Bart Stupak: Abortion Language In Health Care Bill Is A Must

Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), who has long raised objections to health care reform based on his anti-abortion stance, said on Thursday that he and several other House members plan to dig in their heels again and may not vote for the final bill.

"We're not going to vote for this bill with that kind of language," Stupak said on ABC's "Good Morning America," a reference to language included in the Senate health bill that Stupak and 11 other Democrats say is not tough enough when it comes to limiting federal funding for abortions.

"I want to see health care pass," Stupak said. "We must have health care but, boy, there are some principles and beliefs that some of us are not going to pass.

"We're prepared to take the responsibility. I mean, I've been catching it ever since last fall. Let's face it, I want to see health care. But we're not going to bypass some principles and beliefs that we feel strongly about."

Watch video of Stupak's appearance:

Comments

[Ipanemagirl]

12:10 PM on 03/09/2010

we should ignore this stupak and call his bluff, Put him to the vote!
is he voting against healthcare for saving lives of the living, or is he forsaking our lives for the benefit of unborn fetuses????
This is all another political stunt for getting re elected...which I hope now , we know what to do about this guy:. get rid of him and replace him with a real progressive who cares about people and saving lives!
What hippocrates!

[JohnnyPDX]

12:54 AM on 03/08/2010

Sen. Bart Stup!d is a Democrat in case you missed it.

[esl]

03:37 PM on 03/06/2010

Whose running against this guy? I want to contribute to whoever is running, man, woman, or monkey, I don't care.

[retromega]

02:26 AM on 03/06/2010

Americans beware! Here is a clown who thinks he can legilate Teri Shivo's recovery and his own REELECTION!!!

[AmyRenee]

01:09 AM on 03/06/2010

the real Planned Parenthood

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6Eist3wn0s



Atleast do yourself a favor and watch part one, it is hearbreaking...

[LynnTTT]

04:25 PM on 03/05/2010

Maybe I'm an idiot, but.... I If health insurance premiums paid by an individual and by a company on behalf of it's employees are "tax free", doesn't it follow that in a short time (if Stupak gets his way and the wording on the health care bill is changed), the next step will be for the GOP and Stupak to say " Well golly, we just realized that these tax credits are in fact the exact same thing as federal money paying for abortions, so we need to either take away those credits, or everyone's plan has to drop abortion coverage" Talk about a slippery slope.

[From the Raft]

09:45 PM on 03/05/2010

Using the same logic the federal government could ban religious activities in schools accepting student government vouchers.

[JessWonderin]

06:00 PM on 03/06/2010

there is no "logic" when communicating with the America Taliban, anymore than with the Afghan sect . . . .

[FunkyIrishDems]

03:39 PM on 03/05/2010

A COMPARISON
OF TWO SYSTEMS

Females
Cancer
----------------CDN mortality rate -------CDN incidence rate ----US mortality rate ------US incidence rate
Intestinal ----------(17.1 ) ----------------------------(42.2) -----------------(16.1)------------------------( 44.2)
Stomach -----------(3.5) -------------------------------(4.8) -------------------(3.0) -------------------------(4.9)
Lung ----------------(35.4)----------------------------- (44.9)----------------- (41.9)------------------------ (56.6)
Non-Hodg. lymph.(5.5) ------------------------------(13.6)------------------ (5.9) ------------------------(15.8)

All cancers -------(148.2) ----------------------------(346.6)--------------- (160.5) ----------------------(403.6)

Males
Cancer
--------------------CDN mortality rate ----CDN incidence rate -----US mortality rate----- US incidence rate
Intestinal ---------(26.8)---------------------------( 60.9)----------------------(23.0) -----------------------(60.4)
Stomach----------( 7.4) ----------------------------(11.5) ----------------------(5.7) ----------------------- (10.0)
Lung---------------(62.7) ---------------------------(70.9)--------------------- (71.9) -----------------------(86.8)
Non-Hodg lymph (8.5)--------------------------- (18.9)-----------------------(9.3)------------------------ (22.2)

All cancers ------(215.1)-------------------------- (455.5)------------------- (234.1)--------------------- (541.8)

RISING PREMIUMS
Year Single Family
--------( US)----------------------------------------------------------------------------( CANADA) ----------------------
2000 $2,471 $6,438-------------------------------------------------------------------- (0)----------------------------
2001 $2,689 $7,061---------------------------------------------------------------------(0)----------------------------
2002 $3,083 $8,003---------------------------------------------------------------------(0)----------------------------
2003 $3,383 $9,068---------------------------------------------------------------------(0)----------------------------
2004 $3,695 $9,950---------------------------------------------------------------------(0)----------------------------
2005 $4,024 $10,880-------------------------------------------------------------------(0)----------------------------
2006 $4,242 $11,480-------------------------------------------------------------------(0)----------------------------
2007 $4,479 $12,106-------------------------------------------------------------------(0)----------------------------
2008 $4,704 $12,680-------------------------------------------------------------------(0)----------------------------
2009 $4,824 $13,375-------------------------------------------------------------(STILL ZERO)-------------------

AND WHAT DO ALL OF THESE NUMBERS MEAN ? .
.A LOT FOR AMERICANS THAT ARE BEING PRICED OUT TO GO TO--(''CHARITY'' - REPUB PLAN)

AMERICANS WITHOUT HEALTH CARE INSURANCE ---------------------(45 MILLION)

CANADIANS WITHOUT HEALTH CARE INSURANCE -------------------------(ZERO)

regards,
Funky

[inthelandoftheblind]

03:20 PM on 03/06/2010

Good work Mr. Funk. There are the facts - so, how can it be that so many people are still so slow to grasp ...they've been had, with rethug gubmnt ?

US HC costs are nearly dbl the HC costs in other countries, too!

already a fan...

[SIMPLICIMUSS]

05:12 PM on 03/06/2010

I am not questioning your facts or figures, but I have a genuine question that really puzzles me, and if you can give me a logical answer, I would be very gratefull. I work (in a non-medical capacity) in a large medical center in central Pa. It appears that there is great number of Canadians coming to this center for one reason or another. I am not in position to question their motives, but it bothers me. If their system is like you say,why are they coming here ?? This is not a trick question, it is a serious search for the answer.
Thanx

[JessWonderin]

06:14 PM on 03/06/2010

answer to come, based on:
1. How did you determine "a great number" and confirmed "Canadian citizenship"?
2. What "services" does your "medical center" provide?

It is common knowledge that elective and cosmetic surgery is placed on a waiting list so those with higher needs are served FIRST (note "LIST" not DENIED). . . so are you offering liposuction, wart removal, implants, bikini waxes, fertility services, or butt lifts on demand???

But being "non medical" you really wouldn't and shouldn't be privy to PRIVATE medical records. and we might also note that wealthy or even middle class Canadians, like others in the world, take advantage of our "capitalist system" to purchase immediate access to everything from heart transplants to eyelid "remodeling" . . .

I was in Stanford for awhile, and it was like an International Airport with some patients even having PRIVATE nurses and personal interpreters in their rooms, Arab, India, German and Russian . . . so before you pull the "gee, if socialismistic medicine is so good WHY?" routine, check the facts.

[Libby123]

01:57 PM on 03/05/2010

I'd like to see more federal money go to funding reproductive education for young people. And not abstinence-only programs. Ask Bristol Palin how well that worked for her. Kids today need to learn how the human body works and stop learning "the facts of life" from uninformed peers. It's appalling to me to learn how many young girls think that they can't get pregnant the first time they have sex or if they eat rice and beans after sex or whatever ridiculous thing somebody told them once. I used to work in a pharmacy and girls used to come in looking for black cohosh because a friend told them that they could terminate a pregnancy with it! One girl even asked me if licorice would do as a substitute! Her reasoning? That licorice is black, too!

If Bart Stupak wants to prevent abortions, maybe he should write an amendment that will fund education programs and contraception. If he's worried about paying for it, maybe the money could come out of the penalties and fines he'll be paying to the IRS when they jump him for accepting the gift of discount rent at C Street.

[Cheryl12345]

12:30 PM on 03/05/2010

I would look to see how much he's getting from the insurance industry. If Mr. Stupak really cared about people he'd vote for the bill then work for an amendment during the next two years before the bill would take effect

[wdw505]

12:43 PM on 03/05/2010

anything that slows or kills these bills works for me

[Clovie]

01:37 PM on 03/05/2010

Good for you. I'm sure the families of the thousands of Americans who die every month because they don't have insurance will be so happy to hear that.

[jakiew]

03:49 PM on 03/05/2010

no insurance reform for people. that's not human, that's not what the bible or our country is about. affordable healthcare is a must, unless you're an evil rethug monster

[JessWonderin]

06:21 PM on 03/06/2010

quick check found this:

"Stupak has received over $47,000 in campaign contributions from PAC’s representing Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Michigan and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, both of whom make their money from selling insurance that covers elective abortions. That $47,000 is more money than the combined total raised by Stupak’s opponents in 2002, 2004, and 2006."

we can only guess NOW that he is LEADING the attack, his "benefactors" have stepped up to the plate to "help" . . . .

[Ipanemagirl]

12:07 PM on 03/05/2010

I think the insurance loves the abortion part as abortions could be done for free, as they save the insurance tons of money in the future!...No prenatal care, birth and then many years of insurance for the live child.I'm sure insurance companies favor av bortions big time and woud gladly fdo it for free as their cost is minimal as compared to a real pregnancy.

Stupak is just trying to gain support to become governor from his anti abortion fans.

[SilviaMaria]

11:42 AM on 03/05/2010

Call his office and tell him that he can not legislate stupidity. I just did.

2268 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
[phone]
[phone] - Fax

[globality]

10:21 AM on 03/05/2010

he is one of the C street cult members

He has been receiving llegal rent and food subsidies while living at the C street church

Did he report those gifts ?

[Mike169]

10:23 AM on 03/05/2010

How do you report the gift of love?

[LiberalLee]

10:28 AM on 03/05/2010

" Uh Honey...about that lipstick on my collar...And zipper....Can we talk?"

[Easyrollins]

10:09 AM on 03/05/2010

Has this nation ever had a congress where men of integrity and wisdom were in majority, Hypocrites and liars are inherent in this system. Our only recourse is a voter backlash that resoundingly defeat these sitting elected officials. They have their strongholds yes, we already know that they are the minority and getting smaller. It's like a defeated foe lashing out in venomous hate and irrational behavior, desperately doing anything to hold on or regain power. Using any propaganda as a smokescreen in order to delay it's inevitable demise. I honestly believe that the election of the President has revealed the latent racism, and hypocrisy of a great many of our elected official and the constituents that supports them . If this nation is to go forward as an enlighten nation of intellect and wisdom. And become a nation of peace, we must fight and defeat this insurrection of hate fear, and greed,.

[Sarazzara]

11:09 AM on 03/05/2010

I agree totally. I do think though that there are many men and women of integrity who go to Congress hopeful of legislating on behalf of the best interests of their constituents as well as other American citizens. But soon either the process corrupts them or the necessity of raising huge amounts of money re-election becomes their daily quest or their own self-interest perverts their ideals. Or just wears them down.

Of course, these reps leave Congress with generous retirement benefits and lifetime medical care paid for. They have little to lose but their time. And their souls.

[Ipanemagirl]

12:17 PM on 03/09/2010

I agree with you but maybe if campaign money was regulated in this country, and equal for all , and no corporations could donate money , it would keep politicians more honest as they wouldn't have to prostitute themselves for money on every election and bargain their values. But republicans would never aprove of this, they like it sleezy and dirty!

[brandon102]

09:38 AM on 03/05/2010

If this clown wants to go back to practicing some sort of voodoo based on his christian superstitions, that fine. But he was not send to washington to enforce his religious beliefs on the rest of us.

We are not a theocracy. Yet, I'm afraid.

[fredamae]

09:22 AM on 03/05/2010

Stupak, is Nothing more than a "mole" in the Dem Party.
Stop treating him like he IS a Dem, Like lincoln, and several others...Just hooking up with the name for appearances, but are Cons at heart.