The Senate has rejected an amendment proposed by Senators Ben Nelson (D-Nebraska) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) that would have placed greater restrictions on funding for abortions in the Senate health reform bill. From MSNBC:
By a vote of 54-45, the Senate sidetracked an amendment by Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah that would ban any insurance plan getting taxpayer dollars from offering abortion coverage. The restrictions mirrored provisions in the House-passed health care bill. The Senate bill currently allows insurance plans to cover abortions, but requires that they can only be paid for with private money. The legislation calls for insurance plans that would receive federal subsidies in a new insurance marketplace to strictly separate public funds from private dollars that would be used to pay for abortion.
Last month the House approved abortion restriction similar to those in the Senate amendment in order to help secure passage of the bill. The failure of this amendment to pass the Senate may sidetrack the entire bill. Seven Democrats supported Senator Nelson's amendment and it is uncertain if they will vote for the bill without it.
Read the full story here and read coverage from The New York Times here.
