Ben Nelson will introduce bill as "identical to Stupak as it can be"

[madfloridian]

From TPM:

Nelson Crafting Abortion Amendment 'Nearly Identical' To Stupak's

If it seemed like the congressional row over abortion coverage in health care reform had ebbed, it was probably just an artifact of Thanksgiving recess. Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) is charging ahead, and plans to introduce an amendment to the Senate health care bill in the spirit, if not the precise letter, of the controversial Stupak amendment.

"It's as identical to Stupak as it can be," Nelson told CongressDaily.

Senate experts will be unsurprised to hear that it will likely have the support of Pennsylvania Democrat Bob Casey.

"I think it's likely to be one of the amendments we'll vote on," Casey said.

Women rights are considered less important now than pleasing the religious right. That was made clear in the House version of health care reform.

Pro-choice movement dealt serious blow with passage of Stupak amendment

Pro-choice lawmakers and organization leaders are firing back after the House passed its landmark health care reform legislation late Saturday night. The bill included what's known as the Stupak-Pitts amendment, language offered by Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) and Joe Pitts (R-Penn.) that prohibits federal funds from being used for abortion services in any health exchange be it public or private.

Currently, most private insurers cover abortion related services but that practice will cease if Stupak's amendment remains in the finalized version of the legislation. Try as they might, the Congressional Pro-choice Caucus couldn't stop the anti-abortion language from being included in the House bill. The co-chairs of the Caucus, Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY) and Congresswoman Diane DeGette of Colorado issued a joint statement voicing their outrage over the inclusion of the amendment. "Placing onerous new restrictions on a woman's right to choose sets a terrible precedent and marks a significant step backwards," said the legislators; and yet, both women voted for the final bill.

Now Ben Nelson is going to introduce a bill that is as similar as it can be to Stupak.