Posted on 12/17/2009 9:32:44 PM PST by bdeaner
A year in the making, sweeping health-care legislation backed by President Barack Obama hung in the balance yesterday as conservative Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson withheld his vote in pursuit of stricter abortion limits.
Without modifications, the language concerning abortion is not sufficient, Nelson declared in a statement that summarized the results of days of negotiations.
With the support of the second-term Nebraskan, the White House and Senate Democrats would command 60 votes for the health care measure, enough to overcome a GOP filibuster and pass the bill within a matter of days. Without it, the prospects are far more uncertain.
As drafted, the measure bans the use of federal funds to finance abortions under insurance to be sold in a newly created exchange, except in cases of rape, incest or danger to the life of the mother. The plans could provide abortion coverage, however, that consumers would purchase with their own money held apart from any federal subsidies they receive.
Meanwhile, powerbrokers on the left were growing restive.
Richard Trumka, head of the AFL-CIO, and Andrew Stern, head of the Service Employees International Union, yesterday voiced their disappointment that the legislation has been stripped of any form of government-run insurance option.
The union leaders stopped short of urging the plans defeat. Not so former national party chairman Howard Dean, who said he would oppose it.
Nebraska’s governor urged Ben Nelson to vote against this plan regardless of the abortion language.
I say Ben commits political suicide if he votes for this measure in any form. The abortion clause was inserted to make it look like he’s taking some kind of a stand for something. Democrats saw this from a mile away and inserted it there just for that reason. It’s nothing more than a Red Herring and I believe Conservative Nebraskans are savvy enough to see it. Nelson is on the chopping block if he votes for this montrosity, regardless.
With pro-life amendment's defeat, US bishops urgently call for changes in Senate health bill
More Proof that the US Catholic Bishops are Leading the Charge in Abortion Battle
Bishops Urge Senators to Support [Abortion]Amendment on Health Care; Urge Constituents to Back It
Bishops urged to be tough on pols who would pay for abortion
Health reform still full of thorny problems for Catholics (Vasa comes out for subsidiarity)
Healthcare and Catholics: True and False Arguments
Meddling Bishops Interfere in Political Process
How the Stupak-Pitts Amendment May Change Our Politics
Health Care and the Power of the Bishops' Conference
US Bishops: Abortion Isn't Health Care
Denver Archbishop Chaput says promises were broken on abortion
Catholic Bishops: Health Care Bill ... Money-Laundering System for Funding Abortion
Catholic Caucus: The Bishops Go On Offense
US bishops conference mounts late drive against 'unacceptable' health-care reform
Catholic Bishops Urge Members to Oppose Abortion Funding in Health Care Plan [Catholic Uprising!]
Bishops Announce Unprecedented Massive Catholic Opposition to Obamacare
Bishops Call for Massive Catholic Opposition to Abortion in Current Health Care Reform
Archbishop Charles Chaput on the Current Struggle Between Catholics and "Caesar"
The Bishop's Ax Falls on Obama. And on the Vatican Curia (bombshell article)
US Bishops: Heath Package Still Funding Abortions (Urge Congress to Keep Working)
Catholic Bishops Declare They Will Vigorously Oppose Health Care Bill as It Now Stands
Bishops Restate Vow vs. Obamacare's Abortion
Important: US Bishops taking the gloves off on health care reform
BREAKING: Catholic Bishops On Health Care - Change Bills Or Else
U.S. bishops warn of vigorous opposition if Congress fails to fix health care bills
List: *41* Bishops against Obamacare (and counting!)
Bishop Murphy Issues Video Statement on Health Care Reform [Diocese of Rockville Centre]
Health Care Principles [Bishop Samuel Aquila, Fargo, ND]
Florida Bishop [Thomas Wenski] Weighs in on Health Care Reform
ObamaCare and Catholic social teaching [Bishop Neckless]
Some Catholic bishops question gov't health care
Bostons Roman Catholic Cardinal Says He Confronted Obama about Abortion in Health Care Plan....
Iowa Bishop: Dont Be Railroaded into the Current...Health Care Proposals
in a message issued by the Diocese of Sioux City (The Church on Universal Healthcare)
Nazi Health Care A Catholic Bishop Speaks Out Against "End of Life Care" (Germany, 1941)
Bishop Nickless: "No Health Care Reform is Better than the Wrong Health Care Reform"
Cardinal Rigali, Abp. Chaput Intensify Warnings Against Obamacare's Abortion Expansion
The huge increase in the powers of the Secretary of HHS is proof of that. What the legislation does not say can be added by executive order and subsequent regulations, and of course threw judicial interpretation. All of these will expand rather than restrict the scope of law.
“Nebraskas governor urged Ben Nelson to vote against this plan regardless of the abortion language.”
He will likely flop over on his back just like Mary Landrieu
did - and probably for less money.
The American Communist Party used to run Presidential candidates, but in recent years, supports the Dem Party, which has become the Fascist Socialists Party.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.