Senate rejects stricter abortion rules

As expected, the Senate this afternoon rejected a move to tighten the abortion restrictions in the health care overhaul.

Senator Ben Nelson, a key moderate Democrat from Nebraska, had proposed a provision similar to one that is in the House-passed bill, which would ban coverage for abortions under any insurance plan -- public or private -- that accepts federal subsidies.

But Senate liberals rallied against the amendment, saying it would be unfair to women and represent a rollback in abortion rights.

In the 54-45 vote against the Nelson amendment, seven Democrats joined most Republicans in voting for it, while two Republicans -- Senators Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe of Maine -- voted with the Democrats.

“This vote is a positive step towards ensuring health care reform legislation moves forward without making women worse off after this process,” Planned Parenthood Federation of America President Cecile Richards said in a statement.

"The Senate did the right thing today by refusing to adopt an amendment that would prevent women from using their own funds to purchase abortion coverage," added Marcia D. Greenberger, Co-President of the National Women's Law Center.

“The National Women’s Law Center is working hard to ensure that health care reform is finally passed that works for all Americans – women included. To protect women’s health and their rights, it is essential that health care reform be enacted without the egregious restrictions on women’s ability to pay for needed abortion coverage with their own money.”

The abortion dispute, however, could fatally complicate efforts to cobble together 60 votes to pass the final version of the health care bill in the Senate, and if a bill is approved, have to be resolved in negotiations with the House.