Oberstar (MN) and Kildee (MI) will back final bill. Stupak's coalition is cracking.

[jefferson_dem]

Oberstar will back final bill

Minnesota Rep. James Oberstar, an ardent backer of the House abortion restrictions, will vote for the final package after a further review of the Senate's language, giving top Democrats a critical endorsement as they lean on their rank-and-file to back the Senate bill.

"I wanted to see the language, understand it better, have conversations with Sen. Nelson," Oberstar said Wednesday. "On balance, it does what we need to do."

For that reason, he's supporting the final bill. Oberstar had been a very vocal critic of the initial House language and agreed to back the legislation only after much stiffer restrictions had been added to it. The chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee said he hasn't had any conversations with Michigan Rep. Bart Stupak, the author of the House abortion restrictions, nor was he swayed by the arguments of an outside group.

Oberstar slipped into an elevator after addressing reporters' questions, and who should be the only other member on board? Why Stupak, of course.

http://www.politico.com/livepulse/0310/Oberstar_will_back_final_bill.html

Stupak Ally in House Approves Senate Abortion Restrictions
By DAVID M. HERSZENHORN

Representative Dale Kildee, Democrat of Michigan and a strong opponent of abortion, announced on Wednesday that he was satisfied with the provisions in the Senate-passed health care bill that seek to limit the use of federal money for insurance coverage of abortion.

The announcement by Mr. Kildee that he would support the health care legislation and would not oppose it based on the abortion issue gave a huge lift to House Democratic leaders, who have been working to assure abortion opponents that a vote for the bill would not reflect any change in policy on abortion, including the law known as the Hyde amendment, which prohibits the use of federal money for abortion in most cases.

In a statement, Mr. Kildee said:

For those who know me, I have always respected and cherished the sanctity of human life. I spent six years studying to be a priest and was willing to devote my life to God. I came to Congress two years after the Hyde amendment became law. And I have spent the last 34 years casting votes to protect the lives of the unborn. I have stood up to many in my party to defend the right to life and have made no apologies for doing so. I now find myself disagreeing with some of the people and groups I have spent a lifetime working with. I have listened carefully to both sides, sought counsel from my priest, advice from family, friends and constituents, and I have read the Senate abortion language more than a dozen times.

He added, “I am convinced that the Senate language maintains the Hyde amendment, which states that no federal money can be used for abortion.”

<SNIP>

http://prescriptions.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/17/stupak-ally-in-house-approves-senate-abortion-restrictions/?pagemode=print

[Jennicut]

1. Stupak seems to have sour grapes and keeps saying we won't have the votes but

also admits that his coalition is falling apart. So which is it? I think things are not breaking his way at all.

[tallahasseedem]

2. I think he should...

consider the endorsements of the Catholic hospitals, the Nuns, etc. He's cowering in the name of his religion and a lot of them are standing up for the bill.

[DFLforever]

3. I hope in the end Stupak votes for it

Excepting this recent bullshit, this guy has a very decent legislative record - a not small accomplishment in his conservative +3 Republican district.

[Bitwit1234]

4. Oberstar has been receiving solid complaints about his not

backing the bill and supporting Stupak. He was threatened with a primary challenge. I think he got the message. He should be about ready to retire anyway.

[jenmito]

5. Does anyone know what this brings the total to? n/t

[jefferson_dem]

6. Catholic nuns break with bishops and urge passage of health care reform.

Catholic nuns break with bishops and urge passage of health care reform.

In recent weeks, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has been outspoken in its opposition to the Senate health care bill, saying that it doesn’t sufficiently restrict federal funds from being used for insurance coverage of abortions. However, in an “unusual public break,” a group of nuns — “60 leaders of religious orders representing 59,000 Catholic nuns” — has sent Congress a letter urging lawmakers to pass health care reform and ignore the “false claims” floating around about abortion. From the letter:

The health care bill that has been passed by the Senate and that will be voted on by the House will expand coverage to over 30 million uninsured Americans. While it is an imperfect measure, it is a crucial next step in realizing health care for all. It will invest in preventative care. It will bar insurers from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions. It will make crucial investments in community health centers that largely serve poor women and children. And despite false claims to the contrary, the Senate bill will not provide taxpayer funding for elective abortions. It will uphold longstanding conscience protections and it will make historic new investments – $250 million – in support of pregnant women. This is the REAL pro-life stance, and we as Catholics are all for it.

The bishops are increasingly alone in their position. Last week, both the Catholic Health Association and a group of 25 “pro-life Catholic theologians and Evangelical leaders” also sent Congress letters supporting the Senate bill.

http://thinkprogress.org/2010/03/17/nuns-health-care/