GOP Lawmakers Cheer Anti-Abortion Activists’ Role In Derailing Health Bill
News outlets report on abortion opponents' role in derailing a health care overhaul.
"GOP lawmakers sent a clear message to thousands of anti-abortion activists gathered on the National Mall on Friday: The healthcare reform bill died because of the strength of the pro-life movement," The Hill reports. Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., told a crowd of anti-abortion activists gathered on the National Mall on Friday, "You have changed hearts and minds. We have just won a debate on healthcare in that they are not going to have abortion funding in this bill and that's because of your interest in it."
"[O]n Thursday morning, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) conceded that despite her efforts, she didn't have the votes to pass the upper chamber's bill 'as-is.' Though a number of hot-button provisions including creation of a government-run insurance plan and taxing so-called 'Cadillac' health plans proved difficult to negotiate, restricting abortion funding for those on both sides of the issue appeared insurmountable" (Hooper, 1/23).
The Washington Times: "From a press conference sponsored by the National Right to Life Committee (NRLTC) on Thursday to a large gathering of Catholic youth in the Verizon Center Friday morning to the gathering of an estimated 200,000 people Friday afternoon on the Mall, abortion opponents said public opinion was finally swinging their way Key to the general optimism in the pro-life camp late last week was the surprise election of Massachusetts state Sen. Scott Brown to the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy's Senate seat, leaving the Democrats one vote shy of a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi saying she lacked the votes to pass the Senate bill in her chamber" (Duin, 1/25).