The CBO is expected to weigh in today on a package of changes to the Senate health care bill–a so-called manager’s amendment–and barring any major surprises, such as an unexpected spike in the cost of the bill, the report will likely close the door on most other major changes to the legislation.
One issue that will be handled separately, though, is abortion. As I reported yesterday, Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA), who has been working with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), presented Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) with new legislative language on federal funding for abortion yesterday. Nelson says abortion is a make or break issue for him, and he regards the provision in the current Senate bill as too lax to support.
As of last night, Nelson hadn’t had a chance to evaluate the new compromise. But according to Politico, Douglas Johnson of the National Right to Life Committee has already decided: “This proposal would break from the long-established principles of the Hyde Amendment by providing federal subsidies for health plans that cover abortion on demand. This is entirely unacceptable.”
That might make it difficult for Nelson to sign off, and his cloture vote will likely be necessary for the bill to succeed.
