Senate Rejects Abortion Restrictions 54 To 45

WASHINGTON — The Senate has rejected an effort to stiffen abortion restrictions in the health care bill.

The vote was 54 to 45.

Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah wanted to ban any insurance plan that gets taxpayer dollars from offering abortion coverage. The stronger restrictions mirrored provisions in the House-passed health care bill.

The Senate bill currently allows insurance plans to cover abortions but tries to separate private funds from federal money. It specifies that abortion coverage can only be paid for with private dollars.

Majority Leader Harry Reid said the legislation is about access to health care, not abortion.

Comments

[James In Atlanta]

02:13 AM on 12/10/2009

Women are tax payers in the USA too and need to stand together and keep fat white balding men and religious fanatics and insurance lobbyist who unite to write legislation for politicians they own from derailing health care by limiting women's health care coverage.

The cost of the wars in Iran or Afghanistan in a couple of years will pay/could have paid for health care for all for many years to come.

If we can righteously kill thousands overseas to save US why can we not pass health care in the US that will save millions in the USA?

Give everyone a card that can be used to obtain health care! Remove the middle man and cut health care costs for US all. Pay health care providers directly and save billions. Health care by the people for the people at a price to just cover costs time is now!

Let the market place rule and health insurance providers who can provide quality health care coverage for a reasonable cost will survive and the Greedy Old Practices (GOP) will not continue to take advantage of the sick and injured Americans.

[CherokeeGirl]

05:28 PM on 12/10/2009

SINGLE PAYER!
Medicare FOR ALL!

[Moindependent]

05:13 PM on 12/29/2009

Abortion is not health care James, It's murder! Do some research on it, my brother-inlaw was born three months premature and he turned out just fine. It's common to abort babies up to 7 months, just look in the phone book. I'm all for women's rights but abortion isn't one of them and I don't even go to church.

[mdlw]

12:16 PM on 12/09/2009

In disbelief, I watched the video of the Palins' interview referred to as 'wild ride story' during the campaign. Audio can be found on the side bar at the site below. Then, when I looked at that photo dated 03-14-08, I thought how did she? No one knew about a pregnancy until she announced at a press conference she was 7 months; the day after JM announced he was running for the presidency. I felt cold seeing a photo where she was not smiling at the baby when he was being handed to her. I saw a photo where she was standing outside after 11pm, -40F deg damp weather holding a bare-legged baby wearing a red sweat shirt and diapers. With a large group of book tour fans were standing all around.

IMHO, that baby is being exploited because of his uniqueness. Trisomy 21 Trisomy G = TriG, Dumbo costume, accused of calling him 're tarded,' de ath panels, travelling on a book tour; methinks a prop for political gain to support the advancement of the pro-life agenda. Oh, and help sell books. Photo evidence, just scroll.

http://palingates.blogspot.com/2009/12/msnbc-reports-about-sarah-palins-bus.html

[tired of the ignorance]

11:48 AM on 12/09/2009

I find it very interesting that the very one's who are against Abortion, are the same ones who have NO problem sending our children to WAR! They are also the ones who support capital punishment... Oh and let's not forget Torture!!!
Meanwhile, the argument in the senate is regarding a "fiscally" sound Health care Plan, YET billions of dollars, TAXPAYER dollars, are being used for a war less than 1/2 the country supports!!! And they FIGHT FOR THAT!!! They approve money to Kill others, rather than approve money to help their own citizens.
Does hypocrisy know no boundaries? G.O.P. = Godless, Opposition, to Progress

[mdlw]

12:25 PM on 12/09/2009

And now, the pro-lifers have a prop baby. Check out the site below which shows the deception.

Photo evidence, just scroll.

http://palingates.blogspot.com/2009/12/msnbc-reports-about-sarah-palins-bus.html

[jnickj6]

11:37 AM on 12/09/2009

I believe that if the "lifers" really were TRULY "PRO LIFE," they would be concerned about the child once it is born. Where is this group to help the mother work 2 jobs to raise the child, by providing living essentials until the child is grown? Where is the money to back up their rants and raves? Where is their collateral to cash the checks their posters, rallies, protests write?

Furthermore, "Lifers" should put as much effort in ending unnecessary and illegal wars as they do in protecting fetuses.They should be knocking down the Pentagon's door with their fevered protests. If you are killing an enemy, you are still killing. What about the hundreds of thousands of Iraqi and Afghanistan HUMANS we killed? Regardless of the reason, we killed them. Dead. You will protect a fetus, but gladly and enthusiastically kill "an enemy combatant." They are still human.

What about the death sentence? Still killing. You kill to prevent someone who is locked up for life from killing again. Stupid. What lesson do you teach them? Once they are dead, they don't learn anything. The Death Sentence doesn't carry the weight to prevent committing the crime. All it does is kill an undesirable. Where is your passion in protecting ALL LIFE? Oh, you can pick and choose who you kill and who you protect. I get it.
Sad.

[bluefire66]

05:00 PM on 12/09/2009

They only care about the life of a baby until it is born and then they could care less. If they put their money where their mouth is they would support all life until it ceases to exist. Where are the GOP when I see teens selling drugs in the middle of the night, or when they're left alone at home, or when they're dying of hunger and lack of medicine?
Some Dems are the same but I hear it all too often from the GOP.

[mattyohughes]

11:21 AM on 12/09/2009

While I do support a womans choice in the abortion issue, I do not support any kind of government run health care and I sure don't want my tax dollars paying for some broads' version of birth control. If its a case of rape, incest, or a health risk to the mother I can accept that. Anything else should be on the aborter not on me. My money is best spent on MY family, not yours or yours or yours. All the socialist deadbeats need to get off of their third point of contact, get a job, and take care of their own responsibities and stop expecting me to just because I have the intestinal fortitude to get up and go to work every day

[gabemill]

11:44 AM on 12/09/2009

Instead of eulogizing your narrow view of propriety, why don't you actually read the article.......

[bannorhill]

12:57 PM on 12/09/2009

Mattohugh's view conforms to current Federal law. This admendment is a back door way to change the law without really voting on it as a single issue.

[tired of the ignorance]

12:09 PM on 12/09/2009

WHAT??? Deadbeats? How you went from abortion and healthcare to "deadbeats" and "get a job"... I have No idea..... However, if everyone had an attitude like you...
"My money is my money... blah blah, I don't want to help my fellow citizens, I don't want to support the Country that ALLOWS me to make and keep my own money."
We wouldn't have schools, police, fire departments, Public works, or MANY of the services that I'm sure you or one of your family members has used or will NEED to use in the future!! One of those being Health care. As for fear of a "government run" health care system, I would rather have that than the INSURANCE run heath care system we have now!!! At least the Government has an obligation to it's citizens, not it's "bottom line"

[bannorhill]

01:00 PM on 12/09/2009

So when is the government buying me a nw car or a new house. You seem to think citizens have no obligation to take care of themselves.

[k6007]

10:31 AM on 12/09/2009

Now that the public option is less of a threat, watch how fast this becomes a non-issue.

[BebeLush]

10:21 AM on 12/09/2009

Hurray! Good to see elected officials actually do something productive.

[Papa Swamp]

09:56 AM on 12/09/2009

If congress (and everyone else) would put the same energy into PREVENTING the unwanted pregnancy in the first place....this wouldn't even be on the radar.

Addressing a RESULT (the abortion) instead of working to cure the CAUSE (unwanted pregnancy)..... brilliant.

~46% of all abortions are repeats (woman has more than one abortion).....obviously there is a problem that needs to be addressed. Lack of access to birthcontrol, improper use, ineffective birthcontrol method, etc.. Solve these issues and cut the rate in half.....we wouldn't be talking about it.

[KDog76A]

11:16 AM on 12/09/2009

eh it wouldn't be an intersting topic but we're talking about the healthcare bill, not planned parenthood.

abort on

[Leo Mauler]

10:32 AM on 12/10/2009

Planned Parenthood spends a tiny part of its budget on assisting women obtain abortions. Most of their budget is about helping women who do not want to get pregnant to prevent pregnancies, not about ending existing pregnancies.

You are correct that we are talking about the health care bill, a bill unrelated to preventing pregnancy.

[LittleMittens]

09:54 AM on 12/09/2009

Now, if we can just remove prostate exams

[awesomerepublican]

09:39 AM on 12/09/2009

Jesus! Thank God.

[tired of the ignorance]

09:33 AM on 12/09/2009

Well, Well, it seems there are some Thinking Senators. Thank "God" they saw the light, and voted against this obvious attack on woman's Rights. Changing a law in this country because of Religious Beliefs IS and SHOULD ALWAYS be considered Illegal!!! According to our constitution Church and State are SEPARATE!!! Beliefs are just that... Beliefs... You can't force Beliefs on people... Nor should laws be made based on a select few's Belief system.
For those of you who are Religious... and who complain about where your tax dollars are going.... Your church makes money...Tax FREE money.... As a citizen who does NOT support a tax exempt status for churches who support Hate, and Anti-Gay legislation by using that Tax free money to lobby politically, I don't want MY TAXES to go up each year because 1/2 the city properties are churches who pay nothing back into the community. And let's not forget about the Catholics... vowing to close up soup kitchens if HEALTH CARE REFORM PASSES??!! The Gall!!! If you want to play in the political game, PAY TAXES like every other BUSINESS!!!

[KDog76A]

11:15 AM on 12/09/2009

This isn't about church and state. This is about the government picking up the tab for a medical procedure.

You say: I don't want MY TAXES to go up each year because 1/2 the city properties are churches who pay nothing back into the community.

Yet you want your taxes to go up to cover everyone's healthcare? Just so you know churches do pay a heck of a lot back to the community... Did you know that 20% of Americans receive healthcare from Catholic Hospitals? A lot of those people receive their care for free (and regardless of their beliefs)

Im all for abortion being legal. I just think your separation of church and state reasoning is a little salty and irrelevant to the real topic. Nobody is mandating a religious belief. That is what separation of church and state means. It has nothing to do with voting with your conscience based on your beliefs. Belief in the common good of society could in and of itself be construed as someone's religious belief system. The oldest laws in the world (murder, theft, inheritance) all came out of religion. Get over it.

If you want to see a theocracy to understand why the US is already firmly separated from religion, see Iran.

[tired of the ignorance]

01:02 PM on 12/09/2009

Duly noted, KDog~ and just so YOU know, there is already a provision in the Reform Bill that prevents abortions being paid for by the "exchange" or tax dollars, THIS amendment/bill was to prevent women from using their OWN money to pay for an abortion, if in the exchange, as well as preventing insurance companies from providing that coverage, even with private money....

I don't mind paying taxes, and I am all for paying more if it helps out our society as a whole, but when a church has tax exempt status, and uses their money for political activities, such as lobbyist, commercials, and of course Prop 8, and all the other LAWS that are passed regarding whom a person can MARRY!!!! THAT is a religious belief put into law!!! And funded by the very ones who are supposed to be about "love thy Neighbor" and acceptance of ALL mankind.. Their tax free dollars are being used to promote Hate, and prevent Human rights, because of a BELIEF, a RELIGIOUS belief!! I am not against religion, I am against the Business of Religion!

And Lastly, thanks for the update on how helpful the Catholics are too.... Let's hope that generosity is conveyed upon every man, woman and child.... EVEN if they are Gay.

[Leo Mauler]

10:38 AM on 12/10/2009

Actually what is being mandated is a religious belief: the Catholic perspective on abortion. Jews and Muslims have no problem with abortions. Some Christian denominations have no problem with allowing the government to pay for abortions (they just won't have one themselves). Allowing the Catholics to write Catholic Dogma into the health care bill *is* "mandating a religious belief."

Free healthcare from Catholic Hospitals? Yeah right. The last one I went to (and I was bleeding profusely at the time) promised me paperwork to get free care (I was unemployed), then waited six months and never sent any paperwork, then told me I'd "missed the deadline" and owed them thousands of dollars. Catholic Hospitals are no different from other hospitals: they want their money and don't want to do charity care.

[Nancyann]

09:26 AM on 12/09/2009

ABORTION IS MURDER PLAIN AND SIMPLE!!!!!

[Hollywooddeed]

09:35 AM on 12/09/2009

OKAY THEN DON'T HAVE ONE. Make your choices and then stay out of mine.

[awesomerepublican]

09:41 AM on 12/09/2009

Exactly. And besides, obviously it's not as "plain and simple" because people's lives and society aren't cliches or bumper stickers.

[KDog76A]

10:20 AM on 12/09/2009

I think you should have the choice, I just don't think the government should pay for an elective surgical procedure. I'd rather see the money go towards a comprehensive universal dental plan.... something everybody benefits from, instead of just 50% of the population

[Carmichael]

10:05 AM on 12/09/2009

I understand your point and to some extent agree, but in all retrospect, I have to ask. Do you support a rape or incest? Because, this where I draw the line...I think if a woman is raped, she deserves the rights to abort that child to be born, the same if an incest is committed.

[Okieborn]

09:20 AM on 12/09/2009

Well Now !!
Here is some good news !!

[MurCal]

08:35 AM on 12/09/2009

Once American women can get coverage for the contraceptives they need to control their reproduction, we will see abortion rates drop significantly. Given a realistic option, no one wants to go through an abortion. The best way to prevent them is to make sure everyone has easy access to the birth control they want.

[C65]

09:03 AM on 12/09/2009

DOES ANY ONE ON THIS BLOGGERPHERE SEE THE HYPOCRISY OR BLATEN LIES
PROTRAYED? Everywhere you turn these people who are advocates of some kind,
particularly the,SAINT NOTS GOP.First and foremost,they cry on one law that they don't
want government controlling their lives and between them and their doctors,but when
the shoe is on the other foot,they want to government control over WOMEN CHOICES
about their own bodies.Men are free to get VIAGRA,have sex as much as possible,
make babies and women cannot have BIRTH CONTROL OR ABORTION RIGHTS to
control their own bodies.PEOPLE!WHAT THE HE&& IS WRONG WITH THIS COUNTRY
AND IT'S ABILITY TO THINK.WHAT OTHERS DO IS NOT YOUR BUSINESS-JESUS
DID NOT DIE,SO YOU COULD BECOME OTHERS GOD!

[KDog76A]

10:36 AM on 12/09/2009

now be honest and tell us how you really feel.

The government doesn't pay for men's viagra or condoms, nor should they. The government shouldn't spend billions on any elective procedure.

This isn't about making abortion illegal. I think you should be free to rip a fetus out anytime in the first 2 trimesters (I hear that they have sonographic evidence that the fetus feels pain when you abort in the third). Heck if its a life or death matter I think the woman should be protected up to any point and that if its a lifesaving procedure by all means if there universal healthcare it should be covered.

Ultimately I don't think there should be a law requiring every American to purchase health insurance. Thats what the bill is ultimately about. Who wins in this? You should be shocked its the health insurance companies, not the American people.

Wake up, this law as much bigger implications than what goes on in your womb.

[PrairieView]

08:31 AM on 12/09/2009

Obama punishes progressives to make them vote for his right wing legislation. Why doesn't Obama punish BlueDog Democrats?

[PWM]

10:15 AM on 12/09/2009

Obama cannot punish anyone. Congress makes the laws not the President.

[KDog76A]

10:37 AM on 12/09/2009

Obama's right wing legislation?

hahahaahahahahahahahahaha

[Leo Mauler]

10:45 AM on 12/10/2009

Entitlements for Wall Street.

Market forces for Main Street.

Obama's "right wing legislation" is just about right.

The health care "reform" bill would require individuals to purchase care from companies which have just been hit with multiple unfunded government mandates but which have not been told they can't raise rates to compensate for the multiple unfunded government mandates.

In effect, a government entitlement program for Wall Street (medical insurance companies): "we'll give you a lot of taxpayer money in exchange for you being allowed to do pretty much the same stuff you've been doing." The only difference is that the government cuts itself out of the middle: the government makes the taxpayers give the money directly to the insurance companies, instead of taxpayer dollars passing through the government first.

Or in other words, right-wing legislation.