Don't let backroom deals lead to back alley abortions

When Democrats declared victory in the wake of the House vote on health care reform, there was one constituency that wasn't celebrating -- people who support a woman's right to choose.

In a backroom deal brokered to get the votes necessary to pass the House health care bill, one amendment was allowed an up-or-down vote on the floor. The Stupak amendment -- which passed on a vote of 240 to 193 -- is the most serious assault on women's reproductive rights in a generation.

If the Stupak amendment is allowed to stand, it would ban private insurers who participate in the insurance exchange created by the health care bill from covering abortion as a part of women's reproductive health care. Tens of millions of women would be affected.

President Obama, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have the power to ensure that the Stupak amendment is stripped from the bill that emerges from the Senate as well as the legislation produced by the merger of the House and Senate bills in conference committee.

We can't let this backroom deal lead to a return of back alley abortions. Join us in asking President Obama, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senator Reid to stand up for women and ensure the final bill does not bar private insurers from offering reproductive health care to women.