House approves bill to block abortion coverage

The measure, which among other things would ban women from using the health law's tax subsidies to purchase health insurance that includes abortion coverage, is unlikely to be considered in the Democratic-led Senate and has recieved a veto threat from President Barack Obama.

The Associated Press/Washington Post: House Votes To Stop Abortion Coverage Under New Health Care Law
The House on Thursday returned to an abortion issue that nearly sank President Barack Obama's health care law last year with legislation that bars an insurance plan regulated under the new law from covering abortion if any of its customers receive federal subsidies. Providers that offer abortion coverage would have to set up identical plans without abortion coverage to participate in the health insurance exchanges to be set up under the new law. The legislation, which passed 251-172, is unlikely to be considered by the Democratic-led Senate and faces a veto threat from President Barack Obama (10/13).

Politico: House Passes Bill To Block Funding For Abortions
The House approved an anti-abortion bill Thursday that takes aim at the health insurance subsidies in President Barack Obama's health care law -; and gives both parties another chance to rally their bases over yet another abortion fight. The "Protect Life Act" would ban women from using the health reform law's tax subsidies to purchase health plans that cover abortions and would allow hospital and health care providers to refuse to provide abortions if they have objections on grounds of conscience (Nocera, 10/13).

The New York Times: The Caucus: House Passes Another Bill To Reduce Access to Abortions
House Republicans have had a laserlike focus on dismantling various forms of federal regulations this month, the centerpiece of their job creation agenda. But on Thursday the chamber pivoted back to another topic that has been the subject of various pieces of legislation this year: how to reduce access to abortions though federal health insurance programs (Steinhauer, 10/13).

The Hill: House Passes Abortion Bill
Republicans linked the bill to the fiery abortion debate that surrounded the healthcare reform law. President Obama signed an executive order stating that the law's subsidies for insurance coverage cannot be used to cover abortion, but the GOP said that prohibition doesn't have the force of law and needs to be codified with the Protect Life Act. "Obamacare should be repealed, but in the meantime, let's take this moment to say yes to life," Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) said (Baker, 10/13).

National Journal: House Passes Abortion Bill
The House passed a controversial abortion bill Thursday on a near party-line vote, reigniting the chamber's political battle over women's health. The bill, which passed 251-172, would prevent coverage of abortion services by insurance plans on state exchanges that receive federal subsidies. It would also strengthen conscience protections for hospitals and medical providers. At least 15 Democrats voted in support of the bill. It's no surprise the bill from Rep. Joe Pitts, R-Pa., easily passed the House, but it isn't likely to get much further in the Democratic-controlled Senate. Republicans in the upper chamber have not forced a floor vote on any abortion legislation passed by the House this year. President Obama also threatened on Wednesday to veto the legislation, saying that it "intrudes on women's reproductive freedom and access to health care" (McCarthy, 10/13).

The Associated Press: House Votes To Stop Health Care Law Abortions
The House on Thursday returned to an abortion issue that nearly sank President Barack Obama's health care law last year with legislation that bars an insurance plan regulated under the new law from covering abortion if any of its customers receive federal subsidies. Providers that offer abortion coverage would have to set up identical plans without abortion coverage to participate in the health insurance exchanges to be set up under the new law (Abrams, 10/13).

CNN: House Passes Bill On Abortion Funding
The U.S. House passed a bill Thursday that would amend the health care law to bar federal funding for health plans that provide abortion services. The vote was 251 in favor and 170 against. The bill, the Protect Life Act, was sponsored by Pennsylvania Republican Joe Pitts and gathered overwhelming Republican support. Only two Republicans voted against it, along with all but 15 Democrats. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi condemned the bill during earlier debate, arguing that if it passed, "women can die on the floor and health care providers do not have to intervene." Democrats opposed to the bill charged that the GOP majority was ignoring the nation's top priority and instead spending time on a bitterly divisive issue. "Instead of focusing on jobs, Republicans are continuing to wage their war on women," California Democrat Barbara Lee said on the House floor (Walsh, 10/13).