White House health care “czar” Nancy-Ann DeParle spoke with reporters this afternoon lauding the historic steps Congress has taken toward passing health care and to outline the next steps.
As we just reported, DeParle lauded Sen. Blanche Lincoln, a possible Democratic holdout on the procedural vote.
Reporters also asked about the provisions related to abortion, and both aides dodged the question by saying the issue was working its way through Congress and noting members are talking amongst themselves.
President Obama last week said he doesn’t support the Stupak amendment, saying it was a health care, not an abortion bill, and DeParle took that a step further today.
DeParle signaled she prefers the Reid approach, saying the majority leader “carefully” worked on the issue and not mentioning the Stupak amendment.
“It’s very much trying to keep the balance on the scales and ensure the bill does nothing to restrict or expand current abortion law,” DeParle said.
DeParle said Reid made sure his version of the bill “maintains the status quo on abortion policy.”
“I don’t know that anyone is 100 percent happy with it,” she said, since it has liberal and conservative critics, adding Reid is “right there in the middle maintaining the status quo.”
Nancy Pelosi used nearly identical language earlier today, suggesting the Democrats may be getting on the same page.
