Pelosi Claims to Have Votes for Pro-Abortion Health Care Reform Bill

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi may bring HR 3962, the House version of health care reform, to the House floor as early as Thursday or Friday of this week. She claims to have the 218 votes necessary to pass the bill.

Lurking in the wings is the very stubborn Rep. Bart Stupak, (D-Mi.) who continues to be a thorn in Pelosi’s side. Stupak is adamant that his amendment against abortion-funding in HR 3962 must be introduced, voted on and adopted. Stupak predicts that his amendment, if allowed, would pass. “The Speaker is not happy with me,” said Stupak on a recent C-SPAN show. “We have to have a vote. Somewhere in this process, we have to be able to vote our conscience…If this language [funding abortion] is there, many of the 40 will not vote for this bill.” Stupak is referring to himself and 39 Democratic colleagues who are committed to an amendment to prohibit the use of federal funds for abortion.

Sadly, none of the 40 are from Wisconsin.

Barbara Lyons