Rep. Stupak more hopeful about abortion deal for health care bill

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Rep. Bart Stupak.

Washington D.C., Mar 9, 2010 / 08:21 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Following his remarks last week that he and his colleagues are prepared to strike down health care reform if it provides federal funding for abortion, Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) said on Monday that he is “more optimistic” than he was a week ago regarding legislative negotiations.

“The president says he doesn't want to expand or restrict current law (on abortion). Neither do I,” Stupak told the Associated Press on Monday. “That's never been our position. So is there some language that we can agree on that hits both points – we don't restrict, we don't expand abortion rights? I think we can get there.”

Although Rep. Stupak is satisfied with the current House bill, given his amendment to it that prevents federally funding abortions, he has been vocal in his opposition to the Senate bill. The representative stated on Feb. 23 that the Senate bill is “unacceptable” on the issue of abortion.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told ABC's “Good Morning America” on Tuesday that although President Obama “will keep his promise” on finding a solution to the issue of federally funded abortions, ultimately, “This is not a bill about abortion. This is about health care reform.”

Democratic political analyst and author Mark Stricherz explained the current situation of the health care bill to CNA on Tuesday and the importance of Rep. Stupak's coalition, saying, “The bottom line is that Pelosi needs Stupak's supporters to pass health-care reform. She doesn't have the votes any other way.”

“Now, she doesn't want to alienate the pro-choicers. So that's why she, Hoyer, and Stupak are working on language that's more conservative than Nelson's in the Senate but a bit more liberal than Stupak's. How they thread that needle is anyone's guess,” Stricherz said.

Comments: 11

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Lee
Salisbury, N 03/21/2010 03:22 PM EST

The Catholic Bishops have made their statement re: this health bill and abortion. Are Pelosi, Reid and Obama of higher moral ethics or believable than the Bishops? Me think-st not! Should Rep. Stupak vote for this legislation, I will make every effort conceivable to work in his district for his defeat. Their is no compromise - the baby lives or dies.

Published by: Michael
Mi 03/10/2010 08:06 PM EST

One of the great opponents of healthcare ,Glenn Beck has called for you to leave the Catholic church. He states that all churches with economic justice and social justice are really evil commie code words and YOU SHOULD LEAVE AND RUN AWAY FROM THAT CHURCH. This is a call for weak minded fools who are more conservative than catholic to abandon the faith by convincing them its "communist".So when you watch this man and you nod your head at every thing he says...watch out.He is not as harmless as it seems.Jesuit James Martin wrote a article about him. Pray your rosary for those weak enough to apostate...ps Beck is Mormon.

Published by: Joan L. Roccasalvo
Bronx 03/10/2010 02:26 PM EST

The 12 members to vote with Mr. Stupak deserves our support. CNA should provide its readers with the names of these Congresspeople so that we may write to encourage them. Who are they?

Published by: Anne
Florida 03/10/2010 02:15 PM EST

I am, I will admit, really worried about this healthcare bill and the implications it has for us in the respect life movement. I can't even imagine the pressure that Bart Stupak and his supporters must be feeling right now. As Obama recently stated, he will do WHATEVER IT TAKES to pass this bill. Even though Eric Massa is no saint, I do believe Rahm Emanuel tried to intimidate him in the locker room, and that Obama's politician thugs will STOP AT NOTHING to pass his healthcare bill. It's amazing the lengths Washington will go to gain power. I honestly feel that Obama and his staff people are a bunch of Chicago criminal thugs. I saw a picture of Obama with his sleeves rolled up, screaming at the crowds, with a snarl on his face. It reminds me of pictures I've seen of Adolf Hitler in the 30's and 40's and it gives me the chills. Just remember how easily the german public was won over by the same tactics. Why, oh why can't the american people see this? This is complete mind control.

Published by: Radomysl Twardowski
Bismarck, ND, USA 03/10/2010 11:59 AM EST

Being Catholic, pro-life and a democrat are mutually exclusive propositions. This always appeared to be another political game and a fight for your 15 minutes of fame. One cannot be just inside the inherently sinful and sinister structures. One has to oppose them from without.

Published by: Ben
Philly, PA 03/10/2010 08:35 AM EST

Pray! Pray that Rep. Stupak does not fold under what must be incredible pressure. This is bigger than the healtcare bill (which is big enough). Conservative Pro-Lifers don't want to hear it, but if the abortion laws are going to change in this country it will take the support of Pro-Life Democrats. As long as abortion remains a plank in the Democratic platform, too many people will be convinced to compromise what is right for political reasons. This is NOT a political issue, but as long as people treat it like one we can't fix it. If the fledgling pro-life Democratic coalition in the House folds under the pressure here, the way Ben Nelson did in the Senate, it will be a sad day for the pro-life movement and a big setback for us.

Published by: DLL
Scituate Mass 03/10/2010 02:17 AM EST

This is confusing rhetoric to maintain the status quo,until abortion can be the law in time and paid for by public funds. It's a maybe,maybe not opt out on abortion language for now,just to get this bill passed,so it will look good for the democrats in the next election. Next will be confusing rhetoric about jobs and job numbers,that make it seem that progress is also being made there as well,when in fact it isn't. Political ploys are driving the nation nuts. It's all for show and political advantage. Health Care injustice is uncontrolled escalating costs of premiums and medical costs beyond all reasonable expectation that anyone can afford to pay for it,as an individual,or collectively in any way. Injustice is that premiums and rates increase yearly at fantastic inflation rates, while rates of pay for individuals remain the same and people struggle to have a job,to just pay normal ordinary bills. The government doesn't worry about what they can't afford to pay for they do what the employers do they pass costs of to the consumer,while at the same time expecting the consumer to purchase all kinds of "GOODS"so that the economy looks like it is doing well. Deficit spending is killing this country. The health care and it's prospects for change are all based on deficit spending. What is not affordable is unsustainable. By the way I like Jim Bunning. He is a politician that makes sense as what is legislated is in the budget,not a result of passed costs with deficit spending.

Published by: Michael Robiolio
Darlington, WI 03/09/2010 11:34 PM EST

Interesting that Bart Stupak, for all the credit I give hime for standing strong on this not funding of abortion issue, says that he does not seek to expand or restrict current law (on abortion). If I am not mistaken, Rep Stupak is prolife. Yet, the true pro-life position recognizes that ALL abortion is wrong...even in cases of rape and life-threatening pregnancies for a woman. In all of these cases there are still TWO lives needing to be considered and the fetus infant needs never to be subject to direct attack. While law may allow abortion, that does not make it right. The goal of a true prolifer is not only not to expand or even restrict abortion, but to persuade and eliminate abortion. We eventually realized this with slavery. One day we will realize this with abortion. This may not be a centrist opinion, but being centrist also is no guarantee of a just position.

Published by: Paul M Hupf
Daly City CA USA 03/09/2010 10:59 PM EST

One by one they fall. Stupak is the last holdout. But it is beginning to appear that he will cave. Abortion will becme commonplace and publicly funded. That state of affairs is sad indeed. One cannot justify murder of the unborn innocent in order to pass into law the present so called "health care" bill.

Published by: albert marek
dallas tx USA 03/09/2010 10:05 PM EST

How do you compromise on abortion? You either support baby killing or you don't. To provide language on abortion that is more consertive or more liberal don't make sense. Just what does this mean? Killing one baby is one too many. There can be no compromise on baby killing. I hope Stupak doesn't disappoint us.

Published by: Michael
Mi 03/09/2010 09:26 PM EST

Well lets hope they get the amendment and pass health care for all. As pro-lifers it is hard to support life for all but at the same time deny 1/6 of the population of the richest country affordable healthcare. The USCCB support healthcare for every human despite wealth or lack there of...including those that are "illegal". If you call your self pro-life ask your self which of the three people in the Good Samaritan scenerio you best represent...the two that kept walking or the one that stopped and helped the man at his expense? Oh by the way it should be noted that on his return the Samaritan said he'd pay for all the man's expenses...he did NOT say he'd return to make the man work off his debt because there is "no such thing as a free lunch". "Ye are given freely,thus give freely".

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