With the Senate last night defeating the Hatch-Nelson amendment to restrict federal funding of most abortions under the proposed health-care reform bill, the National Right to Life Committee is now urging defeat of the entire bill.

The U.S. bishops’ conference also might lobby against the bill, now that the Hatch-Nelson amendment has been tabled.

The amendment would have banned insurance companies operating in proposed insurance exchanges from offering abortion coverage to anyone receiving a government subsidy.
The vote to table the amendment was 54-45. Seven Democrats joined in supporting the amendment.

Under the amendment, like the House bill, insurance companies participating in the exchanges could offer a “rider” to offer abortion coverage that women could pay for with their own money.

If the Senate passes its version of the bill, it would go into conference to be reconciled with the House version, which does have an amendment restricting federal funding of abortions; it’s called the Stupak amendment. But it’s likely that conference committee members, all Democrats, will strip the final bill of that amendment.

Register correspondent Rich Daly will have complete coverage of the developments later today.