USA Today Editorial, Rep. Stupak Opinion Piece Differ On Abortion Language In Reform Bill

USA Today on Monday included an editorial opposing Rep. Bart Stupak’s (D-Mich.) efforts to introduce an amendment imposing additional restrictions on abortion coverage under the House health care reform bill (HR 3962). Stupak wrote an opposing opinion piece. Summaries appear below.

USA Today: Abortion-rights opponents “have managed to cut off insurance coverage” for abortion services “for a larger and larger number of Americans” over the years, and “[n]ow the same forces are pushing for more,” USA Today says. Stupak “is leading an effort to change” the House health reform bill to “ban abortion coverage in any government-run ‘public option’ or in any private policy purchased through the new medical insurance exchanges,” the editorial continues, adding that Stupak’s amendment “goes too far” and “would mark a broad new expansion in the effort to restrict access to abortion.” The editorial says that “it would be far better if the nation’s polarizing difference over abortion could be left out of the already-contentious health care debate,” because “[a]s long as abortion remains a legal, constitutionally protected medical procedure, it ought to be covered by insurance plans, private or public” (USA Today, 11/2).

Rep. Stupak’s opposing view in USA Today: An amendment sponsored by Rep. Lois Capps (D-Calif.) “is being sold as a compromise that maintains the status quo on the issue of federal funding for abortion,” but “[t]hat is simply not the case,” Stupak writes. He claims that the Capps amendment “departs” from current federal restrictions on federal funding for abortion coverage “in important and troubling ways.” Stupak writes that he has “asked for a vote to amend the bill to include the Hyde Amendment,” which is “not about limiting choice when it comes to abortion” and “simply says federal funds should not be used to pay for abortion.” Stupak concludes, “We need comprehensive health care reform, and I am excited that we are closer than ever to that goal. But reform must address legitimate concerns, including the public funding of abortion” (Stupak, USA Today, 11/2).

Additional News Coverage

Stupak also sent a letter to the editor of the Detroit Free Press on Sunday in support of his amendment (Stupak, Detroit Free Press, 11/1). In addition, the Washington Times on Saturday included an opinion piece by Terence Jeffrey, editor-in-chief of CNSnews.com, calling Stupak the “bravest member of the House” for his efforts (Jeffrey, Washington Times, 10/31). – Medical News Today