RNC Insurance Plan Covers Employees' Abortions

'Money from our loyal donors should not be used for this purpose'

(NEWSER) - An embarrassed Michael Steele has ordered elective abortion to be stripped from services covered by medical insurance offered to RNC employees. The ban, prompted by a Politico report yesterday that abortion coverage has been included in RNC policies since 1991, brings the RNC in line with what the Republican Party has been fighting for in the health care debate. More»

Public option weaker than House's, abortion restriction less severe

(NEWSER) - Harry Reid rolled out the Senate’s combined health care reform bill last night, earning oohs and ahhs from fellow Democrats, particularly over the price tag, and setting the stage for a cloture vote Saturday. The bill would cost a svelte $849 billion over 10 years while reducing the deficit by $127 billion—the biggest reduction of any bill to date. Here’s the nitty gritty:

• The bill would set up health insurance exchanges for the uninsured, including a national public option, which states could opt out of.

Church's role in health debate becomes even more paradoxical

(NEWSER) - The US Catholic bishops, whose primary role in the health care debate until recently was to voice concern about abortion funding, have changed tack in the wake of Scott Brown's election and are now urging Congress not to abandon the "moral imperative" of universal health coverage. The appeal the bishops sent lawmakers yesterday will test their influence with pro-life and GOP allies, David Gibson writes in Politics Daily . More»

Abortion, taxes, and the public option continue to plague both sides

(NEWSER) - With the Senate and House health care bills expected to come together later this week, McClatchy Newspapers takes a look at the three biggest issues that have yet to be resolved:

• Abortion: Both bills have placed limits on abortion, but neither side is happy, with abortion rights supporters feeling women are being denied access to abortion while anti-abortion members remain concerned that the government will be subsidizing insurance that covers the procedure.

Emails suggest he worked with GOP's McConnell against it

(NEWSER) - Bart Stupak is apparently unmoved by the compromise on abortion language included in the Senate bill, and the Democratic congressman seems willing to work with Republican leaders to make his case. One of his aides this morning sent urgent emails to Catholic bishops and various anti-abortion groups imploring them to speak out against the Senate deal. Politico got hold of the emails and notes that an aide to GOP Senate leader Mitch McConnell was in the loop. More»