SEATTLE (AP) — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says that while she personally is against anti-abortion language in the House version of the health care bill, the amendment was necessary for the bill to pass.
Pelosi spoke during a visit Monday to Seattle's Swedish Medical Center. She says the anti-abortion language "would have been in the bill one way or another," so backers of the bill thought it was better to have it as amendment rather than as a provision that could jeopardize the entire measure.
The California Democrat says she and other backers of the bill will continue searching for common ground with abortion opponents.
On Saturday, the House passed the far-reaching plan for overhauling the U.S. health care system on a 220-215 vote. The House bill is projected to expand coverage to 36 million uninsured, or 96 percent of Americans.
To add a comment, please register or login.