Abortion Remains Obstacle in Health Care Legislation

Oblasphemer, the President of our illustrious nation still doesn't get the message or fails to hear the cry of the people of this nation who have the common sense and the understanding of the preciousness of Life!

From Wall Street Journal: **Emphasis mine**
By LAURA MECKLER
Many obstacles need to be cleared if the Democrats are to pass their health-care legislation, but one of the toughest will be the persistent issue of abortion. ( It is plain and clear what the solution is so just do it!)

Abortion was one of the final matters to be resolved in December when the Senate created its version of the health-care bill, with a carefully crafted compromise that left neither side in the debate happy. If a final bill is to clear the House, Democrats will have to find a way to finesse the problem again. One idea being floated involves inserting more-restrictive language later into a spending bill. (Finesse? Or you mean BS the public and in essence ignore God's law thereby BS'n God! Wow! Oblasphemer indeed!)

At issue is whether health-insurance policies people would buy with federal subsidies established by the legislation could offer abortion coverage. (Legislation should protect life, liberty and pursuit of happiness not take it away from an innocent and defenseless being) When the House debated its health bill last year, antiabortion Democrats led by Rep. Bart Stupak (D., Mich.) won language prohibiting insurers from selling plans that cover abortion to any person receiving the subsidies. With their votes, the bill passed 220-215 (Good Guys 1, Oblasphemer 0).

The Senate language is less restrictive. It allows insurers to offer abortion coverage as long as customers write a separate check to pay for it, an exercise meant to assure that no federal money goes toward abortion services. That provision was a compromise aimed at satisfying Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska, the last Democratic holdout.

But Mr. Stupak said the Senate version left too big a loophole, while abortion-rights supporters argued that in practice, it would be too cumbersome for insurance companies to collect separate checks and they wouldn't cover abortion at all. (Health insurance is to ensure health, right? Abortion ends life, right? Is everybody seeing this?)

At this stage, Democrats' last-ditch effort to save the overall health-care bill must work with the Senate provision.

The path toward passing the bill, given united Republican opposition, goes this way: The House passes the Senate bill, and both sides then approve alterations using a process known as reconciliation, which requires a simple majority in the Senate. Reconciliation can only be used for matters that relate to the federal budget, and abortion doesn't qualify. Thus, the Senate version would stand. (They are going to need Reconcilliation, offered by Holy Mother Church, lest they just fancy the fires of Hell. I'm just saying, it's really hot down there!!)

On Monday, Mr. Stupak called the Senate abortion language "unacceptable." House leaders believe there is a good chance he will vote against the final bill. Democrats estimate that roughly 10 other lawmakers could follow Mr. Stupak's lead, or perhaps more. (abortion is unacceptable period! End of discussion. There is no room for compromise)

To make up for any lost votes, Democrats would need to pick up support from Democrats who voted against the original House measure for reasons unrelated to abortion—either the few liberals who thought that bill was too conservative or the conservatives who thought it was too liberal.

It is also possible Mr. Stupak could be brought on board. One idea being discussed, according to leadership aides, is for congressional leaders to promise to impose new abortion restrictions on the use of federal subsidies through one of the annual spending bills. Mr. Stupak hasn't ruled out a solution along those lines


St. Michael the Archangel, Pray for us and the U.S.!