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The Spectacle Blog
Last year, Rep. Bart Stupak led a herculean effort to ensure that the health care bill that passed the House included language preventing federal funding of abortions. Over the past several weeks, he’s insisted that he couldn’t vote for a health care bill that did not include his language, and that a dozen House Democrats were with him.
As a result, Stupak has been assailed by liberals and is under strong pressure to compromise his values. And according to this Associated Press story, he seems to be softening a bit:
“I’m more optimistic than I was a week ago,” Stupak said in an interview between meetings with constituents in his northern Michigan district. He was hosting a town hall meeting Monday night at a local high school.
“The president says he doesn’t want to expand or restrict current law (on abortion). Neither do I,” Stupak said. “That’s never been our position. So is there some language that we can agree on that hits both points — we don’t restrict, we don’t expand abortion rights? I think we can get there.”
It’s hard to see what Stupak would have in mind. While there’s been a lot of debate over the uses of reconciliation, there’s been widespread agreement that abortion is one issue that cannot be addressed that way. And even if it were theoretically possible to impose Stupak language via reconciliation, it would still be difficult to get that passed through the much more pro-choice Senate. During the December Senate health care debate, Ben Nelson offered an amendment with the Stupak language, and the measure was tabled, having only received 45 votes in support.
If Stupak were to cave and other self-described pro-life Democrats were to follow him, it would remove the biggest obstacle to passing the health care bill, and make House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s quest for 216 votes significantly easier.
Peter Suderman has more thoughts.
UPDATE: The Politico has this from House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer:
“I think it will be resolved one way or the other, and I think the bill will pass,” Hoyer said after acknowledging that he wouldn’t answer a question directly. “It’s got to be resolved.”
Last week, Hoyer spoke with Rep. Bart Stupak, the Michigan Democrat who authored the House abortion restrictions, but he cautioned reporters that their conversation was brief — and, in no way, a formal negotiation.
“I have had no negotiations with Mr. Stupak,” Hoyer said. “Mr.Stupak came up to me on the floor and said I would like to talk to you. I said okay. We have no yet talked — about substance.”
UPDATE II: Stupak tells the Weekly Standard: “If I didn’t” cave in November, “why would I do it now after all the crap I’ve been through?”
View all comments (43) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by Philip Klein
http://spectator.org/blog/2010/03/09/is-stupak-preparing-to-cave
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Bob Miller| 3.9.10 @ 12:43PM
Were we expecting principled opposition by Democrats, as opposed to lofty pronouncements before the inevitable payoff?
Steven Ertelt| 3.9.10 @ 12:48PM
Stupa is thinking of a sidebar bill that operates outside of reconciliation. http://www.lifenews.com/nat6068.html
John Jay Hughes| 3.9.10 @ 3:14PM
A sidebar bill is a fantasy. The Senate wouldn't pass it. If they did, Obama would veto it.
Pingback| 3.9.10 @ 12:56PM
Michelle Malkin » Will Stupak be bought on Demcare? links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Pingback| 3.9.10 @ 1:04PM
Is Bart Stupak Ready to Flip? - Hit & Run : Reason Magazine links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
PCC| 3.9.10 @ 1:10PM
Stupak will cave. The Blue Dogs will cave.
Same as it ever was.
Bob| 3.9.10 @ 1:22PM
Just like Republicans caved on the tax cuts and prescription drug benefit without being paid for, Democrats will cave on this. Party loyalty is far more important to both sides (because of funding for reelection) than doing what is right. If Stupak wants to be reelected, he will cave. Listen, I'm pro-choice and specifically NOT anti-abortion and don't believe any funding should be used for elective procedures of any kind including abortion. There are lots of ways around this including Biden saying it can be done through reconciliation (Biden has the last say, not the parliamentarian), a signing statement, and executive order, etc. This won't get in the way.
The mistake Republicans still make is that they are not rallying behind any health care reform that will save significant money. Tort reform is important, but that's only a couple of percent. The money is being spent on old people (like me) in their last year of life, and inefficient emergency room care plus that fact that there is no rationing which there needs to be in any cost efficient program. Neither side has the right solution.
JP| 3.9.10 @ 4:00PM
Bob, in your late years you may wish to move to Europe. It would probably be cheaper to die in an English Hospital. But, it could be quite unpleasant. I mean they've taken the idea of benign neglect to new heights. You could literally die of thirst in thier hospitals -or in your own filth.
The Netherlands would be a better idea. At thier old folks homes, you'd have a view of thier gorgeous countryside. You could probably make an appointment to get the needle in the Spring. Springs in place like Arnheim are quite pleasent.
SoCon| 3.9.10 @ 1:53PM
Bob, why would someone in your situation support 'death panels'? Doesn't make sense--makes me think that government enforced rationing won't apply to you.
Why is that? You don't strike me as the altruistic Mother Teresa type; got yourself some fancy, gold-plated health insurance coverage?
Bob| 3.9.10 @ 2:03PM
Why do I support "death panels"? Because I think health care is a privilege, not a right. I've spent my entire adult life in executive positions and can tell you from a budgeting standpoint you have so set limits because you can only afford so much. It like raising a child and giving him/her everything so he/she doesn't learn the value of money. I helped my children go through college, but just as I had loans to pay off, I wanted to make sure they had loans as well. I'm confident that they all know the value of money and now that they are in their 40's, I know they survive and budget just fine.
If you want all of that extra care, you should pay for it and not have our children and grandchildren pay for it. If you don't have the money, or the insurance, then except for emergency care, you've made your bed and should lie in it.
If you believe otherwise, then you should argue for Medicare for all since you would have no problem paying for everything for everyone.
SoCon| 3.9.10 @ 4:09PM
So, 'death panels' for everyone BUT YOU, Bob. Right? Figured as much. Typical atheist. lol
Screw the little people!
Bob| 3.9.10 @ 4:18PM
So you are willing to pay for everything for everyone (except abortions, of course). Then you should be supporting universal health care and be willing to pay more taxes for it as the costs rise. Right? If not, I question your sanity...
SoCon| 3.9.10 @ 4:26PM
You still haven't answered my question, chicken-liver: You've got super duper, blue-ribbon, gold-plated health insurance don't you?
'Fess up, old blowhard!! lol
Bob| 3.9.10 @ 4:30PM
The answer is no -- but I'm a penny pincher and saved a bundle over my lifetime. That's how you can tell a true fiscal conservative -- they've acted that way in their private lives.
Now, come out of the closet and tell me that you want health care to pay for everything for everyone....
SoCon| 3.9.10 @ 4:35PM
I figured you were a penny-pincher; your poor, long-suffering wife deserves a special place in Heaven after living with you all these years.
As for you, well, we all know where atheists like you end up; now, that's REAL 'globaloney warming'!
Bob| 3.9.10 @ 7:09PM
Well, my wife is more of a penny pincher than me. I guess your God just loves me more....
SoCon| 3.10.10 @ 10:43PM
Well, Bob, we all know the almighty buck is your god--won't do you much good after you've croaked, though.
You'll see--wish I could be a fly on the wall and watch.
Indiana Alex| 3.9.10 @ 2:20PM
Bob,
Congratulations on your Olympic success. If I'm not mistaken you now hold the record for most gold, silver, and bronze metals won by any individual. Glad to see you back.
Bob| 3.9.10 @ 2:26PM
Thank you, Indiana. Because of global warming, there wasn't enough snow in Vancouver, but I managed well. I was the oldest gold medal winner there! However, I've been around a great deal. Sorry you missed many of my posts. As with your mentor and my peer, I did rest on the sabbath....
Pingback| 3.9.10 @ 3:03PM
Stupak, The GOP, and Pro-Life Groups – The President’s Useful Idiots? | The Substratu links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
SoCon| 3.9.10 @ 4:12PM
Yeah, all that 'globaloney warming' that buried the east coast and mid-west in tons of record-breaking snow.
Bob| 3.9.10 @ 4:19PM
And you still believe the earth is flat and is only 6,000 years old. Right???? Well, gee willikers... It looks flat when I look out of my window....
SoCon| 3.9.10 @ 4:30PM
How's that 'hockey stick' workin' out for you, old boy? You got suckered by Marxist social engineering masquerading as "science." Fool.
Admit it, you're just a Luddite.
Bob| 3.9.10 @ 7:10PM
I see you still don't understand the hockey stick issue. How are those scrapes on your knuckles? Are they still dragging???
SoCon| 3.10.10 @ 10:45PM
Au contraire, Blob! I understand the 'hocky stick issue' quite well--IT'S A LIE!
Bonehead.
Pingback| 3.9.10 @ 6:00PM
Florida Burns Bank of America For Poor Mortgage Relief Record … | Broward County FL R links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Pingback| 3.9.10 @ 7:02PM
Senators Road Woes a Cause for Concern | The Hockey Writers | Binghamton Senators AHL links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
bywhatright| 3.10.10 @ 12:20PM
NEVER...here is his response:
Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI), who earlier this week said he is optimistic there will be a compromise on abortion language in the health care bill, told the Weekly Standard yesterday that there is no such deal -- not even close.
"Everyone's going around saying there's a compromise -- there's no such thing," Stupak said. He said that "the majority party can get [a deal] done," but "no one has said here's how you do it, here's the legislative scheme."
He did say he had his first real meeting with House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) about the language.
Asked if his "optimistic" comment meant he would cave and vote for a bill that doesn't include his preferred abortion language, Stupak said "Obviously they don't know me."
"If I didn't" cave in November, "why would I do it now after all the crap I've been through?" he added.
Stupak, who has threatened to vote no along with 12 other unnamed congressmen over abortion, said he refuses to vote for the Senate bill as-is, even with a promise to fix it later.
"If they say 'we'll give you a letter saying we'll take care of this later,' that's not acceptable because later never comes," he said.
Pingback| 3.10.10 @ 5:54PM
Will Stupak be bought on Demcare? - Attorney Don Hecker News Communication links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
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jujam| 5.10.10 @ 6:59AM
Just alike Republicans caved on the set cuts and medication take goodness without existence paying for, Democrats be going to explore on this. Party loyalty is farther more significant to both sides (because of resource for reelection) than doing what is right. If Stupak wants to be reelected, he be going to cave. Listen, I'm pro-choice and 70-630 exam specifically NOT anti-abortion and don't conceive some resource should be utilised for nonappointive procedures of some category including abortion. There are lots of structure around this 117-102 exam including Biden locution it be able to be finished finished equalisation (Biden has the terminal say, not the parliamentarian), a language statement, and chief order, etc. This won't achieve in the way.
chamilia | 12.24.10 @ 3:25AM
"do you ever feel like a plastic bag" no, Katie Perry, I cannot say that I have.