The healthcare reform bill squeaked through the House this weekend by a vote of 220-215. A lot was given up, and a lot was said during the soap-opera-like final discussions on the bill, but in the end it was passed and it moves onto the Senate, where it will no doubt meet some even tougher times.
Two of the most controversial topics within the healthcare reform bill, abortion and the public option, were nearly stripped down to nothing. There will be absolutely no government funding going towards any healthcare relating to abortion, unless, of course, the mother was raped, the fetus is a child of incest, or the mother’s life is in danger.
The US Conference of Catholic Bishops met with house representatives just moments before the bill was voted upon, stating their case once again and effectively getting exactly what they wanted.
The voice of the Catholic Bishops was heeded and obeyed, and no federal funding will ever be used to assist mothers or clinics with abortion issues. Any small amount of funding that was being fought over was completely tossed out on the request of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, and the 40 Democrats who were holding out for just that action finally decided that they could support the bill.
And with that, the bill narrowly made it through the House. The Senate has it next, though no one is sure when that vote will take place. The road from here on out is expected to be extremely bumpy and treacherous, as key Senate leaders such as Lieberman plan on fighting this bill to the bitter end.
How will it turn out? Who has the foggiest idea. But get ready for some great entertainment!
