Bart Stupak to Support Health Reform Bill? (Update: Still No Deal) (Update II: Deal!)
So reports MSNBC, without adding any details. The anti-abortion Michigan Democrat has threatened to kill the bill over concerns that the Senate language would open doors to federal subsidies for abortion coverage. Stupak had been in talks with the White House over an executive order reiterating the federal ban on abortion funding.
His switch to support the bill suggests that such an executive order is forthcoming.
Update: Via TPM, CNN is reporting that Stupak is still a no.
*Later update: *The New York Times is reporting that according to Stupak’s spokeswoman, he’s still a no.
Even later update: Stupak and the White House have reached a deal, Politico reports.
“„Under the agreement, President Barack Obama would sign an executive order ensuring that no federal funding will go to pay for abortion under the health reform plans. In addition, Stupak will get to state his concerns about abortion funding in the bill during a colloquy on the House floor during the debate.
In return, Stupak and a handful of other anti-abortion Democrats will sign on to the Senate-passed reform bill, Politico said.
