Salvate Amici:

Washington (CNN) -- Anti-abortion Democrats will be allowed to offer an amendment during the House health care debate Saturday that would ban most abortion coverage from the public option and other insurance providers in the new so-called "exchange" the legislation would create, three Democratic sources told CNN.

The prohibition would exclude cases of rape, incest or if the mother's life is in danger, known as "Hyde" language.

The hotly anticipated vote on the nearly $1.1 trillion bill by the full House of Representatives is tentatively set for Saturday, but it could be delayed until Sunday. President Obama is expected to visit Capitol Hill on Saturday in hopes of gaining support among Democrats.

House Democratic leadership sources said that win or lose, they hope giving abortion foes the opportunity to vote will clear the way for passage of their health care bill.

Read the House bill (PDF)

Several anti-abortion Democrats will offer the amendment, including Rep. Brad Ellsworth, D-Indiana, and Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Michigan, who are scoring a major victory in convincing Democratic leaders to allow this vote.

It is also a big win for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which used its power, especially with conservative Democrats in swing congressional districts, to help force Democratic leaders to permit a vote that most of them oppose.

"We didn't have a choice," said a Democratic leadership source. "We didn't have the votes" on health care without agreeing to this.

Planned Parenthood decried the amendment, saying it would result in the elimination of abortion coverage currently offered by most private health insurance plans.

 

 

Video: AARP endorses health care bill

Key parts of the House health care bill

"This amendment would violate the spirit of health care reform, which is meant to guarantee quality, affordable health care coverage for all by creating a two-tiered system that would punish women, particularly those with low and modest incomes," the group said in a statement.

"Women won't stand for legislation that takes away their current benefits and leaves them worse off after health care reform than they are today."

The Democratic sources said people would be able to purchase riders with their own money for insurance that includes abortion coverage.

Stupak and other anti-abortion Democrats have argued for a strict abortion ban for some time, but Ellsworth had offered a less strict compromise measure that would have prohibited taxpayer dollars for abortions.

Liz Farrar, a spokeswoman for Ellsworth, told CNN that some two dozen Democratic lawmakers made it clear that they needed assurances from the Catholic bishops before they could sign on -- and that the religious group made clear it wanted to bolster the abortion restrictions.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other leaders were negotiating with the Catholic bishops and their representatives on Friday.

Late-night marathon talks in the speaker's office included staunch supporters of abortion rights, but they broke down.

"We came to the point where we actually had an agreement tonight, but it fell apart," Stupak said.

As Stupak offered the amendment before the House Rules Committee, several abortion rights activists on the panel argued the amendment goes too far.

"I find this amendment very, very uncomfortable," said Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Massachusetts.

"I foresee for poor women in America, a return to the dark ages," said Rep Alcee Hastings, D-Florida.

  

 

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Como vimos,  no distrito Feferal dos EUA vai discutir-se em Capitol Hill hoje ou amanhã uma alteração à lei do aborto, cujo objectivo é a sua proibição, com excepções em caso de violação, de incesto ou de perigo para a vida da Mãe. Fala-se, no entanto de $triliões e isso choca-me. Sou contra o aborto, mas não por uma questão de poupanças; esta é uma questão de princípios ! E, como tal, não deve envover o vil metal. Serão pois as intenções deste senhores louváveis ou não? E se o aborto for proibido, porquês aceitar aquelas três excepeções?  A vida é O Bem por si mesmo e, portanto, o Estado tem de prover para filhos não-queridos, o que também envolve dinheiro. E, finalmente, parece-me que a proibir o aborto, terão de proibir a pena-de-morte, legal em quase todos os estados dos EUA. Ou isso já não dá lucro e mantém as massas entretidas? O discurso de Mr Obama é no entanto, brilhante, como este Presidente já nos tem vindo a habituar. Concordo com ele, mas há que não esquecer o resto, aquilo que acima apontei.

Que pensam?

Valete.

Raulus Antonius.