Ben Nelson will introduce bill as "identical to Stupak as it can be"

[madfloridian]

From TPM:

Nelson Crafting Abortion Amendment 'Nearly Identical' To Stupak's

If it seemed like the congressional row over abortion coverage in health care reform had ebbed, it was probably just an artifact of Thanksgiving recess. Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) is charging ahead, and plans to introduce an amendment to the Senate health care bill in the spirit, if not the precise letter, of the controversial Stupak amendment.

"It's as identical to Stupak as it can be," Nelson told CongressDaily.

Senate experts will be unsurprised to hear that it will likely have the support of Pennsylvania Democrat Bob Casey.

"I think it's likely to be one of the amendments we'll vote on," Casey said.

Women rights are considered less important now than pleasing the religious right. That was made clear in the House version of health care reform.

Pro-choice movement dealt serious blow with passage of Stupak amendment

Pro-choice lawmakers and organization leaders are firing back after the House passed its landmark health care reform legislation late Saturday night. The bill included what's known as the Stupak-Pitts amendment, language offered by Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) and Joe Pitts (R-Penn.) that prohibits federal funds from being used for abortion services in any health exchange be it public or private.

Currently, most private insurers cover abortion related services but that practice will cease if Stupak's amendment remains in the finalized version of the legislation. Try as they might, the Congressional Pro-choice Caucus couldn't stop the anti-abortion language from being included in the House bill. The co-chairs of the Caucus, Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY) and Congresswoman Diane DeGette of Colorado issued a joint statement voicing their outrage over the inclusion of the amendment. "Placing onerous new restrictions on a woman's right to choose sets a terrible precedent and marks a significant step backwards," said the legislators; and yet, both women voted for the final bill.

Now Ben Nelson is going to introduce a bill that is as similar as it can be to Stupak.

[LiberalAndProud]

1. Ben Nelson did what?

:feined shock and disbelief:

That's our Ben. Never fails to disappoint.

[joeybee12]

2. Hmm...and people are doubting that poll about 56% of Dems NOT voting in 2010

...wiht friends like these...

[LiberalAndProud]

4. Oddly enough, joeybee, the pukes always come up with

somebody worse. So I'm not even afforded the satisfaction of not voting for the man.

[joeybee12]

5. I understand Nebraska is conservative, but isn't there anyone

who can run against him in a primary?

[LiberalAndProud]

8. No one will challenge. Most offices are (R) by default.

If we have Democrats willing to run, they don't run against other Democrats.

[dmallind]

9. Sure - they'd just lose to the RW Republican in a landslide

Even if by any miracle they got nominated. Trust me Nebraska statewide will not, now or for the foreseeable future, vote for a DU-acceptable Democrat.

[saracat]

10. At this point, I can't imagine what conceivable difference it would make.

Just having a D after your name doesn't make you a Democrat.

[LiberalAndProud]

11. You would think so, really, but honest to God, you would not

want the folks that have run against Ben in D.C. Believe me, I know how bad Ben is. I wouldn't vote for the guy except the alternative is always much much worse. I really am tired of voting for the lesser of evils, but I can't be responsible for the greater evil making way. And that is the cold, hard truth.

[madfloridian]

13. Agreed.

It does not.

[dmallind]

14. But it means a stronger role on committees if he's a D

And, believe it or not, like many maligned fence-sitters such as Lieberman and the Blue Dogs, he votes with the D side the vast majority of the time. You don'thave to be an uber-progressive to be a D either.

[laughingliberal]

3. Just when I think I can't hate this smarmy, corporate asshat any more nt

[tnlefty]

7. I know. There's no way that I could type the first thought

that went through my mind as it was rather mean. :mad:

[me b zola]

6. Can an amendment be tabled

in the same way that a bill can?

[madfloridian]

12. At least Mikulski is pushing to include things to benefit women.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/02/health/policy/02health.html

"The Democrats’ first amendment, offered by Senator Barbara A. Mikulski of Maryland, would require insurers to cover more screenings and preventive care for women, with no co-payments.

“Women often forgo those critical preventive screenings because they simply cannot afford it, or their insurance company won’t pay for it unless it is mandated by state law,” Ms. Mikulski said."

But I believe the Nelson admendment would pass just as easily as the Stupak one passed.

[madfloridian]

15. Mikulski bill passed, I hear.

That's a good thing.

But Nelson bill will come up.