Several Amendments Dominate Debate in Senate on Health Care Reform
There are 91 amendments to the Senate Health Care Reform bill. A list of all the Senate amendments to the Health Care Reform bill can be found here. The list is compiled by OpenLeft.com, a news, analysis and action website dedicated toward building a progressive governing majority in America.
State-by State Analysis of the Impact of Health Care Reform
The Department of Health and Human Services has released an analysis of the impact of healthcare reform on a state-by-state basis.
Senate Tables the Nelson Abortion Amendment
On December 8, the Senate voted to table or set aside the amendment offered by Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE). The Nelson amendment to the health care reform bill would have banned the use of federal taxpayer money for abortions failed by a vote of 54-45.
The Nelson amendment was similar to the Stupak/Pitts abortion amendment that was added to the passed House health care reform bill last month. With the inclusion of the Stupak/Pitts amendment, the House bill would prohibit the proposed new government-run insurance plan from covering abortions except in cases of rape, incest or to save a mother’s life, and bars any health plan receiving federal subsidies in a new insurance marketplace from offering abortion coverage.
NASW strongly opposes the Stupak/Pitts inclusion in the House bill and advocates for its removal when the House and Senate negotiates the bills during conference committee.
Rally for Reproductive Rights in Health Care Reform a Success
Hundreds of people came to Capitol Hill from as far away as California to rally for reproductive rights in health care reform. NASW sponsored the event along with other organizations. The room in the Capitol building was filled to capacity and there was need to use an overflow room to accommodate the participants. In addition to the rally, individuals lobbied their members of Congress.
