Legislative Updates

As the debate over health care reform amplifies, legislators face another complication: the coverage and funding of abortion. Since 1976, the Hyde Amendment has prohibited the federal funding of abortions through Medicaid. Although neither the House nor Senate versions of a health care reform bill address the abortion issue, recent negotiations have alarmed both pro-choice and pro-life activists, each fearing legislative repercussions detrimental to their cause. Late last month, 19 anti-abortion House Democrats sent a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, warning that they "cannot support any health-care-reform proposal unless it explicitly excludes abortion from the scope of any government-defined or subsidized health-insurance plan." One of these 19 lawmakers, Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), has indicated that he and House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) are negotiating to resolve the concerns of antiabortion-rights Democrats who want to exclude abortion coverage.

Abortion is currently covered by most private insurance plans and existing government programs, at least in some cases. Roughly 87% of employer-offered plans cover abortion. President Obama has promised those who have coverage that they wouldn’t lose it under a health care reform package, so abortion-rights groups claim abortion coverage should continue to be available. Although the religious right and anti-choice activist are trying to spin the health care package as free abortions for all, in truth, reproductive rights are still under threat in this health reform debate. Peter Orszag, the head of the Office of Budget and Management, would not rule out funding abortions but said he can’t confirm right now whether abortion funding will or won't be included. Pro-choice lawmakers must insure reproductive justice and prohibit anti-choice legislators from using health care reform to expand restrictions on abortions.

On Monday, July 13th, 2009, the SCOTUS Confirmation Hearings of Sonia Sotomayor began – and so did the frenzy of press. And while we’re sure you’re interested in what’s going on, it’s hard to know what to read & where to go for good coverage. Fret no more – we here at NWPC have gathered together some of our favorite Sotomayor pieces for your reading pleasure.

• Slate’s dialogue on the Sotomayor hearings.
• Sotomayor calls abortion rights "settled law"
• Media Matters lists the outrageous comments from the media regarding Sotomayor
• NPR’s coverage of Sotomayor, including highlights from day two’s hearings
• “In the hot seat, Sotomayor is model of judicial cool”
• What the confirmation hearings could have been
• Senate moves closer to vote, AL Senator Sessions says "I look forward to you getting that vote before we recess in August"