Last night Waxman’s House committee passed an amendment barring a mandate for private insurers to pay for abortions. Waxman, pro-choice himself, voted “yes”. Why? So that it could be reconsidered at a later date. And, sure enough, that’s what happened. A new “compromise” bill has been introduced by Lois Capps, a pro-choicer, with the mandate essentially back in:

Although the amendment’s language appears to do away with the abortion mandate, Capitol Hill pro-lifers note that it explicitly permits the Secretary to include abortion in the services offered by the public plan. Indeed, if the Hyde amendment is reversed, the amendment would actually require that the public plan cover abortions.

With regard to the massive subsidies authorized under the act, referred to as “affordability credits,” the Capps amendment specifically requires taxpayer subsidies to flow to plans that include abortion, but creates an accounting scheme designed to give the impression that public funds will not subsidize abortion itself.

Other provisions in the Capps amendment appear to prevent state laws from being overturned and prohibit the Secretary from mandating that all plans include abortion. But the Capps amendment also requires that an abortion-covering plan be made available in every region.

Republicans and pro-life Democrats strongly criticized the amendment.

“We don’t compromise on the use of taxpayer funds for the destruction of human life,” objected Representative Phil Gingrey (R-GA).

Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI) is a pro-life Democrat who claims to have 39 fellow pro-life Democrats who are prepared to vote with the GOP against the legislation if any funding for abortion is included. Stupak also sponsored the amendment that originally stripped the abortion funding mandate from the bill, so this move should make him less than pleased.

Of course, it remains more likely than not that Blue Dogs will cave to the demands of liberal Democratic leadership. They’ll be given more money for a pet project or promised a floor vote on a piece of pet legislation. They’ll essentially be bought off.

Feel free to call your representative: 202-224-3121.