Senate Shoots Down Nelson Abortion Amendment

The vote was 54 to 45 to set the bill aside, with seven Democrats (all men) voting to keep the bill alive, and two Republicans (both women) voting to table the measure.

Sponsored by Sens. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), the bill would have banned subsidized insurance plans offered on proposed insurance marketplaces from offering abortion coverage.

The health reform bill passed by the House last month includes such a restriction.