Comprehensive health care reform is crucial. But anti-abortion lawmakers are trying to take advantage of a very close vote to further restrict a woman's right to choose. This is it. We are in the final stages of health care reform negotiation. Voice your outrage and help us stop this cynical maneuver before it is too late.
Pro-choice forces trying to save health care reform have reluctantly agreed to accepting the status quo of no federal dollars being used to fund abortions. But anti-choice Democratic members of Congress, together with the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, are taking advantage of a situation -- where every Republican is voting no on health care reform and every Democratic vote counts -- to demand further abortion restrictions. This must stop.
This is not an abortion restriction bill, it is a health reform package to increase affordability and coverage for millions of people. It must not be used to cut back abortion access.
The Stupak-Pitts Amendment to the House bill, which bans abortion coverage even in private insurance plans in the new health insurance exchange and prevents a woman from buying abortion coverage with her own money, must not be included in the final bill. The Senate negotiated Nelson amendment, although not as bad as Stupak-Pitts, places an undue burden on people buying an insurance plan that includes abortion coverage. Some experts have warned us that Nelson creates a disincentive for health insurance plans to cover abortion. Right now, 80-85% of health insurance plans covered abortion - women can't go backwards and lose coverage they are paying for with their own dollars.
The pro-choice members of Congress are fighting back. Make sure your members of Congress and Senators know you demand health insurance reform that does not further restrict a woman's right to have an abortion. This can be fixed.
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