House Democrats cleared impasse over abortion holding up vote on health care legislation

November 6th, 2009 Minnick to vote against House health care billBOISE, Idaho — U.S. Rep. Walt Minnick says he intends to vote against the health care reform bill coming up for a vote in the U.S.

November 5th, 2009 Anti-abortion activists arrested at Pelosi's suiteWASHINGTON — U.S. Capitol Police have arrested a dozen anti-abortion activists outside House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office after a massive protest against the Democrats' health care bill.

November 4th, 2009 House Dems set stage for pivotal health voteWASHINGTON — House Democrats have cleared the way for a pivotal floor vote on health care overhaul as early as the weekend, after tweaking their 1,990-page bill to crack down harder on insurance companies. Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Americans are ready for comprehensive reform in a statement accompanying dozens of last-minutes changes to the 10-year, $1.2 trillion bill.

October 28th, 2009 Looking ahead on the health care debateThe next steps for health care legislation: In the House: The Democratic leadership presented legislation Thursday after months of negotiations on merging three bills approved earlier this year by separate committees. The Congressional Budget Office will prepare an analysis of the cost, and Democratic leaders have the right to prepare an amendment relating to abortion and other issues.

October 23rd, 2009 Abortion divides House Dems in health care debateWASHINGTON — House Democrats are at an impasse over whether their remake of the nation's health care system would effectively allow federal funding of abortion. More than two dozen anti-abortion Democrats believe it would, and while their opposition is unlikely to stall the legislation in the end, they are at odds with Democratic leaders just weeks ahead of anticipated floor action on the bill.

October 21st, 2009 House committee votes against antitrust protectionWASHINGTON — A House committee has voted to strip the health insurance industry of its exemption from federal antitrust laws as senators announced plans to take the same step. The moves Wednesday signaled a growing determination by Democrats to punish the insurance industry for its criticism of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul agenda.

October 9th, 2009 Health care issues: Paying for abortionsA look at key issues in the health care debate: THE ISSUE: Would new health care legislation allow abortions to be funded with tax money? THE POLITICS: Abortion opponents say proposed government-sponsored health insurance plans would change federal policy by paying for abortions in many cases. For years, a restriction in the law that governs Medicaid — health insurance for the poor — has barred federal funding of abortions except in cases of rape, incest and danger to the mother's life.

September 30th, 2009 Senators reject stronger anti-abortion languageWASHINGTON — In a vote with far-reaching political implications, senators writing a health care overhaul Wednesday rejected a bid to strengthen anti-abortion provisions in the legislation — which could reach the Senate floor in the next two weeks. The 13-10 vote by the Senate Finance Committee could threaten support for the health care bill from some Catholics who otherwise back its broad goal of expanding coverage.

August 23rd, 2009 Talk of Senate voting maneuvers on health careWASHINGTON — A Republican senator predicts Democrats will turn to a little-used voting procedure to try get around GOP opposition and pass health care legislation. It takes 60 votes to shut down GOP opposition and move ahead to an up-or-down vote on a bill.

July 31st, 2009 Abortion measure passes, then fails, in HouseWASHINGTON — An anti-abortion amendment to a sweeping health overhaul bill was voted down in a House committee late Thursday — a dramatic reversal just hours after the measure initially was approved. The amendment said health care legislation moving through Congress may not impose requirements for coverage of abortion, except in limited cases.

July 31st, 2009 House lawmakers endorse measure opposing abortionWASHINGTON — Lawmakers have amended a sweeping health overhaul bill to ensure it does not require coverage of abortions. The anti-abortion measure was approved late Thursday in the House Energy and Commerce Committee as conservative Democrats banded with Republicans to support it.

July 29th, 2009 No floor vote in House on health care until Sept.WASHINGTON — Democrats say the full House won't vote on sweeping health care legislation until September. It's part of a three-way deal between conservative Democrats, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the White House.

July 24th, 2009 Hoyer suggests delay in House vote on health careWASHINGTON — The second-ranking Democrat in the House says lawmakers may not be able to vote on a health care bill next week but might remain in Washington in August to complete President Barack Obama's top domestic priority. Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland told lawmakers Friday that it might not be possible to finish the legislation, now bogged down in the Energy and Commerce Committee.

July 24th, 2009 Conservative House Dem says health talks collapseWASHINGTON — The head of a group of fiscally conservative Democrats says negotiations with House leaders on health care have collapsed. Rep. Mike Ross, D-Ark., who heads the Blue Dogs' health care task force, told reporters Friday that after a week of talks, the effort to reach agreement between the leadership and the conservative to moderate Democrats fell apart.

April 23rd, 2009 Democrats want speedy health care debateWASHINGTON — Democrats controlling the House went on record again Wednesday in favor of advancing health care legislation while allowing only limited debate, which would minimize the ability of Republicans to wrest concessions on one of President Barack Obama's top domestic priorities. By a 227-196 vote, the House affirmed Democrats' plans to move health care legislation under rules that block Republicans in the Senate from being able to slow — or even stop — it from proceeding.