The leader of a grassroots reproductive rights group is getting a sit down with President Obama today as the White House and Democratic leaders face a pro-choice backlash on a provision related to abortion in the health care bill.
Erin Matson, Vice President, Action at the National Organization of Women said her boss is meeting with Obama. Matson said the group was blindsided when the Stupak amendment ended up in the health care bill that past Friday night.
“Everyone was stunned by this we did not expect this to be part of the health care bill,” she said on the ABC News online show TopLine.
“We’re extremely disappointed that this went to the floor,” she said, dismissing questions as to whether the groups had done enough to fight it.
She said they had been organizing and Congressional phone lines were “jammed” Saturday.
Matson said NOW “absolutely” will include votes on the amendment in scoring on pro-choice legislation and said they will support voting against final bill if that provision isn’t stripped.
“The notion that we should sacrifice our rights as women” for a health care bill is wrong, she said.
The comments come as Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) told ABC he won’t vote for health care unless it includes the abortion provisions.
