http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/55292
"There are many of us Democrats in the House who are philosophically, legally, and morally opposed to public funding for abortions."
EDITOR'S NOTE: Late in the day, Wednesday, House Speaker Pelosi stated that a tentative agreement on the Health Care Reform Bill had been reached. However, according to the report, there is much work still to be done before it goes before the US House for a vote, possibly next week. Issues still to be debated will include abortion funding and the provision of health care for illegal immigrants. -Aimee Herd, BCN.
(Washington, DC)—CNS News reports that a group of House Democrats who are pro life are working hard to see any kind of public funding for abortion taken out of the Health Care Reform bill. They are also trying to insert an amendment that would effectively prohibit any public funding of abortion that may be included in the current version of the bill.
At the forefront of this effort is Rep. Bart Stupak of Michigan, who plans to—with the support of like-minded Representatives—block the current Health Care Reform bill from coming to a vote, unless the issue is dealt with. (Photo: CNS News)
"There are many of us Democrats in the House who are philosophically, legally, and morally opposed to public funding for abortions," said Stupak in a statement. "We want the chance to offer our amendment, the Hyde Amendment, on the floor of the House."
According to the CNS report, the Hyde Amendment states: "No funds authorized under this Act (or an amendment by this Act) may be used to pay for any abortion or to cover any part of the costs of any health plan that includes coverage of abortion, except" in the cases of rape, incest and threat to the life of the mother.
Despite President Obama's statement to Congress about no public funding for abortion being contained in the current bill, there actually is a provision that would cover abortions. (See the full CNS article)
In September, Rep. Stupak spoke with FOX News' Megyn Kelly regarding the issue; to watch that video, CLICK HERE:
Stupak told CNS News, "If our amendment is not made in order, we will try to shut down the rule, preventing the health care bill from coming to the floor for a vote. If the Speaker believes that abortion funding is not in the bill then she should let me have my amendment, because if anything it would just be redundant."