*Updated* Nelson To Offer “Stupak-Like” Amendment In Senate Today

Reports indicate that Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE) intends to introduce an amendment to the Senate health-care bill today to mimic restrictions under the Stupak-Pitts amendment in the House health reform bill. He has not yet shared the amendment with colleagues but Democratic aides suggest it will likely be defeated.

Reports indicate that Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE) intends to introduce an amendment to the Senate health-care bill today to mimic restrictions under the Stupak-Pitts amendment in the House health reform bill.

Nelson continues to call his amendment "Stupak-like" language, but the actual  amendment has not yet been shared with others in the Senate so the exact wording is not known. 

Last week we reported that Nelson was waiting for the US Conference of Catholic Bishops to "review" his amendment.  Who knows….Perhaps the Bishops were too busy this weekend and have not yet signed off on the language.

Democrats are hoping to defeat the amendment today.

According to a Democratic Senate aide this morning:

We anticipate the introduction of it today for debate, and potentially a vote later this evening. It will either be subject to a 60 vote threshold as the other amendments have been or someone could move to table his amendment. Regardless, it looks like there will be the votes to defeat it.



Update from our colleague @LisaMaatz:

Main targets to ensure defeat of Stupak Amendment include Evan Bayh (D-IN), Robert Byrd (D-WV), Bob Casey (D-PA), Kent Conrad (D-ND), Byron Dorgan (D-ND), Ted Kaufman (D-DE), Mark Pryor (D-AR), Harry Reid (D-NV).

Call 202-224-3121 AND YOU MUST CALL TODAY.