Liberal House Dems In Uproar Over Lack of Abortion Coverage in Health Care Bill

Could the whole government seizure of the health care industry break on the political juggernaut of abortion?

The abortion issue had been rumbling within the House Democratic caucus for weeks, but Saturday’s votes revealed the depths of the fault lines. The amendment passed with the support of 64 Democrats, roughly a quarter of the party caucus.

But abortion-rights supporters are vowing to strip the amendment out, as the focus turns to the Senate and the conference committee that would resolve differences between the two bills.

Although House liberals voted for the bill with the amendment to keep the process moving forward, Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) said she has collected more than 40 signatures from House Democrats vowing to oppose any final bill that includes the amendment—enough to block passage.

“There’s going to be a firestorm here,” DeGette said. “Women are going to realize that a Democratic-controlled House has passed legislation that would prohibit women paying for abortions with their own funds. . . . We’re not going to let this into law.”

If the pro-abortion Dems won’t vote for the bill if it doesn’t include coverage for abortions and the anti-abortion Dems won’t vote for the bill if it does include the coverage, can any bill pass?