There is a provision already on the books that's called the Hyde amendment that bars using federal funds for abortions. (passed in 1976) This simple amendment could have been used and all would have gone gingerly. But in trying to win support from about 10 house dems to pass the bill, she might have inadvertently sunk the bill.
To many progressives, even myself, this is way too much. If it is going to be in the bill, it needs to be scaled back to the Hyde amendment and not such a big reach into the private lives of women.
What are the consequences for putting this in the bill? From Politico:
"Abortion-rights advocates are calling in the cavalry to help fight off an anti-abortion provision House Democratic leaders swallowed in order to win passage of their health care reform bill. Planned Parenthood summoned 80 progressive groups to plot strategy for keeping the anti-abortion amendment — named for sponsors Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) and Joseph Pitts (R-Pa.) — out of a final health care bill."
Pelosi has a HELL of a job to do. To try and navigate this huge bill through the house while trying to appease everyone in her caucus is a huge task but you really don't want to be fighting your base in this debate. Pelosi, in her zeal to get the bill passed, might have miscalculated.
