Anti-Abortion Dems, Pelosi Square Off

As Democrats picked up momentum in their march toward a health reform vote tomorrow, a few familiar anti-abortion reps led by Bart Stupak threatened to trip them up—and a bloc of pro-choice congresswomen warned of mutiny, calling Stupak's proposed language a "non-starter." But Nancy Pelosi is nearing the magic No. 216, Politico reports, with seven vulnerable Dems getting in line yesterday—including four who voted against reform last year.

Still Pelosi and anti-abortion Dems continued a flurry of negotiations last night, reports Newsweek. But Dems don't have the votes, Stupak says, "or they wouldn't be talking to me." But his measure has no chance of making it through both chambers, says Steny Hoyer: “I don’t know that there’s any chance of that happening.” Stupak has scheduled a news conference scheduled for 11am.
(More health care reform stories.)