Stopping Stupak -- again!

Women's health groups have spent the last couple of months focusing on the problems with the Nelson abortion language in the Senate health reform bill. You know what we mean -- the ridiculous 2-check payment requirement that experts say could discourage insurers from even bothering to offer abortion coverage.We've tried to convince Congress and the White House that the Nelson language will end up being almost as damaging as the Stupak abortion ban in the House health reform bill.

But now it turns out our old nemesis -- anti-choice Rep. Bart Stupak of Michigan -- is back! Under the gun to pass the Senate health reform bill within the next two weeks, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is scrambling to round up the needed 216 votes. With Republicans dead set against any health reform plan, she once again is scouring the Democratic delegation to get the votes she needs. You would think with a solid Democratic majority in the House, she would have no trouble. Think again!

First of all, she has to write off the votes of progressive people like Dennis Kucinich, the single-payer advocate who hates the Senate's version of health reform. Then, she has a group of Democrats who voted against health reform last time for a variety of other reasons. Some are leaning toward yes this time, but others are wavering or playing coy, worried about the Congressional elections coming up this fall. Finally, there are the Dems who voted for health reform last time, but are not so sure this time.

What that means is that Stupak may once again be in the driver's seat, as he claims to be able to deliver 12 House votes for the plan. But, what is he demanding in return? He wants to substitute his abortion ban for the Nelson language in the Senate bill. Stupak believes he can somehow do this in the reconciliation bill that would fix various problems the House has with the Senate bill, but parliamentarians in Congress have already ruled that the abortion issue is not germane to the reconciliation bill because it has no immediate budgetary impact.

So, Stupak appears to be asking to have his amendment included in a later "technical fix" or "policy fix" bill that would modify both the Senate bill and the accompanying reconciliation measure. Short of that, he would take a chance to attach his amendment to any upcoming "must pass" bill in the House.

Women's health advocates are taking a strong stand against such a maneuver by Stupak, and working to round up enough votes for health reform that Pelosi will not be forced to strike another deal with him. We also are urging a commitment by Congressional leadership and the White House to fix the Nelson amendment in future health reform "fix" legislation.

Women and our families need health reform desperately. But, reform should not come at the cost of sacrificing women's coverage for abortion, which is a basic part of comprehensive health care and is now covered by most private health insurance plans.