Fact-checking Stupak on abortion

[cal04]

From NBC's Mark Murray
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2010/03/09/2222673.aspx

Once again, it looks like the thorny issue of abortion will decide the fate of health care.

Last November, the House of Representatives narrowly passed its health-care bill, 220-215, only after it included an amendment by Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI) barring any federal funding in the legislation from being used for abortion coverage (except in cases of rape, incest, or if the mother's life is in danger). A month later, Senate Democrats secured their 60th -- and decisive -- vote after agreeing to Sen. Ben Nelson's (D-NE) similar (though less restrictive) changes on abortion.

And now, with the House poised to vote later this month on the already-passed Senate health-care bill, Stupak is claiming that he and 11 other House Democrats who voted for the legislation in November will vote against the Senate bill, unless it adopts the House's abortion language. (Stupak tells the AP he's "optimistic" he can resolve this abortion dispute with the White House and Democratic leaders.)

(snip)
"In the Senate bill," Stupak told MSNBC's Chris Matthews last week, "it says you must offer insurance policies that will be paid for by the federal government that covers abortion. You must do so."

(snip)
But is Stupak right -- that the Senate bill directly subsidizes abortions? The answer appears to be no.

[MarjorieG]

1. Seem to remember Rachel's analysis that Stupak exceeds Hyde, and threatens to get any private

abortion coverage, esp through the exchange. Misled other Senators same as Hyde to get passage