In deal with Stupak, White House announces executive order on abortion

[Ardent15]

"House Democratic leaders have resolved the abortion dispute that stood in the way of passing health-care reform, and now appear poised to approve the legislation late Sunday.

As part of the agreement, the White House announced that President Obama would issue an executive order on abortion after the House approves the health-care bill assuring that no federal funds would be used to subsidize the procedure. That was enough to secure the support of a group of Catholic Democrats who represent the swing votes on the legislation.

Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), the leader the anti-abortion holdouts, said he and others in the group can now support a far-reaching health-care package, apparently giving Democrats the votes needed to pass the bill later tonight.

"I've always supported health-care reform," said Stupak. But he added, "There was a principal that meant more to us than anything, and that was the sanctity of life."

According to White House spokesman Dan Pfeiffer, the executive order will provide "additional safeguards to ensure the status quo is upheld and enforced, and that the health-care legislation's restrictions against the public funding of abortions cannot be circumvented."

White House officials believe the addition of Stupak and the other pro-life lawmakers to the "yes" column will provide Pelosi withconsiderable breathing room during the next several hours. Before Stupak's announcement, a top adviser had said that without a deal,
passage appeared possible but would have been very, very close. In the
wake of the agreement, West Wing aides appeared relieved.

"We're well past 216," said Stupak, referring to the number of votes needed to pass the legislation."

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2010/03/white-house-announces-executiv.html?wprss=44

[BlooInBloo]

1. Like Oliver Willis said...

RT @owillis: shorter obama: so all you want is a piece of paper affirming the law thats already on the books? um, ok. SIGN.

[dkf]

2. Lame. Stupak is as stupid as he sounds.

[Fleshdancer]

3. I'm happy to see the exceptions listed

"except in cases of rape or incest, or when the life of the woman would be endangered"

I was worried that this would be left out.

[Lyric]

4. "Health" was left out.

Because ending pregnancies that threaten to damage and/or weaken internal organs, potentially causing a lifetime of misery and pain, just isn't a big enough deal to justify any funding help. *sigh*

[Fleshdancer]

5. good catch n/t

[louis-t]

6. But Stuperific can now claim he is a hero

because he held out.