The following DEMS had no problem with abortion restrictions...

[tx_dem41]

in the Omnibus Bill they just passed (NOTE: Frist left the door open for a floor flight on this no later than April...big whoop):

Baucus
Breaux
Bingaman
Cantwell
Clinton
Daschle
Dayton
Dorgan
Feinstein
Harkin
Inouye
Johnson
Landrieu
Lieberman
Lincoln
Mikulski
Miller
Murray
Nelson
Pryor
Reid
Schumer
Wyden

Who says the Democrats are the pro-Choice party?
:eyes:

[janx]

1. Can you fill us in on the restrictions?

Politicians flip-flop on this one more than any other, I think, but I'd like some context here. I know that the Repubs did one of their twelve o'clock numbers and inserted extra provisions in a bill that numbered thousands of pages, but it wasn't clear what reproductive rights bit got shoved into the bill.

The tax return bit was talked about more than the other, I think.

[tx_dem41]

3. It was discussed by Daily Kos yesterday.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2004/11/19/23225/191

House and Senate negotiators have tucked a potentially far-reaching anti-abortion provision into a $388 billion must-pass spending bill, complicating plans for Congress to wrap up its business and adjourn for the year.
The provision may be an early indication of the growing political muscle of social conservatives who provided crucial support for Republican candidates, including President Bush, in the election.

Federal law now says that hospitals and health care providers who receive taxpayer money must offer abortion counseling to women who ask about it. Catholic hospitals are now exempt from the law; the provision in the spending bill would allow all hospitals and health care providers to refuse to comply.

The language would also allow hospitals and health care providers to opt out of state and local laws that require them to provide abortions, abortion counseling or referrals.

"It's something we've had a longstanding interest in," said Douglas Johnson, a spokesman for the National Right to Life Committee. He added, "This is in response to an orchestrated campaign by pro-abortion groups across the country to use government agencies to coerce health care providers to participate in abortions."

[janx]

8. Thank you, tx_dem41. I'd like to work through this thing via

a little translation exercise. Before I can do that, though, I'd like to know what constitutes an "health care provider."

I'm cynically assuming this means an insurance company, but it could be a doctor. Which is it?

[tx_dem41]

19. Not sure I can help

But, I have a feeling its all of the above.

[janx]

20. Well the lines have certainly been blurred, you're right!

The reason I want to know is that I want to try and translate this thing into real language that we can understand. Sometimes when you do that, the motives become clearer.

It seems to me that the term "health care provider" referred (at least at some point) to "insurance company."

[tx_dem41]

21. I'm quite sure it could be construed that way.

Hopefully, someone smarter than I can help out.

[ulysses]

2. hey, let 'em.

Nader 2000 will be nothing compared to what's gonna come down the pike if they let reproductive rights slip out the door.

[charlie]

6. Repubs are preparing to introduce a bill

in the House suspending the sale of RU486. Those fuckers move fast.

Third rail, both hands.

[ulysses]

14. and what do you think

the response will be from the "opposition party"?

[charlie]

18. The usual

Our dependables will vote to block. Enough will inexplicably lend their vote to give it a nice bipartisan sheen.

I'm open to surprises, though. But I'm not sweating it, just coasting in a torpid fugue state, no worries. Not much interested in getting worked up watching the same damn rerun for the 1000th time anymore.

[still_one]

4. WE DON'T HAVE A DEMOCRATIC PARTY ANYMORE

It is time to start a new one

[Southsideirish]

16. Must be completely broken down and re-made from the top down.

Clinton's first .

[MRKARNO]

5. Thank God Durbin

Doesnt support this moderate crap. He's always with the progressives on all of the issues.

[Southsideirish]

17. He may just be our future guy,

[newyawker99]

30. Hi MRKARNO!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[journalist3072]

7. Two Words For The Aforementioned Senators

"Spineless Wimps"

Our Party doesn't need you.

[AuntPatsy]

9. I second that nomiation...

[tx_dem41]

10. Seven of these Senators are WOMEN!

[AuntPatsy]

13. Which makes it even more horrific in my mind......

May they reap what they sow....

[journalist3072]

25. Exactly!

And that's really a shame. Like I said, they are spineless wimps.

I don't want to try to rationalize what they did. But I was just thinking about it, and here's what I think may have happened.

Many times, when a Senator wants to get a controversial piece of legislation passed, they will tack their verbage on to another bill...one that they KNOW will pass. This usually happens with omnibus and spending bills. A Senator knows that bill will pass, so they'll go ahead and insert whatever the heck they want.

And I have a feeling some Republican Senator did that with this bill, and the abortion provision. My beef with the Democratic Senators who signed on to it, is that they should have recognized this as a trap. Instead, they took the bait.

[charlie]

11. What's with Daschle and Breaux?

They've got no more worries, I'm surprised they didn't vote nay.

[tx_dem41]

24. I'm pretty sure that both...

are Catholics, and normally vote along these lines.

[charlie]

27. Ah, hadn't thought of that

But Daschle already has a pro-choice record, seems odd he'd go out on this note.

[Indiana_Dem]

12. I'll have to thank Bayh!

From watching how he has voted in the last year, he DOES support pro-choice. I don't like how he has voted on other issues but I'm happy he voted no this time.

[tx_dem41]

15. Yes, good for the oft-maligned Sen. Bayh!

[Rose Siding]

22. Boxer may be my new favorite

My own Murray and Cantwell both bit it, but with the gov race coming so close this time, we may never see any more liberal in WA.

[greenohio]

23. Guess we'll have to kick them all out

for being Bush-lite.

[ulysses]

26. how far are you kids going to go?

You willing to sacrifice your *most* loyal constituency?

[Forkboy]

29. first good thing you've said here

[Pirate Smile]

28. Boxer, who was leading the fight, said on the floor of the Senate that

Frist had agreed to allow an up and down vote on this provision by April so they were dropping their objections.

[tx_dem41]

31. Which to me is a spineless act.

What are the consequences of fighting for what you believe in. The Republicans are going to try to get their way (especially with the nuclear option on filibusters) regardless. The Dems should have fought this out, shut down the Government until at least Wednesday, and made the Republicans look awful. The IRS resolution that was thrown into the Omnibus Bill is a HUGE opportunity for the Dems to make hay. And they let it fritter away so everyone could have a long Thanksgiving break.

I ask, are YOU going to have a long Thanksgiving break??