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Democrats’ Health Bill Victory Tramples Choice

By Rita Henley Jensen
Monday, November 9, 2009

(WOMENSENEWS)--Over the weekend, Democrats and one Republican, Anh Cao of Louisiana, voted 220 to 215 for the Affordable Health Care for America Act, a public-private hybrid program that promises women ample gains over the current health-insurance system.

But the amendment barring coverage for abortion under any plans that use federal subsidies amounted to a Hobson’s choice for many who might otherwise have celebrated the late-night vote on Saturday. The abortion ban came after the national organization of Catholic bishops threatened to condemn the bill from every pulpit if the abortion ban was not approved.

“The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has apparently been given veto power over legislation intended to provide affordable health care coverage to all Americans, including women,” Nancy Northup, president of the Center for Reproductive Rights, based in New York, said in a statement issued shortly before midnight Saturday.

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