DENVER—Abortion restrictions in the Senate health care bill are “offensive to people who believe in choice” and may be unconstitutional, Colorado congresswoman Diana DeGette said Saturday.
DeGette, a Democrat and co-chairwoman of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus, said in a written statement she has “serious reservations” about the provision.
DeGette’s spokesman, Kris Eisenla, said women who buy health policies under a new insurance exchange would be required to purchase a separate rider to get abortion coverage under the new language.
He called that impractical.
“No one expects a pregnancy to go terribly wrong,” Eisenla said in an interview.
He said the provision may be unconstitutional because it could restrict a woman’s access to abortion, which the Supreme Court legalized in the Roe vs. Wade decision in 1973.
Eisenla stopped short of calling the provision a deal-killer. DeGette wants to make sure the bill doesn’t deny women access to abortions, Eisenla said.
The Pro-Choice Caucus is still reviewing the provision, Eisenla said. He said the caucus has 190 members.
