epporsimuove

As most people know, I am a big supporter of health care reform. I support a strong public option. I support universal health care. If I had my way, we would have socialized health care (whatever that means).

So, of course, I was happy that the health care bill passed the house last night. However, I am happy purely because we passed a health care bill. But that bill itself...

I cannot believe that an anti-abortion amendment was attached to this bill. What is more, I cannot believe that 64 Democrats, two of them women, voted for this amendment. The Democrats have a large majority in both chambers of Congress. There is a Democrat sitting in the Oval Office. Why, then, are my reproductive rights being taken away? This is a battle we have already fought. On a bill that is supposed to be progressive, moving us forward, why are women being moved back? What's more, why is it always women's rights that are the first to go? No one would ever consider taking away insurance coverage for Erectile Disfunction or other male health care issues.

I am so upset right now.

The text of the amendment:

The amendment will prohibit federal funds for abortion services in the public option. It also prohibits individuals who receive affordability credits from purchasing a plan that provides elective abortions. However, it allows individuals, both who receive affordability credits and who do not, to separately purchase with their own funds plans that cover elective abortions. It also clarifies that private plans may still offer elective abortions.

There is a lot more about this amendment and this bill (the influence of the Catholic church, the "move towards the right," the abysmal behavior of Republican male representatives during speeches by their female Democratic colleagues yesterday, the fear mongering by the right). Anyone who wants to talk about it, let me know. I need to blow off some steam, and I need to talk to people about it.

Cross posted at lj. There are some other comments there.