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“House Democrats Will Likely Prevent Vote to Remove Abortion From Health Care”
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
August 14, 2009

SNIPPET: “Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — When members of Congress return from their August recess, the first battle over the abortion funding found in the health care bills will occur in the House. There, it appears Democratic leaders will prevent a vote on an amendment to remove the abortion funding from the bill.

The House version of the health care bill, HR 3200, currently allows a scheme whereby the federal government will pay for abortions under the plan.

Rep. Bart Stupak has announced that he will sponsor an amendment on the House floor to change that, similar to the one members of a House panel defeated.

But, House members may never have a chance to vote on the Stupak amendment to stop taxpayer-financed abortions because it appears House Democrats won’t allow it.

In an interview this week, pro-abortion Rep. Louise Slaughter, who chairs the House Rules Committee, said there won’t be many changes to the three versions of the bill that the House panels each approved.

“I don’t foresee a lot of changes from what came out of committee,” Slaughter said at a press conference.

Leading pro-life advocates expect the Rules Committee to adopt rules for debate that prevent Stupak’s amendment from getting a vote.”

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“Planned Parenthood Continues Boasting Close Ties with White House on Obamacare Bill”
By Kathleen Gilbert

SNIPPET: “WASHINGTON, D.C, August 13, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - As calls for protection against abortion in President Obama’s health care legislation fall on deaf ears, Planned Parenthood (PP) has made no secret of its continued communications with the White House on its interest in ensuring that “reproductive health” plays a central role in the final version of the legislation.

“Just left the White House meeting on women’s health care - they appreciate all the mighty PP supporters speaking up for reform in the states!” wrote Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards on her Facebook and Twitter accounts Wednesday afternoon.

The latest meeting continues an apparently tight relationship between Planned Parenthood and the White House, where Obama administration officials have expressed their full cooperation with and encouragement of Planned Parenthood’s stake in the bill.

In the opening session of the Planned Parenthood 2009 Organizing and Policy Summit last month, White House Public Engagement director Tina Tchen gave an update on the administration’s progress in attaining health care reform and assured the crowd of President Obama’s commitment to “women’s health.”

According to the PP release, participants at the three-day summit set their sights on the current health care legislation, to ensure it includes “access to comprehensive reproductive health care and access to essential community providers within the network.”

“Health care reform is moving full steam ahead, and policymakers in Washington need to know the importance of including women’s health care as part of a reform package,” said Richards.

As Family Research Council president Tony Perkins has pointed out, Planned Parenthood, America’s largest abortion provider, stands to gain substantially if the legislation includes them as an “essential community provider.” Insurance providers, in order to be certified, would be required to contract with Planned Parenthood under that designation.”

http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/aug/09081403.html