Pro-Life Leader Worries House Won't Allow Vote to Ban Abortion in Health Care

Stupak deserves a lot of credit for his efforts to exclude abortion from the healthcare bills.

In a new interview with the National Catholic register, pro-life Rep. Bart Stupak of Michigan says there has been some progress but amendments are still needed to stop massive abortion subsidies and mandates.

Stupak recently said he had been unable to get a meeting with President Barack Obama but appears to have finally been given a chance to speak to him over the phone.

"I spoke to President Obama last week," he said of the latest developments.

"Since we've been back this week, I've spoken with the House leadership and those who support abortion in the public option. They all want to talk now. We do see some movement, but there has been no change in the language," Stupak added.

With the House Appropriations Committee defeating his amendment to stop abortion funding, the next step is to get the House Rules Committee to authorize a vote for his amendment on the floor.

But Stupak sounds pessimistic on the possibility.

"We still have to go to the House Rules Committee. There we will ask that the Hyde Amendment be put into the health-care bill. Since none of the right-to-life amendments have been allowed, I don't have much hope this will happen," he told NCR.

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