Anti-Abortion Measure in Health Bill Fails

WASHINGTON -- An anti-abortion amendment to a sweeping health overhaul bill was voted down in a House committee late Thursday - a dramatic reversal just hours after the measure initially was approved.

The amendment said health care legislation moving through Congress may not impose requirements for coverage of abortion, except in limited cases. It was approved in the Energy and Commerce Committee after conservative Democrats joined Republicans to support it.

But committee Chairman Henry Waxman, D-Calif., invoked House rules that allowed him to bring up the amendment for a second vote, despite Republican objections.

This time, one conservative Democrat - Rep. Bart Gordon of Tennessee - changed his vote from "yes" to "no." And a second conservative Democrat who hadn't voted the first time - Rep. Zack Space of Ohio - voted "no."

It was enough to take down the amendment on a 30-29 vote.

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