HR 3962: Stupak Says Deal on Abortion Just Fell Apart

Just after midnight, Bart Stupak (D-MI) testified on behalf of his amendment which would effectively make it illegal for private health insurance in the individual market to cover abortion. He was there in support of his amendment, because he claims negotiations to find a compromise just fell apart. He claims as recently as earlier this evening it looked like Democrats reached an accord, but the deal did not hold up. So, he needed to “scramble” to testify in support of his amendment.

Stupak’s amendment, by not allowing a private insurance company to sell a policy to anyone if they receive any amount of affordability tax credits, would make it impossible for a private insurance plan that covers abortion to survive on the individual and small group market. Stupak has threatened to bring down the entire bill if he does not get his amendment. Rep. Stupak called all previous “compromises” that had been offered “unacceptable.”

In the past few days, several efforts have been made to try to find a compromise that would be acceptable to the bulk of the Democratic caucus. Brad Ellsworth (D-IN) had been leading efforts to find a new compromise. How many Democrats will follow Stupak’s lead and try to bring down reform over the issue is not clear at this time. With a very close vote expect on the bill, this could signal that the Democrats do not currently have the votes to pass the bill in the House.

YouTube link here.

UPDATE: The Stupak amendment will get a vote on the floor.