure that the United States
Conference of Catholic Bishops and those who oppose abortion do
not once again hijack the legislative process in their ongoing
campaign to make abortion illegal."
