Tag Archives: stupak amendment

Senators Introduce Anti-Abortion Amendment For Health Care Reform Bill

Jessica WakemanDecember 7, 2009 //

The House of Representatives’ version of the health care reform bill contained the Stupak-Pitts Amendment (explained in full here) to make sure health insurance doesn’t cover abortion.

Today, the Senate began their own campaign for a similar amendment, when Senators Bill Nelson (D-NE), Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and others introduced an amendment to its version of the health care reform bill. Just like Stupak-Pitts, the Nelson-Hatch amendment will restrict federal subsidies for health insurance from being used for private health insurance plans that cover abortion. Keep reading »

Why Are Abortion-Rights Activists Sending Coat Hangers To Politicians?

Jessica WakemanNovember 19, 2009 //

It’s not to hang their nice suit jackets, that’s for sure! Here’s some straight-to-the-point activism: a cell phone company, CREDO Mobile, is mailing coat hangers to all the democratic members of the House of Representatives who voted in support of the Stupak-Pitts Amendment in Obama’s health care reform bill. (CREDO must have read our piece, “How The Health Care Reform Bill Is Screwing Over Women With An Abortion Amendment”! Right?) The coat hangers are definitely a gruesome, but clear, reminder of what some women will do when their access to abortions is restricted. So far, over 116,000 have been sent.

But how come all of the 240 politicians who voted for Stupak-Pitts didn’t receive a coat hanger in the mail? After all, democrats aren’t the only ones who voted in favor of this amendment, just to pass the health care reform bill. [CREDO Action] Keep reading »

Republican National Committee’s Health Insurance Plan Covered Abortion

Jessica WakemanNovember 13, 2009 //

The Republican National Committee’s health plan with the insurance company Cigna has covered abortion since 1991, according to an investigation by the online news site Politico. Cigna’s health coverage plan allows employers to opt out of coverage for specific items, but the RNC, which employs members of the Republican Party, did not opt out of abortion coverage. Politico broke this news story yesterday and noted that the Republican Party’s own platform refers to abortion as “a fundamental assault on innocent human life.” RNC’s leader, Michael Steele, quickly responded in a statement promising they would opt out of abortion coverage from their health insurer. Keep reading »

Today’s Lady News: Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand Speaks Out Against The Stupak Amendment

Jessica WakemanNovember 10, 2009 //

  • In this video clip, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) speaks out against the health care reform bill’s Stupak-Pitts Amendment, which limits how private insurance companies can offer coverage for abortion. More conservatively inclined Democrats voted for the House of Representative’s version of the health care bill this past Saturday night only after the Stupak-Pitts Amendment was included. The video is a little snoozy at first, but 45 seconds in, Sen. Gillibrand gets to the good stuff about why Stupak-Pitts isn’t good for our reproductive rights. [YouTube]
  • Speaking of the Stupak-Pitts Amendment, Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) has said today that the Senate has the 60 votes needed to block the controversial bill when it makes its way to there. Let’s hope so. [Huffington Post]

Keep reading »