Stupak: Anti-abortion groups 'used me as best chance to kill healthcare' [View All]

[kpete]

Source: The Hill


Stupak: Anti-abortion groups 'used me as best chance to kill healthcare'
By Tony Romm - 03/27/10 09:45 AM ET

Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) on Saturday criticized pro-life groups who he said "rallied behind me... because they viewed me as their best chance to kill healthcare legislation."

Stupak last week voted in affirmation of Democrats' healthcare bill, even though the legislation's ban on federal dollars from funding abortions was not as strict as the amendment he proposed in the early days of debate. But while his decision to accept the Senate's approach has earned him the fiery scorn of countless pro-life groups, Stupak stressed in an op-ed published in The Washington Post this weekend that his actions have nonetheless protected the "sanctity of life."

"Once it was clear that the House leadership would eventually obtain the 216 votes necessary to pass health-care reform, I was left with a choice: Vote against the bill and watch it become law with no further protections for life or reach an agreement that prevents federal funding for abortions," the congressman said.


"Therefore, I and other pro-life Democrats struck an agreement with President Obama to issue an executive order that would ensure all Hyde Amendment protections would apply to the health-care reform bill," he continued. "No, an executive order is not as strong as the statutory language we fought for at the start. We received, however, an "ironclad" commitment from the president that no taxpayer dollars will be used to pay for abortions."

Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/89437-stupak-pro-life-groups-used-me-as-best-chance-to-kill-healthcare