Casey, Unlike Nelson, Not Inclined To Filibuster Health Care Bill Over Abortion

Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) said yesterday that he'd filibuster Senate health care legislation if it does not ultimately contain restrictive, Stupak-like abortion language. That's touched of fairly frantic negotiations, and Nelson has postponed filing his amendment. But for another pro-life Democrat, the issue isn't so black and white.

"I already voted back in July, where we had a number of amendments in [the Senate HELP] committee on abortion, where I voted as a pro-life Democrat but also supported the bill coming out of committee, and that's what I'll do here," Casey told reporters this morning.

Aside from the public option, perhaps the biggest hurdle Democrats face if they want to make it through this period of debate and amendments, and pass a health care bill, is abortion.

The House bill ultimately included restrictive abortion language in its legislation, but the Senate is actually a more pro-choice body than the House, and the procedural realities of the upper chamber--60 votes to do almost anything--makes it seem fairly unlikely that something like Stupak could be added to the Senate bill at this point. That, and the polarizing nature of abortion, makes the Nelson problem fairly difficult to address.

Casey isn't particularly worried just yet. "On a lot of these issues that are contentious and where people have strong feelings, there's still a lot to play out," he said.

That means Democratic leaders will have to figure out a way to keep Nelson from filibustering, or else find a new vote. Because, according to Casey, the language in Nelson's amendment is still likely to mirror Stupak's. "It's in formation, I don't think there's any final language--at least I have not seen final language," Casey said. "I think it will probably closely mirror what the House voted on."