http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/03/white-house-statement-on-abortion-compromise.php

Full text at the above link – section of specific concern here:

Here is the specific section of concern:

The Act maintains current Hyde Amendment restrictions governing abortion policy and extends those restrictions to the newly-created health insurance exchanges. Under the Act, longstanding Federal laws to protect conscience (such as the Church Amendment, 42 U.S.C. §300a-7, and the Weldon Amendment, Pub. L. No. 111-8, §508(d)(1) (2009)) remain intact and new protections prohibit discrimination against health care facilities and health care providers because of an unwillingness to provide, pay for, provide coverage of, or refer for abortions.

So, what does this mean?

Those who refuse to offer women abortion referrals or care where it is legal shall be allowed to do so with no repurcussions?

Akin to allowing pharmacists to refuse to dispense birth control or the abortion pill (RU-486) because it goes against their religious beliefs and leaves a woman utterly screwed if she lives in an area without another facility or care provider?

This is disgusting.

And, let’s not forget the Nelson language WILL be in this bill. Gender discrimination that forces a woman to buy a SEPARATE insurance policy for a legal & currently covered service in most private insurance plans.

Disgusting. They can’t provide a public option(which was major but not total capitulation) that over 75% of the US population wants but they can manage to write discriminatory language against womem’s rights into the health care bill.