from James Pindell's NH Political Report:
There has been backlash from the pro-choice community ever since Democrats in the House backed an abortion restriction amendment to get a health care bill passed.
The amendment, named the Stupak amendment after sponsor Bart Stupak (D-MI), would expand federal law from not just barring federal funds to pay for abortions, but would prevent any insurance plans receiving any federal funds for anything to bar abortion funding.
Since passage on Saturday night 41 House Democrats signed a letter saying that if a health care bill comes back from the Senate with the Stupak amendment in it they will vote against the entire bill.
Nationally Democrats are staking out their position on the amendment. For instance, positioning on the issue has shaken up the Massachusetts Senate race.
But in New Hampshire one candidate made her position clear nearly a week before a national debate erupted.
Here was the e-mail Democrat Anne McLane Kuster sent out to supporters on Nov. 3.
Dear XXX,
I’m
writing you with some troubling news. As we get closer and
closer to the passage of real health care reform, Republicans in the
U.S. House of Representatives - and yes, some conservative
Democrats as well - are trying to use this bill as a chance
to roll back our reproductive rights.
In
fact, the anti-choice coalition is working to take away private
insurance coverage for abortion that millions of women have
today. They are trying to effectively ban
abortion coverage in the private insurance market.
I believe a woman and her medical care
provider should be making decisions about her health care, not the
politicians in Washington.
We
can't let the anti-choice movement use abortion to derail health care
reform and we can't let them use health care reform to restrict a
woman's right to choose.
Please help me spread the word:
•
By adding your voice to mine on this issue on
Facebook,
• By forwarding this email to your contacts so they can join our fight,
•
By calling your members of Congress and
asking them to stand up for reproductive rights and passage of real
health care reform.
Sincerely,
