Update from today’s Good Morning America:
BREAKING — HOW HEALTH REFORM COULD PASS — ABC’s George Stephanopoulos sees new wiggle room in the professed opposition by Rep. Bart Stupak of Michigan, leader of the pro-life Dems. Stupak told George on “GMA”: “My group is holding firm: We’re still ‘no’ votes. … As you know, I wanta pass health care — I vote voted for it before. … My group of 12 here — we can make the difference on this vote. But at the same time, there’s a principle we’re standing up for. … Protect the sanctity of life and keep current law — no public funding for abortion. Let’s keep that principle intact. Then you could probably get our votes. Probably.” Please continue to call!
Earlier this afternoon, the House Reconcilliation bill was posted on the House Rules Committee website. This posting starts the 72 hour review period before the House will vote on the Majority’s health care package. Timing remains fluid, but based on the 72 hour timeline, the House is expected to vote on health care reform on Sunday afternoon, although the schedule could slip further.
Members of the House have been told that the House will be in session and voting on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. In addition Majority Leader Hoyer indicated that the House may have votes on Monday earlier in the day than previously scheduled. (The announcement regarding Monday indicates that consideration of the health care bills may spill over into Monday.) In addition, President Obama has again postponed his overseas trip (this time until June) to focus on generating votes for the Majority’s health care package.
The reconciliation text is designed to make changes the Senate-passed health care bill, H.R. 3590, after H.R. 3590 is signed into law. As expected the text does not contain the Stupak amendment that protects against federal funding for abortion coverage, nor does it contain language to ensure that none of the authorities granted by the bill are not used to mandate abortion coverage, nor does it contain the Hyde-Weldon conscience protection provision.
It is important for Catholics and all advocates and defenders of the sanctity of life to keep up their activities to encourage Members to oppose H.R. 3590 unless pro-life concerns are resolved. Catholics and pro-lifers may be particularly interested in focusing our efforts on the following Members of Congress. However, please note that it is best if Members are contacted by their own constituents, NOT citizens from other parts of the country.
Undecided — no public position for or against the Senate bill based on abortion language: Altmire (PA), Bocceri (OH), Boyd (FL), Carney (PA), Ellsworth (IN), Hill (IN), Kanjorski (PA), Mollohan (WV), Ortiz (TX), Pomeroy (NC), Rahall (WV)
Public opposition to the Senate bill based on abortion language: Berry (AR), Costello (IL), Dahlkemper (PA), Donnelly (IN), Driehaus (OH), Cao (LA), Kaptur (OH), Lipinski (IL), Stupak (MI)
You may also be aware that Rep. Kildee (MI), Wilson (OH) and Perriello (VA) have endorsed the Senate abortion language, and Rep. Oberstar (MN) has also indicated he supports the Senate bill policies on abortion funding.
On behalf of the sanctity of life and in the defense of our faith, SMS prayerfully requests that you call these targets if you live in their Districts or States and we ask that you pray for defeat of any health care legislation that does not preserve the sanctity of life.
House of Representatives — 202-225-3121
Senate — 202-224-3121
