Conversations Will Continue
by digby
DOWD: One very important, I think, controversial thing, is that a
few votes — Representative Bart Stupak has talked about the need that
the Senate bill has to include abortion language that was in the House
bill, to prevent federal funding of abortion and an expansion on
services. He says he carries with him 11 votes. Can you pass a bill or
can the president pass a bill and the Congress pass a bill without those
votes?SEBELIUS: Well, the goal is the same. The president has said from
the outset, we don’t want to change the status quo on abortion funding.
Neither the Senate or the House bill has any federal funding for
abortion, none. Yes, abortion services are provided, and people will
pay out of their own pockets, in both the Senate and the House, but they
do it in slightly different ways–DOWD: Is Representative Stupak wrong about this?
SEBELIUS: Well, I think Representative Stupak has worked as a
member of Energy & Commerce. He wants universal health care. He wants
health reform for the people whom he represents. I think we’ll continue
to work on getting this done. He shares the goal with the president,
that no federal funding will be provided for abortion.DOWD: Do you think a deal can be done that does not include the
language he wants, but something in (inaudible), is that one of the
things that can be considered? SEBELIUS: I think the Senate bill, actually, has a different set of
words than the amendment that Representative Stupak had in the House,
but confirmed by legal scholars and various people that it does exactly
the same thing. There are no federal funds for abortions. But I think
that if that does not satisfy the congressman, the conversations will
continue. But certainly, his goal and the president’s goal are the same
— do not change the status quo on abortion.
I’m pretty sure the Catholics Bishops want to maintain the status quo alright but its the health care status quo which means the Democrats pass nothing at all.
Both the Stupak and Nelson amendments change the status quo which right now allows women in the private insurance market to easily purchase policies that cover all reproductive services. The Nelson amendments makes it difficult for both the insurance companies and the consumers to buy such coverage and the Stupak amendment prohibits it. How that is considered the status quo, I don’t understand.
But “the conversations continue” so that’s good. The way we’re going they’re going to agree to ban birth control and women’s right’s activists will be told they need to go along for the good of the poor women with all those extra children.
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