Hoyer: Stupak Could Get Separate Vote On Abortion

[jefferson_dem]

Hoyer: Stupak Could Get Separate Vote On Abortion
Brian Beutler | March 4, 2010, 6:16PM

Abortion is once again turning out to be a--if not the--major obstacle to passing health care legislation in the House of Representatives. Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI) says he (and about a dozen other pro-life Democrats) will vote against the Senate bill if his concerns aren't met, claiming its abortion provisions allow for federal funding of abortions. And those are votes Speaker Nancy Pelosi can't afford to lose.

Stupak has re-entered negotiations with Democratic leadership, and this evening, emerging from a meeting with Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT), House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer indicated one possible way forward.

"Separate pieces of legislation could be passed that would relate to that," Hoyer said in response to a question from TPMDC. "That's a possibility. I talked to Mr. Stupak today, and I'm going to be talking to him next week and he indicated he wanted to have some discussions with people. And I will do that."

I asked whether abortion remains the biggest sticking point for leadership as they pursue passing comprehensive reform. Hoyer demurred: "There are a number of points that people have concerns about, and we have to discuss them all."

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http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/03/hoyer-stupak-could-get-separate-vote-on-abortion.php

[jenmito]

1. As long as all he REALLY wants is the Hyde amendment, which he claims the Senate bill does NOT have,

it should be doable. No "Stupak amendment."

[bigdarryl]

2. The same cast of assholes all ways pop up and get the attention

[jenmito]

4. Yup. n/t

[Proud Liberal Dem]

3. This may be the only time I'll be glad

That a lot of bills ultimately die in the Senate. Separate vote.

[Clio the Leo]

5. Exactly. This is good news. NT

[Phx_Dem]

6. Good for Hoyer and Baucus for coming up with an alternative.

Stupak is a freak.