News

Abortion Rights Discussed in PA Gubernatorial Debate

February 1, 2010

Pennsylvania: Democratic candidates on Sunday discussed abortion rights during the first debate leading up to the May 18 primary for governor, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. Candidates Joe Hoeffel, a former member of Congress and current Montgomery County, Pa., commissioner, and Chris Doherty, a three-term mayor of Scranton, both said they fully support abortion rights and would advocate against any effort to restrict abortion in the state if Roe v. Wade were overturned. Jack Wagner,...Read More >

Reid's Release of Senate Health Care Bill Early as Wednesday

November 18, 2009

Reid 'optimistic' about getting 60 votes on health bill Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid scrambled Tuesday to lock down votes behind a health-care bill that he may present as early as Wednesday. The Nevada Democrat would not confirm that he had received commitments from all 60 members of his caucus to overcome GOP procedural objections and bring the bill to the Senate floor, saying only, "I feel cautiously optimistic that we can do that. I think we're together as a caucus." The...Read More >

House Approves Health Reform After Adopting Amendment Barring Abortion Coverage

November 9, 2009

The House on Saturday evening voted 220-215 to pass its health care reform bill (HR 3962) after the chamber approved an amendment that would prohibit public and private plans in new health insurance exchanges from covering abortion if they accept people who receive government subsidies, the Washington Post reports (MacGillis, Washington Post, 11/9). The amendment bans the public plan option from covering abortion except in cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the woman, the AP/Boston...Read More >

Court rejects Pittsburgh abortion clinic buffers

November 3, 2009

A federal appeals court has struck down an ordinance that created two types of buffer zones around medical facilities after a Christian legal group challenged the law on behalf of a nurse who protests abortions. The US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit found the 2005 Pittsburgh ordinance unduly restricted protesters from passing out leaflets and participating in other forms of free speech. The Pittsburgh law bans protesters from standing within 15 feet of entrances but also makes them...Read More >