This will certainly make things interesting:
The Senate narrowly rejected an amendment that would have restricted abortion coverage in the pending health-care bill, leaving in question whether Majority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.) has the 60 votes needed to move the bill toward final passage.
The measure, which failed 54-45, addressed the scope of restrictions on coverage of abortion services for people who receive subsidies to buy insurance. The outcome was expected, but could cost the support of Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), who has threatened to filibuster the $848 billion bill unless abortion restrictions are tightened.
Pro-life or pro-choice, a majority of Americans has consistently opposed federal funds for elective abortion.
Question: Does this kill the bill? Can Reid get 60 votes for cloture without a ban on abortion funding? If he can swing it, are there 218 votes in the House to pass a health care bill without an explicit ban? That 54 voted against the ban shows that the pro-abortion fanatics are pressing hard for this – we’ll have to see how this comes out.