Research

This morning on NBC’s “Meet The Press Health And Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius told David Gregory that Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI) was “misinformed” when it came to the Senate Democrats’ government-run health care bill and public funding of abortion:

HHS SECRETARY KATHLEEN SEBELIUS: “There is no federal money paying for abortions … Congressman Stupak and the president agree …”

NBC’S DAVID GREGORY: “So he is just misinformed?”

SEBELIUS: “I think he is misinformed about what the Senate language actually does ...”

But Stupak, along with National Right To Life and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, made it “very clear” how the Senate Democrats’ bill does provide taxpayer dollars for abortions:

“In the Senate bill, it says you must offer insurance policies that will be paid for by the federal government that covers abortion … the Office of Personal Management policy they will put forth says you must pay every enrollee must pay $1 per month into a fund to help fund ... more

This morning on CNN’s “State Of The Union,” retiring Rep. Brian Baird (D-WA) outlined what he would have liked to see in the health reform process. Baird said we should “start with what we can agree on” and work to build a less complex, bipartisan bill.

I would have approached it perhaps differently. I would like to see us start with what we can agree on. I think most Americans agree you should not discriminate against preexisting conditions. I think it makes a lot of sense to be able to buy policies across state lines so you have competition you can carry your policy with you if you move or lose your job…

The complexity, I think, worries a lot people, and when you read these bills they are very long and complicated … That worries a lot of people and frankly worries me …

I opposed the House procedure. When the bill came up before the house, I felt we should have allowed the Republicans to offer amendments. We did not. I think that was a mistake. That’s part of why I voted no on the ... more