Two senators have offered amendments to the Senate Finance Committee’s version of health care legislation ( the “Baucus bill”). Here’s a list provided by David Brody at The Brody File:
Sponsor: Senator Orrin Hatch (amendment 354)
“Non-discrimination on abortion and respect for right of conscience”
Sponsor: Senator Orrin Hatch (amendment 355)
“Prohibits authorized or appropriated federal funds under this Mark from being used for elective abortions and plans that cover such abortions”
Sponsor: Senator Mike Enzi (amendment 426)
“The amendment strikes the language in the bill regarding the requirement to offer plans with abortions, the requirement to segregate funds, the rules regarding the tax credits and abortions, and the non discrimination language on abortions.”
Sponsor: Senator Mike Enzi:
“The amendment allows individuals to purchase supplemental abortion coverage with non-federal funds.”
Sponsor: Senator Mike Enzi:
“To ensure that no mandates on Abortions are prohibited”
Sponsor: Senator Mike Enzi (amendment 427)
“To ensure that abortions are not paid for with federal funds and for the purchase of supplemental abortion coverage without federal funds”
Sponsor: Senator Mike Enzi (amendment 428)
“To ensure state abortion laws and regulations are not preempted by provisions in the underlying bill”
Sponsor: Senator Orrin Hatch (amendment 353)
“Prohibits federal funds under this Mark from being used to pay for assisted suicide and offers conscience protection to providers or plans refusing to offer assisted suicide services”
And, in case you were wondering, PolitiFact is saying,
The Baucus plan would, in fact, allow private companies participating in the exchange, as well as the co-op, to offer abortion services. And people in both those plans could see federal subsidies.
When Obama said no tax dollars would be used to fund abortions, what he did not say is whether his plan might expand access to abortion coverage for millions of women.
If millions of uninsured people would now get insurance due to the health care plan, and some of the plans offer abortion insurance, we think it’s fair to conclude the Baucus plan would mean more women would have access to abortion services.
