The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

February 25, 2010

UPDATE: Abortion language could cost health care vote; Dahlkemper cool to Senate version

By Matt Snyder

WESTERN PA — Several anti-abortion Democrats, including Kathy Dahlkemper, could have a hand in closing off one of the last remaining avenues for sweeping health care reform.

With little chance of concrete success at a health care summit slated for today between President Barack Obama and top Republicans, Democratic hopes rest in a strategy called reconciliation.

Reconciliation could be used to sidestep a Senate filibuster and pass health care legislation with a bare majority of 51 votes. The idea has gained ground since the Democrats lost their 60 vote majority last month with the election of Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown.

Recent converts include U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter, who said this week he would support a reconciliation vote.

However, the House has to approve the Senate’s version of health care reform for reconciliation to take place. The major difference between the two bills is the inclusion of a public insurance option in the House bill and the lack of one in the Senate bill.

The House version passed by a narrow 220 to 215 votes. Mrs. Dahlkemper, Erie, D-3rd District, voted for that bill, but she opposes language in the Senate bill about abortion funding.

Mrs. Dahlkemper’s spokeswoman Marie Francis said Wednesday the congresswoman is opposed to the Senate bill and its abortion language, “period.” That

Ms. Francis would not, however, comment on a hypothetical: What if the Senate bill is the only viable path to health care reform left for Democrats?

In her bid to win the 3rd District seat in 2008, Mrs. Dahlkemper campaigned as a supporter of health care reform, where she suggested an incremental approach that began with universal coverage for children. She also persistently campaigned as a “whole life” candidate opposed to abortion and the death penalty.

Her support for the House bill was largely tied to the inclusion of an amendment that bars any federal funds from being used to pay for abortions.

While insurance companies could choose whether or not to cover abortion, federal dollars — such as those planned to help the poor afford coverage — could not help buy insurance that covers abortion.

There is an exception in the House version for cases where the mother’s life is in danger, or for cases involving rape or incest. Abortion is not covered by the public option.

In the Senate version, federal subsidies are allowed to help pay for insurance plans that cover abortion.

Senate rules, however, would require abortion coverage bought in part by federal dollars to be paid for separately from the rest of the health care coverage during monthly payments.

During the vote for the House version of the bill, 39 Democrats broke ranks to oppose it, including U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire, Wexford, D-4th District. Altmire has said he doubts there will be enough votes to pass the Senate version of the bill through reconciliation.

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