The focus on Capitol Hill this Saturday will be on health care as the House is moving toward a floor vote on its big health care overhaul. Democratic leaders have worked to nail down votes from some of their members who want stronger anti-abortion language in the bill. That language was put forth by Representative Brad Ellsworth, D-Ind. The language in the bill would explicitly prohibit federal funding for abortions and also guarantee patients access to pro-life insurance plans that would not cover the procedure. The House vote is expected at 6:00 p.m. Saturday.
Some lawmakers remain dissatisfied with the bill's language. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., could still oppose the Ellsworth language, potentially keeping the bill from passing. Stupak wants to bar any federally subsidized insurance plan from covering abortions, including any public plan set up to compete with private insurers.
The insurance industry is putting extraordinary pressure on every representative to defeat the measure. According to Organizing for America, the only question is whether the phones will be ringing off the hook with constituents supporting reform while that happens.
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