Latest Target in Health Care Reform: Abortion Access

by Jen Nedeau · 2009-08-03 19:29:00 UTC
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Last week the The New York Times reported how Democrats defeated a Republican effort in a vote of 35 to 24 to eliminate the public health insurance option. On the good side, the pre-existing condition clause stayed intact and preventive care will now be covered with no co-pays or deductibles, which is a really big deal. However, in the effort to support a public plan, the Democrats forfeited something rather critical:

The Energy and Commerce Committee also voted to allow health plans to cover or not cover abortion, as they see fit, but stipulated that insurers must use money from private sources to pay for any abortions.

By a vote of 30 to 28, the committee approved an amendment setting forth abortion policy. The proposal, offered by Representative Lois Capps, Democrat of California, was supported by most Democrats and opposed by Republicans.

The amendment said abortion could not be included in the "essential benefits package" to be defined by the government. Further, it said insurers would not be required or forbidden to cover abortion. But, it says, in every part of the country, the government must ensure that there is at least one plan that covers abortion and at least one that does not.

Basically, the Democrats, once again used reproductive health as a political football in order to gain traction elsewhere. Remember the economic stimulus package? Oh yeah, they did it then too.

In it's current state, the bill is ready for full floor vote in the lower chamber when Congress returns from vacation. However, this "vote ready" version has weakened the public health care option by cutting about $100 billion over 10 years, much of it in subsidies for uninsured members of the middle class who would be eligible for the public plan.  As stated above, it also excludes abortion services from the "essential" health benefits package as defined by the government. Under this amendment, subsidies used to help pay insurance premiums for low-income people could not be used for abortion services. This is by far worst blow. According to Universal Health Care blogger, Tim Foley, the word "abortion" was never mentioned in the original draft of the bill, but the language was inserted to specifically prohibit it. Gee, thanks, guys.

From a member of the Feminist Advisory Board for Obama on the subject:

"It's hard to know who to be angriest at; the Blue Dogs who brokered the new version, the Republicans who won't vote for any of it under any circumstance, or the Democrats who voted in favor of it."

I couldn't have said it better myself.

We need to tell our Congressmen and Senators that it is not acceptable to deny a public option for a women's choice. A public option should be available to fill the needs of both women and men - and that includes access to abortion.

Here's the voting breakdown:

Democrats who voted in favor of the bill: (31) - include the following Blue Dogs: Bart Gordon (D-TN Baron Hill (D-IN) Zach Space (D-OH) Mike Ross (D-AR)

Blue Dog Democrats who voted against the bill: (5) - including Jim Matheston (D-UT) Charlie Melancon (D-LA) Bart Stupak (D-MI) John Barrow (D-GA) Rick Boucher (D-VA)  

Republicans who voted against the bill: (23)

Republicans who voted in favor of the bill: (0)

Below is a list of all the committee members and links to their contact information. Please see if one of your representatives is on this list and write them a letter to tell them how  feel about women's reproductive rights and their public option being steamrolled out of the health care reform plan.

Jen Nedeau Jen Nedeau is a media relations professional and a writer based in New York City.
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