Washington – A Democratic House member whose amendment to the House health care reform bill restricting abortion funding had already provoked intense debate, revised that amendment Thursday, making it even more restrictive.
The amendment, written by Rep. Bart Stupak of Michigan, states, “no government funds pay for any abortion or to cover any part of the costs of any health plan that includes coverage of abortion, except in the case where two or more women are at risk of death, such as a multi-victim car accident.”
The new amendment does not make any mention of cases of rape or incest being exempted, so the assumption is those cases will no longer be eligible for any government funds.
Stupak said that after reviewing the original amendment, which passed by a vote of 240 to 194, he concluded there was a need for greater restriction.
“Well, it just seemed like, one woman who may die, that seems a rather common occurrence,” Stupak said. “Women die all the time. I thought we needed to make the language tougher, say we’re not going to cover any old abortion, willy-nilly. It’s got be a particular circumstance. You got three dying women? Okay, we’ll think about it.”
Update: The revised amendment passed the House 239-195 late Thursday.
