Inexcusably, I haven't written a word about the most controversial (and pivotal) aspect of House passage - the Stupak amendment. Basically, the Stupak amendment says that no public health insurance option, and no money allocated as a result of health care reform legislation, can be used to pay for an abortion except in the case that the pregnancy resulted from rape or incest, or in the event that a pregnant women's physical disorder, injury, or illness could lead to her death.
As the New York Times reports, the contentious amendment was the key to Speaker Nancy Pelosi's ability to cobble together the 220 votes she needed to pass health care legislation. It passed by a margin of 240-194, with all of the Massachusetts delegation except Congressmen Lynch and Neal voting against.
Congressman Capuano did not address the amendment in his press release on health care reform's passage, but Martha Coakley was quick to criticize the provision.
In a statement issued this evening, Coakley said:
“The House’s vote is in many ways a significant step toward the goal of health care reform. However, I am deeply disturbed that the House adopted the Stupak/Pitts amendment, which would deny millions of women access to reproductive services. The inclusion of the Stupak/Pitts amendment violates the very intent of health care reform, which is meant to guarantee quality, affordable health care coverage for everyone. I believe that the Senate has a responsibility to fix this by eliminating the provision in whatever reform legislation moves forward.”So for all those voters who are strongly pro-choice or pro-life, I apologize for missing this critical issue earlier. If you want to blame someone (other than me) for my poor showing, I would direct you to Speaker Pelosi.
Seriously, who schedules votes on Saturdays?
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