Conservatives say they want to get government out of our lives and don’t want “government bureaucrats” standing in the way of the relationship between doctors and patients. Unless, of course, you’re a woman then the pregnancy-is-punishment lobby is only too happy to tell you what to do. Democratic leaders in the House have caved to anti-abortion zealouts led by Bart Stupak (D-MI) and will allow them to offer an amendment to restrict abortion even more than it’s already restricted:
Anti-abortion Democrats will be allowed to offer an amendment during the House health care debate Saturday that would ban most abortion coverage from the public option and other insurance providers in the new so-called “exchange” the legislation would create, three Democratic sources told CNN.
The prohibition would exclude cases of rape, incest or if the mother’s life is in danger, known as “Hyde” language.
The amendment is expected to pass. IMO, this amendment is actually a backdoor method to restrict abortion for all women. The companies in the exchange are private insurance companies. They are trying to make sure that private insurance companies won’t pay for abortion services.
I hope people know that abortion is the one of the most common surgical procedures performed in the United States (I think circumcision is #1). Abortion is legal as well. Lynn Harris at Salon gives us the 10 reasons abortion should be covered:
1. Abortion is legal medical care. “Abortion is a legal right, and it takes medical care to exercise that right,” says Judy Waxman, vice-president of health and reproductive rights at the National Women’s Law Center. (For their healthcare reform campaign, click here.) The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists also chimes in here (PDF).
2. Abortion is common, mainstream medical care. It is one of the most common surgical procedures in America.
3. Abortion is already broadly covered. Between 50 and 85 percent of women who have private insurance, including employer-sponsored plans, have coverage for abortion care.
4. Covering abortion does not raise the abortion rate. As Gloria Feldt points out, “Countries like France, Germany and the Netherlands routinely cover abortion in their national health plans, and have some of the lowest abortion rates in the world.”
More at the link
I guess we’ve already lost this fight. However, all the Republicans and anti-abortion Democrats must stay together for this to pass so maybe there are some that can still be influenced. We should pay close attention to who is voting for the amendment and who is voting against it. The vote on the health care reform bill could come as early as tonight.