Oberstar will back final bill

[Perky]

Minnesota Rep. James Oberstar, an ardent backer of the House abortion restrictions, will vote for the final package after a further review of the Senate's language, giving top Democrats a critical endorsement as they lean on their rank-and-file to back the Senate bill.

"I wanted to see the language, understand it better, have conversations with Sen. Nelson," Oberstar said Tuesday. "On balance, it does what we need to do."

For that reason, he's supporting the final bill. Oberstar had been a very vocal critic of the initial House language and agreed to back the legislation only after much stiffer restrictions had been added to it. The chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee said he hasn't had any conversations with Michigan Rep. Bart Stupak, the author of the House abortion restrictions, nor was he swayed by the arguments of an outside group.

Oberstar slipped into an elevator after addressing reporters' questions, and who should be the only other member on board? Why Stupak, of course.

http://www.politico.com/livepulse/

[frazzled]

1. Done and done.

It's looking like they're jumping on board right and left today. I'm feeling very excited that this is going to happen.

[maddezmom]

2. Stupak Ally(Kildee) in House Approves Senate Abortion Restrictions

Stupak Ally in House Approves Senate Abortion Restrictions
By DAVID M. HERSZENHORN
Representative Dale Kildee, Democrat of Michigan and a strong opponent of abortion, announced on Wednesday that he was satisfied with the provisions in the Senate-passed health care bill that seek to limit the use of federal money for insurance coverage of abortion.

The announcement by Mr. Kildee that he would support the health care legislation and would not oppose it based on the abortion issue gave a huge lift to House Democratic leaders, who have been working to assure abortion opponents that a vote for the bill would not reflect any change in policy on abortion, including the law known as the Hyde amendment, which bars the use of federal money for abortion in most cases.

“For those who know me, I have always respected and cherished the sanctity of human life. I spent six years studying to be a priest and was willing to devote my life to God. I came to Congress two years after the Hyde amendment became law,” Mr. Kildee said in a statement. “And I have spent the last 34 years casting votes to protect the lives of the unborn. I have stood up to many in my party to defend the right to life and have made no apologies for doing so. I now find myself disagreeing with some of the people and groups I have spent a lifetime working with. I have listened carefully to both sides, sought counsel from my priest, advice from family, friends and constituents, and I have read the Senate abortion language more than a dozen times.”

more:http://prescriptions.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/17/stupak-ally-in-house-approves-senate-abortion-restrictions/

[Clio the Leo]

3. Yay Oberstar!!! NT

[SemiCharmedQuark]

4. Was he included in Fineman's count yesterday?

[Perky]

7. He certainly was in Stupak's Count of 12.. er 11 oops I mean 10

[WI_DEM]

5. It's looking increasingly likely that the GOP will have to eat crow about defeating HCR

[impik]

6. Closer and closer. Damn!!

[DFLforever]

8. I knew he would.

He would never tank HCR because of abortion 'language'