Nineteen Democrats have signed on to a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi saying they will not vote for the president's health-care reform unless it specifically excludes taxpayer funding for abortion.
Lincoln Davis, D-Tenn., who signed the letter, said there may be other pro-life Democrats sitting in the wings ready to protest taxpayer abortion in health-care legislation.
"It think there are probably as many as 40 pretty solid votes when it comes to being opposed to any type of funding for abortion," he said.
Democratic leadership, however, is pushing hard to fast-track health-care reform. Some life advocates think the letter isn't enough.
"Democrats in particular are under a lot of pressure from the White House, from the Democratic congressional leadership and from various interest groups to support these bills without even reading them," said Douglas Johnson, legislative director for the National Right to Life. "If we're going to stop it, we need a whole lot more people around the country speaking out very strongly to their elected representatives in opposition."
— Steve Jordahl
