Abortion Deal in the Works?

Is a deal in the works to placate House Democrats who oppose health-care reform without strict abortion-coverage provisions? On Monday night, Michigan Democrat Bart Stupak, the leader of the anti-abortion charge, said, “I'm more optimistic than I was a week ago. The president says he doesn't want to expand or restrict current law. Neither do I. That's never been our position. So is there some language that we can agree on that hits both points—we don't restrict, we don't expand abortion rights? I think we can get there." Stupak says he has a bloc of 12 Democrats who will not vote for health-care reform without the abortion-related changes.