The big news today is the two announced retirees, Bart Stupak and Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens.
Bart Stupak, now complaining about threats and harassment for his position on health reform, voted against the landmark 1994 Freedom to Access Clinic Entrances Act (FACE Act) that protects providers against harassment.
Last night, the House of Representatives passed comprehensive health care reform. Here’s a rundown of some of the more inflammatory issues, what’s in the bill, what’s not, what some will continue to fight for even after the bill is signed into law.
Late last night the House passed the healthcare reform bill in a vote of 219 to 212. A last minute deal between Rep. Bart Stupak and President Barack Obama, who promised to sign an executive order after the House vote, retained his support. Reaction to the deal from pro- and anti-choice groups was swift.
How many women leaders were invited to the health care summit? Girls, hold your breath. Grand total: four. That’s right, four, one of whom is Nancy Pelosi. So, actually, three, count ‘em, three other women members of Congress (total membership: 535 people), including, count her, one, female U.S. Senator.
Bart Stupak says he’s seriously considering running for governor in Michigan in 2010.
A group representing America’s Catholic hospitals announced last week it would support the Senate health care bill, breaking rank with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Since Bart Stupak tried to ban federal funding of abortion in a House
bill earlier this month, there’s been an abundance of opining articles
on the public perception of abortion. And according to two articles
published recently, the real split isn’t between red states or blue
states, but generational approaches to the issue of abortion.
Senator Gillibrand helped lead efforts to defeat the Stupak-Pitts amendment in Senate and continues to lead the effort to have the language removed before final passage of health reform. The Senator was joined by NARAL New York and Gloria Steinem at a media conference on November 16th.
House Democratic leaders will allow an up-or-down vote on an amendment
blocking any money in its healthcare overhaul from funding abortions,
risking the votes of members who support abortion rights.
