Abortion

Could A GOP Victory In 2012 Mean The End Of Roe v Wade?

Sahil Kapur | January 24, 2012, 5:25AM

Anti-abortion demonstrators in Washington, DC.

The landmark Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade has long been used as a political football, but abortion rights activists warn that it could soon be making a final play.

Sunday, January 22 marked the 39th anniversary of the decision, and more than ever the case's fate could ride on the outcome of a presidential election. Republican presidential candidates have declared that they want to see the ruling reversed -- and the ideological trajectory of the modern Supreme Court is conducive to their goals.

The case was decided 7-2, but the bench is notably more conservative today than 1973. Pro-choice advocates fear that replacing one of the four liberal-leaning justices with a conservative -- not beyond the pale if a Republican defeats President Obama in November -- could potentially result in a 5-4 decision to overturn the lynchpin pro-choice ruling, which would allow states to criminalize all abortions.

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Medicaid

ObamaCare Challenge Exposes Conservative Hypocrisy On Federal Power

Brian Beutler | December 12, 2011, 1:21PM

The Supreme Court in Washington, DC

Next year policy wonks, politics junkies, and legal experts will wait with bated breath for the Supreme Court to determine the constitutionality of a key section of President Obama's health care law: the mandate that uninsured individuals purchase health care coverage.

But the court will also review another major piece of the law -- the requirement that states expand Medicaid eligibility to people with incomes of up to 133 percent of the federal poverty line. This is no small expansion. Of all the millions of people expected to become insured under the law, about half will be covered through Medicaid.

For the first several years, the federal government will pay the states for the full cost of the expansion. After 2020, the federal contribution will drop to 90 percent. States with conservative governors don't like this one bit. But Medicaid is a voluntary program -- if states don't like the terms and conditions the government sets for the program, they're free to drop out of it.

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Government Shutdown

Democrats Demand Boehner Avert Government Shutdown Threat

Brian Beutler | November 1, 2011, 10:57AM

Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and the vast majority of House Democrats have signed a letter to Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) pushing him to strip partisan policy riders out of must-pass legislation to fund the government after the money runs out later this month.

Yes, here we go again. House Republicans are advancing appropriations bills loaded with controversial measures that would defund the new health care law, scrap key environmental protections and more.

"As you know, there is longstanding precedent not to use appropriations bills to enact major changes in national policy, and the bills being reported from Appropriations subcommittees this year violate that precedent," wrote Hoyer in a letter signed by 182 other Democrats. "While not all policy riders are objectionable, many of those included this year are not only controversial but blatantly partisan. Included riders would block the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, roll back important clean air and clean water protections, and place new restrictions on women's access to a full range of medical and health services, among others."

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Abortion

Dems Slam GOP For Pushing Abortion Bill Instead Of Job Creation

Susan Crabtree | October 13, 2011, 12:32PM

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)

Democrats are condemning a House GOP attempt to prevent President Obama's health care law from paying for abortions as an assault on women and a waste of precious legislative time when Americans are demanding action on the economy and job creation.

"First of all, it's not a jobs bill. What are we doing but wasting time?" Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) told reporters Thursday. "Every woman in America should be concerned about this assault on women's health."

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Michele Bachmann

Bachmann Introduces Bill To Require Ultrasounds For Women Seeking Abortions

Eric Kleefeld | October 7, 2011, 10:41AM

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN)

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN), whose presidential campaign has been beset by a collapse in the polls and possible staffing issues, is taking on a new political front; she's introducing a strongly anti-abortion bill in the House, which could potentially help her rev up pro-life voters.

Bachmann's proposed "Heartbeat Informed Consent Act," announced on Thursday, would require a woman seeking an abortion to undergo an ultrasound, in order to view and hear a fetal heartbeat.

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Rick Scott

Florida Gov. Rick Scott Hosts Anti-Abortion Law Celebration

David Taintor | August 1, 2011, 10:28AM

Rick Scott

Gov. Rick Scott (R-FL) knows how to throw a party. The conservative governor on Saturday hosted pro-life activists and Florida lawmakers at the governor's mansion to celebrate a handful of new anti-abortion laws, the Miami Herald reports.

But the laws actually went into effect about a month ago, so why host the ceremonial bill-signing event now?

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2012 elections

Bachmann: I Became 'Committed To Life' After Miscarriage

Eric Kleefeld | June 30, 2011, 9:55AM

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN)

During a campaign stop in South Carolina, Michele Bachmann said that her dedication to the pro-life cause, as well as her experience of serving as a foster parent for a total of 23 children, were rooted in a miscarriage she had years ago.

"After our second was born, we became pregnant with a third baby," Bachmann told an audience of 400, CNN reports. "It was an unexpected baby, but of course we were delighted to have this child. The child was coming along and we ended up losing our child. And it was devastating to both of us, as you can imagine if any of you have lost a child."

"At that moment, we didn't think of ourselves as overly career-minded or overly materialistic but when we lost that child, it changed us, and it changed us forever," she further added. "We made a commitment that no matter how many children were brought into our life, we would receive them because we are committed to life."

Planned Parenthood

NC Gov. Bev Perdue Vetoes Abortion Restricting Bill

Jessica Kim | June 28, 2011, 3:58PM

Gov. Bev Perdue (D-NC)

Gov. Bev Perdue (D-NC) on Monday vetoed a bill that would have required women seeking abortions to wait for 24 hours and receive ultrasound images of the fetus along with descriptions of what they are seeing before having the procedure.

"This bill is a dangerous intrusion into the confidential relationship that exists between women and their doctors. The bill contains provisions that are the most extreme in the nation in terms of interfering with that relationship," Perdue said in a statement to the Raleigh News & Observer.

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Rick Santorum

Dirt Bike Fight: Santorum Ad Mocks Huntsman Over Anti-Abortion Pledge

Jillian Rayfield | June 21, 2011, 10:09AM

A web ad Tuesday from Rick Santorum's presidential campaign mocks an ad from now official presidential candidate Jon Huntsman and attacks him for not signing a pro-life pledge from the group the Susan B. Anthony List.

Huntsman's original ad, one of several released in the run-up to his entry into the race, shows him riding a dirt bike and teases the announcement of his presidential plans as coming "in 4 days." Santorum's ad shows a dirt bike rider wiping out and says Huntsman "Hasn't signed the anti-abortion pledge. Just like Mitt Romney..."

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2012 elections

Bachmann Camp Assails Romney On Pro-Life Issues

Eric Kleefeld | June 20, 2011, 10:23AM

Former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA) and Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN)

Michele Bachmann's presidential campaign is firing at Mitt Romney, over his refusal to sign a stringent pro-life pledge from a conservative group.

On Saturday, Romney wrote on National Review that he would not sign the pro-life pledge from the Susan B. Anthony List (which supports pro-life candidates for Congress, in something of a counter-weight EMILY's List), on the grounds that its pledge to defund all "contractors and recipients of federal funds with affiliates that perform or fund abortions" went too far, and would cut off funding to many hospitals.

"As much as I share the goals of the Susan B. Anthony List, its well-meaning pledge is overly broad and would have unintended consequences," Romney wrote. "That is why I could not sign it. It is one thing to end federal funding for an organization like Planned Parenthood; it is entirely another to end all federal funding for thousands of hospitals across America. That is precisely what the pledge would demand and require of a president who signed it."

The Bachmann campaign then pounced -- linking Romney's stance on the pledge to his original pro-choice positions -- with spokeswoman Alice Stewart saying in a statement, in part:

"It is distressing that Governor Romney refuses to sign the SBA Pledge, even while claiming to be pro-life. The excuses for not signing clearly continue the doubts about his leadership and commitment to ending the practice of abortion - particularly for a candidate who ran as pro-choice for the Senate and Governorship of Massachusetts. Any Presidential candidate seeking our party's nomination should sign the SBA Pledge and vow to protect life from conception to natural death. Governor Romney should reconsider his decision not to sign the Pledge just as he reconsidered his position on the life issue during the last campaign."

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2012

Let The Games Begin! A Guide To Tonight's GOP Debate

Brian Beutler | June 13, 2011, 6:45AM

Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty

Not since the first head-to-CPU contest between Gary Kasparov and Deep Blue has the world waited so breathlessly for the kind of battle of the minds we're likely to witness Monday evening.

For the first time this primary season, seven of the top contenders for the GOP presidential nomination will field tough questions, pitch Republican voters, and take on each others' foibles and apostasies during an 8 pm ET, CNN/WMUR/New Hampshire Union Leader-sponsored debate in Manchester, New Hampshire.

On hand will be Herman Cain, Tim Pawlenty, Rick Santorum, and Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) -- all of whom participated in the first GOP debate last month. They'll be joined on stage by three big names in Republican politics: Newt Gingrich, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN), and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney.

Like every primary debate since the advent of cable television, the forum will be marked by predictable talking points, unctuous spells of self-flattery, and reflexive attacks on the incumbent president.

But as the GOP field takes shape, it will also be one of the first opportunities for the contenders to stake out or clarify their positions on the issues defining this race. Here are the five key things to be on the look out for.

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Abortion

Report: Feds Say Indiana Medicaid Plan Banning Funds For Planned Parenthood Is Illegal

Jon Terbush | June 1, 2011, 5:11PM

Gov. Mitch Daniels (R-IN)

The Health and Human Services Department has told the state of indiana that its Medicaid plan, which prohibits any funding for health clinics that perform abortions, must be changed, according to the Associated Press.

Via the AP:

In a letter sent to Indiana's Medicaid director, and obtained by The Associated Press on Wednesday, Medicaid Administrator Donald M. Berwick says Indiana's plan will improperly bar Medicaid beneficiaries from receiving services. Berwick writes that federal law requires Medicaid beneficiaries to be able to obtain services from any provider qualified to provide services.

That letter comes about a month after Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels (R) signed a bill stripping Planned Parenthood of all public funds, including Medicaid payments. According the letter obtained by the AP, the state can change its Medicaid plan, or face possible penalties.

Abortion

After H.R. 3, Are There Any Pro-Choice Republicans Left In The House?

Evan McMorris-Santoro | May 7, 2011, 10:10AM

Rep. Judy Biggert (R-IL)

Yes, America, there are pro-choice Republicans. But after this week, there's some question about whether are any left in the U.S. Congress.

H.R. 3, the "No Taxpayer Funding For Abortion Act" that passed the House May 4 is not likely to become the law of the land. But the fact that it passed the House with unanimous Republican support means the pro-life members of the party, which includes all the House leadership, can tout their attachment to social issues, even after the supposedly fiscal-first tea party movement helped take over the GOP last year.

For pro-choice Republicans, the vote means embarrassing questions. Basically every pro-choice group says H.R. 3 is an anti-abortion bill that goes far beyond the government's current prohibitions on abortion funding and actually raises taxes on women who want to seek abortion coverage in their private insurance plans.

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Jon Kyl

Jon Kyl's Approval Rating Falls After False Planned Parenthood Claim

Jon Terbush | May 6, 2011, 1:58PM

Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ)

Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ) is still a very popular politician in Arizona despite his false claim that abortions make up 90% of Planned Parenthood's services. Actually, that's not intended to be a factual statement.

In reality, Kyl's approval rating has gotten markedly worse since January, according to a PPP poll released on Friday, perhaps not coincidentally because of the false claim he made on the Senate floor last month, and the negative press attention it generated.

In the same PPP poll that showed Kyl's approval rating slipping, a majority of Arizonans said they opposed cutting funding for Planned Parenthood. Further, while Republicans' opinion of Kyl hasn't changed much since January, large numbers of Democrats and independents -- who both strongly opposed cutting funding for Planned Parenthood, according to the survey -- have soured on Kyl over the same period.

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Abortion

Wicker: Don't Hold Your Breath For H.R. 3 Passage In The Senate

Igor Bobic | May 5, 2011, 4:54PM

Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS)

Republican sponsors of H.R. 3, the divisive abortion-limiting bill that passed in the House on Wednesday by a 251-175 vote, are preparing to introduce the legislation to a Democratic-controlled Senate where even they admit its chances of advancing are slim to none.

Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS) remained optimistic that the bill would serve a vital message for pro-life supporters even as the Obama administration threatened to veto the legislation if it reached the president's desk.

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Abortion

GOP-Led House Approves Abortion Coverage-Limiting Bill

Evan McMorris-Santoro | May 4, 2011, 5:22PM

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ)

The House of Representatives just passed H.R. 3, the controversial abortion-funding law that pro-choice critics and the White House has said will make it harder for woman to pay for abortion coverage with their own money.

The passage was expected, considering 227 members signed on as co-sponsors of the legislation. The final vote was 251-175. Sixteen Democrats and 235 Republicans voted aye. The full rollcall vote is here.

It's not likely the bill will move along much further past the House. Democrats control the Senate and the Obama administration has promised to veto the bill if it ever land on the president's desk.

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Abortion

Sponsor of House Abortion Bill Doesn't Sign On To Tying It To The Debt Ceiling

Evan McMorris-Santoro | May 4, 2011, 1:15PM

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ)

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), the author of the controversial H.R. 3 bill that pro-choice critics and the White House say will severely limit the ability of women to find abortion coverage in private insurance plans, would not explicitly sign on with fellow Republicans calling for it to be tied to the debt ceiling vote.

Speaking with reporters on Wednesday as the House prepares for its expected passage of the "No Taxpayer Funding For Abortion Act," Smith -- one of the House's most ardent opponents of abortion and a leader on the issue for decades -- brushed off direct questions about a plan floated by some Republicans to tie HR 3 to the upcoming vote to raise the nation's debt limit. Republicans were able to attach an anti-abortion rider to the budget deal preventing Washington, DC from spending its taxpayer funds on abortion coverage for poor women, and some Republicans hope to repeat that strategy with Smith's bill.

Smith dodged when asked if he'd support the plan.

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Abortion

As Abortion Bill Nears House Vote, White House Threatens Veto

Evan McMorris-Santoro | May 3, 2011, 9:10AM

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ)

President Obama would veto H.R. 3 -- the bill that became infamous earlier this year for its original language about "forcible rape" -- if it were ever to make it to his desk.

The finalized version of H.R. 3, which proponents say is aimed at making existing government restrictions on funding abortion permanent, is scheduled for a House vote on Monday. Critics of the bill, including the White House, have said that it would make it tougher for women to seek abortion coverage from private insurers, effectively expanding government restrictions on abortion funding beyond the accepted practice found in the Hyde Amendment (which needs to be renewed by Congress every year.)

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Rick Santorum

Rick Santorum: I'm Pretty Sure Planned Parenthood Practices Eugenics

Evan McMorris-Santoro | April 28, 2011, 4:20PM

Fmr. Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA)

There are many reasons social conservatives give for cutting off federal funding to Planned Parenthood. After a foreign policy speech today, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum expertly laid out one of the more extreme: Planned Parenthood, he said, is a bit too interested in racial eugenics for his taste.

"Well, look at -- and I know they dispute this -- certainly a lot of evidence that the location of their clinics happen to be in places, historically places, where there are high concentrations of minorities for example," Santorum explained to a gaggle of reporters after a foreign policy speech he made in Washington today. "

The placement of clinics and the targeted advertising may be a vestige of what Santorum called Planned Parenthood's "horrific origins," but he said much of the "poisonous" nature of the organization has remained even as it has claimed to, he said, "transform over time."

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Jon Kyl

Sen. Kyl Erases His False Statement On Planned Parenthood From Congressional Record

Jon Terbush | April 22, 2011, 2:52PM

Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ)

Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ) has erased from the Congressional record his false claim that abortions comprise 90% of Planned Parenthood's services. And yes, that is intended to be a factual statement.

During the recent budget debate, Kyl made that false claim about Planned Parenthood on the Senate floor, thus entering it into the Congressional record. But after taking a lot of flak for that act of huge hyperbole, Kyl had it stricken from the official text.

According to the Library of Congress website, members of Congress are entitled to, "edit the transcript of their floor remarks before publication in the daily record or the permanent record."

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Abortion

D.C., Pro-Lifers On The Hill Battle Over Budget Deal Implementation

Evan McMorris-Santoro | April 22, 2011, 10:17AM

D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray

The bone thrown to abortion opponents in the 2011 budget deal -- which dropped the GOP's plans to defund Planned Parenthood -- was the reinstatement of a federal ban on the D.C. government spending its funds on abortion in the way it would like.

Now the pro-life members who got the ban into the budget law are worrying that the city may not act to enforce the ban, and are calling out Mayor Vincent Gray. The mayor's office tells TPM that they're planning to comply with the wishes of Congress.

It's the latest round in a proxy war over abortion that sees state rights-friendly conservatives repeatedly impose their will on the taxpayers of the nation's capital.

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Donald Trump

Pro-Lifers: Donald Trump Doesn't Understand How Pro-Life Works (VIDEO)

Evan McMorris-Santoro | April 19, 2011, 4:45PM

Donald Trump is 100% pro-life. Except when it comes to the basis of Roe v. Wade which made abortion legal in the United States. That he agrees with, 100%.

In an interview with MSNBC's Savannah Guthrie, Trump was asked if he believes there's a right to privacy in the Constitution.

The question is an important one in the abortion debate. Pro-lifers say there absolutely is not a Constitutional right to privacy, which means Roe is a travesty and abortion should once again be permitted to be outlawed in the states that choose to do so. Pro-choicers strenuously disagree, stating that the right to privacy is guaranteed and is extended to a woman's choice to have an abortion or not, the central basis of Roe.

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Pres '12

LensCrafters To Bachmann: Don't Use Our Name Against Planned Parenthood

Eric Kleefeld | April 13, 2011, 3:06PM

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN)

Is Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN), the national Tea Party movement star who is considering a run for president, becoming the LensCrafters of gaffes?

On Monday, in a speech in Iowa, Bachmann declared: "The executive director of Planned Parenthood in Illinois said they want to become the LensCrafters of big abortion in Illinois." (As CNN points out, Planned Parenthood Illinois CEO Steve Trombley actually said in 2008, "I like to think of Planned Parenthood as the LensCrafters of family planning" -- which is a much wider category of health care services than just abortion.)

But besides the facts, Bachmann is also catching objections from some innocent bystanders in this political battle: in this case LensCrafters!

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Government Shutdown

Three Plausible Outcomes To Government Shutdown Gridlock

Brian Beutler | April 8, 2011, 6:46PM

Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)

Democrats are in a holding pattern as they wait for House Republicans to show their cards on a spending bill to avoid a government shutdown. Here are the three paths forward, with the caveat that the details could change a bit.

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Government Shutdown

House GOP Women Dodge Questions on Abortion at Press Conference

Benjy Sarlin | April 8, 2011, 5:32PM

Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-OH)

Looking to counter a press conference earlier Friday by Democratic women in the Senate lambasting the GOP over their refusal to drop provisions blocking women's health funding, Republican women in the House held a gathering of their own on Friday afternoon. But the presser proved a frustrating affair for the members, who were asked over and over again without success to explain if they agreed with the policy riders or not.

In their opening remarks, the 15 congresswomen present each sought to frame the battle over a continuing resolution as one about spending, with several saying future prosperity spurred by lower debt would benefit their daughters and granddaughters -- seemingly a direct rejoinder to Democratic accusations that the GOP was targeting women and children. Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) said that the Democrats' spending was "economic child abuse."

But despite charging Democrats with falsely claiming negotiations were hinging on social issues, the members appeared uncomfortable even bringing up the policy riders in question by name. Not one member recited the words "Planned Parenthood" in opening remarks and only one member, Rep. Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, even mentioned the word "abortion." Several addressed Democratic charges that policy provisions regarding women's health and abortion were holding up a final deal only in the most indirect terms.

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Government Shutdown

Budget Mystery: 4 a.m. E-mail Shatters Reid's Hopes of a Deal

Susan Crabtree | April 8, 2011, 4:11PM

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)

It's that eery time during intense negotiations of any kind when hours of silence go by and each side waits for the other to blink.

Democrats were the last to draw a line in the sand over the abortion riders Republicans are demanding be included in the bill. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and nearly a dozen other Democrats gathered en mass in the Capitol early Friday afternoon to denounce Republicans' insistence on using budget negotiations to play politics with women's health.

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Government Shutdown

New Offer On The Table As Clock Ticks Toward Government Shutdown

Brian Beutler | April 8, 2011, 3:10PM

House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)

Maybe it isn't a take it or leave it situation for John Boehner. After a Democratic caucus meeting this afternoon, Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND), the chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, told reporters negotiators are discussing a new possible deal.

"While we were in there another offer is being analyzed," Conrad said. "And I don't know any of the details, I don't know if anybody does because it was just been received while we were in there."

At a press conference following the meeting, I asked Reid for the details of that offer. He kept it pretty close to the vest.

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Government Shutdown

Still Stuck: Boehner, Republicans Hold Out For More

Brian Beutler | April 8, 2011, 1:43PM

House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA), and other members of the GOP leadership

After an hour-long meeting with members of his caucus, House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) emerged, only to repeat himself.

"All I can tell you is that almost all of the policy issues have been dealt with," he said. "And there is no agreement on the spending bill. Were working to try to get there."

It's notable because Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) publicly outlined a final offer to Boehner, suggesting he wasn't able to sell the deal to his GOP caucus. The point of contention seems to be that Republicans want to defund Planned Parenthood or extract out further spending cuts. Dems have drawn a line. And there are less than 11 hours between now and a government shutdown.

Government Shutdown

Dems Offer Billions To Save Planned Parenthood, Other Priorities

Brian Beutler | April 8, 2011, 11:37AM

A bit more info on the current impasse in negotiations to prevent a government shutdown.

A Senate source explains why numbers have changed in recent hours -- and it has to do with riders. Yesterday evening, Senate Dems were holding firm at cutting spending by $34.5 billion. Republicans wanted something closer to $39 billion. Today, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) acknowledged, in a roundabout way, that the new consensus figure was $38 billion, and aides have since confirmed that number.

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Government Shutdown

Reid's Final Offer To GOP: Drop Planned Parenthood Rider Or Cause A Government Shutdown

Brian Beutler | April 8, 2011, 10:28AM

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has laid a final offer at Republicans' feet, and it will require them to drop their insistence on defunding Planned Parenthood, and accepting what Reid insists is an agreed upon level of spending cuts. If Republicans don't take it, and if Reid's not bluffing, the government will shutdown.

"The number we're not bending on," he told reporters in a press briefing Friday morning. "We're not bending on that and we're not bending on women's health."

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Government Shutdown

Abortion, Spending Cuts Hamper Deal To Avoid Government Shutdown

Brian Beutler | April 8, 2011, 9:00AM

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)

Negotiations between Democrats and Republicans to avoid a government shutdown ended for the night a few hours ago without a breakthrough. Still bedeviling the talks is the issue of abortion. Republicans want a bill to fund the government for six months to eliminate funding for Planned Parenthood and Democrats won't allow it. But according to Republicans, there may be some flexibility on the riders if Democrats would pony up a few billion dollars more in cuts -- and, according to one top Republican aide, they've drawn the line at $34.5 billion in cuts to current spending.

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Barack Obama

White House Budget Meeting Ends With Both Sides Deeply Divided

Susan Crabtree | April 7, 2011, 2:31PM

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney

As Washington lurched precariously closer to a government shutdown, President Obama once again summoned Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) to the White House Thursday afternoon in an attempt to strike a deal.

But at the end of the meeting, both sides appeared far from a compromise.

"We continue to have productive conversations -- they are polite and to the point," Boehner said, "but there is no agreement on the number of the policy."

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John Boehner

Reid: I'm Beginning To Doubt Whether Boehner Wants To Avoid A Government Shutdown

Brian Beutler | April 7, 2011, 1:22PM

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) with Sens. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Charles Schumer (D-NY)

Asked at a Capitol press conference this afternoon if he's starting to doubt whether House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) wants to avoid a government shutdown, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) didn't mince words.

"Yes, I am," he said.

You can look at that sentiment a couple of ways. Ironically, Reid's statement gives Boehner credibility with his base, which makes it easier for him to strike a deal. But it's also about passing the buck to the other party, as the clock ticks toward a government shutdown.

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Abortion

Riders Caused The Storm: Government Shutdown Looms Over Anti-Abortion And Anti-EPA Measures

Brian Beutler | April 7, 2011, 12:07PM

House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH)

If a government shutdown happens, it'll be because Republicans are demanding policy restrictions in addition to spending cuts before agreeing to fund the government through September. These policy restrictions would target abortion providers and seek to limit the reach of the Environmental Protection Agency.

Which of the so-called riders are at stake and how do they work?

There are several riders addressing abortion and environmental regulation. It's not clear yet which of them specifically are at issue. Neither side is saying publicly which they are. But here's a primer on what they contain:

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Harry Reid

Reid: Looks Like We're Headed For A Government Shutdown

Brian Beutler | April 7, 2011, 10:13AM

Just 12 hours ago, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) told news cameras outside the White House he was hopeful he could reach a spending deal with House Republicans to avoid a government shutdown. "I have confidence that we can get this done," he said. "We're not there yet. But hope lies eternal."

That's all out the window now. On the Senate floor Thursday morning, Reid declared "I am not nearly as optimistic as I was 11 hours ago." Of a government shutdown, he said "It looks like it's heading in that direction."

"The only thing holding up the agreement is ideology," he said. "[Republicans] have drawn a line in the sand...[over] ideology."

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Barack Obama

Slight Progress But Still No Deal After White House Budget Meeting

Susan Crabtree | April 6, 2011, 11:33PM

President Barack Obama

President Obama and Congressional leaders cited limited progress but still had yet to reach a budget deal to avert a government shutdown after a emergency late-night meeting at the White House Wednesday.

Emerging from a meeting with Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), Obama said the talks were "frank and constructive" but failed to produce the necessary compromises to strike a deal.

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Government Shutdown

As Negotiators Near Spending Deal, Riders Stall Final Agreement

Brian Beutler | April 6, 2011, 12:47PM

A Senate Democratic leadership aide tells me that top negotiators for House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) are nearing an agreement that would cut federal spending by somewhere between $33 billion and $40 billion dollars but "much closer to 33."

The men quarterbacking that side of the spending fight are Boehner's chief of staff Barry Jackson and Reid's chief of staff David Krone. They're working with multiple frameworks that contain somewhat different allocations, and mixes of discretionary and mandatory spending, but according to the aide, are close to resolving that side of the issue.

However, another side of the equation is still holding up a final deal. That's where things get tough.

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Abortion

Indiana GOPer: Women Might Pretend To Be Raped To Get Around Abortion Laws

Jillian Rayfield | March 31, 2011, 9:28AM

Indiana State Rep. Eric Turner (R)

Indiana state Rep. Eric Turner (R) argued Tuesday that there should be no loopholes in the state's abortions laws for victims of rape or incest, because then "someone who is desirous of an abortion could simply say that they've been raped or there's incest."

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Blue Dogs

Senior Blue Dog Says House GOP 'Talked Down' To Them On Budget

Susan Crabtree | March 30, 2011, 5:03PM

Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN)

Any attempt -- real or imagined -- by House Republican leaders to court enough Blue Dog Democrats to their side on the budget talks to avoid a government shutdown, may have backfired.

Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN), a founding member of the Blue Dogs, told TPM he didn't think the talks were "all that effective" because House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) had "talked down to them" during a recent meeting.

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