WASHINGTON — By declaring he will vote for the Senate health care bill, Ben Nelson touched off a firestorm of criticism Saturday on abortion.
Nebraska Right to Life said it had been “betrayed'' by the Nebraska Democrat, long an abortion opponent, who agreed to support compromise language on abortion.
His home-state colleague, Republican Mike Johanns, said he was “stunned and incredibly disappointed'' by Nelson's decision. And the chairman of the Nebraska Republican Party, Mark Fahleson, vowed that it was the “death knell'' for Nelson's political career.
Nelson said the outcry was over what amounted to a distinction without a difference on abortion.
Under the compromise bill, individual states could decide to ban any insurance plans with abortion coverage from the new exchanges set up in that state.
A mechanism also would be established, Nelson said, to segregate funds used to pay for abortions from federal subsidy dollars flowing to health plans.
“I'm respectful of the other position,'' Nelson said. “I just don't think that it's a distinction that matters, because what really matters is the separation, segregation, of the money.”
Nelson said the compromise would keep federal dollars from funding elective abortions. Abortion opponents were not persuaded.
“There is no pro-life Nebraskan more devastated by Senator Nelson's actions than myself,'' said Julie Schmit-Albin, executive director of Nebraska Right to Life. “I have defended his record to Nebraskans and believed that he would stand on pro-life principles as he has on numerous occasions in the past. … It is a very sobering day for myself personally and for pro-lifers across Nebraska and the nation.”
Federal law, known as the Hyde amendment, prohibits public money for abortions, except in cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother.
All along, Congress has been wrangling with how to extend those restrictions to the new federal funding for health insurance included in the bill.
Nelson had pushed for House-approved restrictions that would have required policyholders to purchase a separate abortion coverage “rider” if they were purchasing a plan that accepted any federal subsidies. His amendment to include that language in the Senate bill was soundly defeated.
Nelson said that under the compromise, policyholders still will be required to write a separate check for coverage of abortion services.
Johanns described the abortion compromise as nothing more than an “accounting gimmick” and said he could not imagine how any “pro-life senator” could support it.
“The really heartbreaking thing for Nebraskans, we are a pro-life state. Nebraskans will now be faced with a situation where they know that their dollars are going to provide funding for abortions across the country,” he said.
Nelson, an adoptive father, also highlighted provisions in the legislation that are designed to promote adoption.
He said the bill includes a refundable tax credit that will make it more likely that people of modest means will be able to adopt.
“Wouldn't it be more appropriate to be working for ways to have fewer abortions and have more adoption?” Nelson said.
He said the bill also will include money to assist women, particularly teenagers, who become pregnant. The assistance, he said, will help so they don't feel they have to obtain an abortion in order to finish school and go forward with their lives.
Nelson said that part of the bill “might get lost with the groups that focus more on abortion than they do on what happens once a child is born or how you prevent … abortion.”
Under the new provisions, states can opt out of allowing plans to cover abortion in the new insurance exchanges the bill would set up to serve individuals who lack coverage through their jobs. Plus, enrollees in plans that accept federal subsidies and cover abortion procedures would pay for the coverage with separate checks — one for abortion, one for the rest of any health care services.
“I know this is hard for some of my colleagues to accept, and I appreciate their right to disagree,” Nelson told reporters at the Capitol, of the many changes made at his behest. “But I would not have voted for this bill without these provisions.”
One group that supports legal abortion offered muted praise of Nelson.
“While we are very disappointed by Senator Nelson's insistence on including this language, it's consistent with his record,'' said Jill June, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of the Heartland. “We are mindful that he has included increased dollars for Medicaid and hopeful these dollars can be used to expand access to women's health.''
The Washington Post and World-Herald staff writer Rick Ruggles contributed to this report.
Contact the writer:
202-662-7270, joe.morton@owh.com
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