Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Michigan) announced his support of the health care bill after President Obama agreed to sign an executive order "reaffirming a ban on federal funding of abortions." Stupak, who had been a holdout over abortion language in the bill, spoke at a press conference—with a half-dozen other holdout Democrats—proclaiming "We’re well past 216 [votes], yes... We’ve always said ... that we were for health care reform, but there was a principle that meant more to us than anything, and that was the sanctity of life."
However, Republican minority leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) said the executive order "can be reversed or altered at the stroke of a pen by this or any subsequent President without any congressional approval or notice... Make no mistake, a 'yes' vote on the Democrats' health-care bill is a vote for taxpayer-funded abortions." But Stupak said, “This has the full force of law."
Still, NOW wasn't very happy with the deal either and issued a statement: The National Organization for Women is incensed that President Barack Obama agreed today to issue an executive order designed to appease a handful of anti-choice Democrats who have held up health care reform in an effort to restrict women's access to abortion... The message we have received today is that it is acceptable to negotiate health care on the backs of women, and we couldn't disagree more."
Right now, the House of Representatives has voted to move into general debate, 224 to 206. Next up, a vote on a package of amendments to the Senate bill; the final vote is on the bill itself.
