The senator said it may be difficult to get the 60 votes needed to pass the amendment.
Sen. Nelson, a pro-life Democrat, had voted for the first cloture motion on Nov. 21, thus allowing debate on the bill to proceed. In a statement issued the same day, he said that his vote only began debate and was “an opportunity to make improvements.”
“If you don't like a bill why block your own opportunity to amend it?” he commented.
In the same statement he also said he would oppose the second cloture motion if the parts of the health care bill he opposed were not changed.
The House bill’s inclusion of the Stupak Amendment has triggered intense opposition from pro-abortion groups. According to Fox News, one group, the Coalition to Pass Health Care Reform and Stop Stupak, plans to hold a rally on Wednesday against the Stupak language.
Kristin Day, President of Democrats for Life of America (DFLA), on Wednesday told CNA she had not yet seen the proposed amendment but assumed it was “quite similar” to the Stupak Amendment.
Day said she was unsure of its prospects in the Senate, but noted a similar amendment to Indian Health Service legislation has passed.
She reported that there have been some changes in Senate membership, adding that the proposed amendment is “going to be a close vote.”
“For the overall chances of the health care bill passing and getting to President Obama’s desk, I think it’s important to pass this amendment,” Day continued.
The amendment would be important for the smooth progress of the Senate-House conference which will reconcile both bodies’ health care reform bills, she explained.
“We’re going to be very interested in what the language looks like and in working hard to pass it,” Day told CNA.
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