Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., said Tuesday he has the votes to defeat healthcare reform legislation if his abortion amendment is taken out, adding that he has mustered 10 to 20 anti-abortion-rights Democrats to reject a bill with weaker language, according to Roll Call.
"They’re not going to take it out," Stupak said on "Fox and Friends," referring to Senate Democrats. "If they do, healthcare will not move forward."
Stupak's amendment prohibits any insurance plan in any government-backed plan from accepting federal subsidies if it covers abortion. But pro-abortion-rights lawmakers say that language is too broad and would drastically reduce access to abortion.
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Stupak said any bill would have a difficult time getting through the Senate without such restrictions, and said that if it bounces back to the House without the amendment, the administration could lose "at least 10 to 15 to 20" votes.
"The majority has spoken. Most people agree -- do not use public funds for abortion," Stupak told Fox. "You're not going to summarily start dismissing amendments which the majority of the House of Representatives wanted because some person, David Axelrod or someone, doesn't like it."
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