Abortion restriction added to new health care bill
Both sides are calling it one of the biggest moments in the American debate over abortion. Late Saturday, just hours before the U.S. House of Representatives passed its new health care bill, a proposal to restrict abortion coverage was added to it. The amendment, meant to placate anti-abortion Democrats and the apparent result of an aggressive lobbying effort by Roman Catholic bishops, would prevent federal subsidies for health insurance from being used to cover “elective” abortions. Pro-choice advocates say women across the country could be denied abortion coverage as a result of the amendment, since insurance companies might opt to simply remove the procedure entirely from their plans. The health care legislation will now be turned over to the Senate, where the restriction will likely be a source of heated debate once again.