For_IF Abortion_NN1 Foes_NN2 ,_, a_AT1 Victory_NN1 in_II Health_NN1 Care_NN1 Vote_VV0 A_AT1 restriction_NN1 on_II abortion_NN1 coverage_NN1 ,_, added_VVD late_JJ Saturday_NPD1 to_II the_AT health_NN1 care_NN1 bill_NN1 passed_VVN by_II the_AT House_NN1 ,_, has_VHZ energized_VVN abortion_NN1 opponents_NN2 with_IW their_APPGE biggest_JJT victory_NN1 in_II years_NNT2 --_NN1 emboldening_VVG them_PPHO2 for_IF a_AT1 pitched_JJ battle_NN1 in_II the_AT Senate_NN1 ._. 
The_AT provision_NN1 would_VM block_VVI the_AT use_NN1 of_IO federal_JJ subsidies_NN2 for_IF insurance_NN1 that_CST covers_VVZ elective_JJ abortions_NN2 ._. 
Advocates_NN2 on_II both_DB2 sides_NN2 are_VBR calling_JJ Saturday_NPD1 's_GE vote_NN1 the_AT biggest_JJT turning_NN1 point_NN1 in_II the_AT battle_NN1 over_II the_AT procedure_NN1 since_CS the_AT ban_NN1 on_II so-called_JJ partial_JJ birth_NN1 abortions_NN2 six_MC years_NNT2 ago_RA ._. 
Both_DB2 sides_NN2 credited_VVN a_AT1 forceful_JJ lobbying_NN1 effort_NN1 by_II Roman_JJ Catholic_JJ bishops_NN2 with_IW the_AT success_NN1 of_IO the_AT provision_NN1 ,_, inserted_VVN in_II the_AT bill_NN1 under_II pressure_NN1 from_II conservative_JJ Democrats_NN2 ._. 
The_AT provision_NN1 would_VM apply_VVI only_RR to_II insurance_NN1 policies_NN2 purchased_VVN with_IW the_AT federal_JJ subsidies_NN2 that_CST the_AT health_NN1 legislation_NN1 would_VM create_VVI to_TO help_VVI low-_JJ and_CC middle-income_JJ people_NN ,_, and_CC to_II policies_NN2 sold_VVN by_II a_AT1 government-run_JJ insurance_NN1 plan_NN1 that_CST would_VM be_VBI created_VVN by_II the_AT legislation_NN1 ._. 
Abortion_NN1 rights_NN2 advocates_NN2 charged_VVD Sunday_NPD1 that_CST the_AT provision_NN1 threatened_VVD to_TO deprive_VVI women_NN2 of_IO abortion_NN1 coverage_NN1 because_CS insurers_NN2 would_VM drop_VVI the_AT procedure_NN1 from_II their_APPGE plans_NN2 in_BCL21 order_BCL22 to_TO sell_VVI them_PPHO2 in_II the_AT newly_RR expanded_JJ market_NN1 of_IO people_NN receiving_VVG subsidies_NN2 ._. 
The_AT subsidized_JJ market_NN1 would_VM be_VBI large_JJ because_CS anyone_PN1 earning_VVG less_DAR than_CSN $88,000_NNU for_IF a_AT1 family_NN1 of_IO four_MC --_JJ four_MC times_NNT2 the_AT poverty_NN1 level_NN1 --_NN1 would_VM be_VBI eligible_JJ for_IF a_AT1 subsidy_NN1 under_II the_AT House_NN1 bill_NN1 ._. 
Women_NN2 who_PNQS received_VVD subsidies_NN2 or_CC public_JJ insurance_NN1 could_VM still_RR pay_VVI out_II21 of_II22 pocket_NN1 for_IF the_AT procedure_NN1 ._. 
Or_CC they_PPHS2 could_VM buy_VVI separate_JJ insurance_NN1 riders_NN2 to_TO cover_VVI abortion_NN1 ,_, though_CS some_DD evidence_NN1 suggests_VVZ few_DA2 would_VM ,_, in_RR21 part_RR22 because_CS unwanted_JJ pregnancies_NN2 are_VBR by_II their_APPGE nature_NN1 unexpected_JJ ._. 
Not_XX many_DA2 women_NN2 who_PNQS undergo_VV0 abortions_NN2 file_VV0 private_JJ insurance_NN1 claims_NN2 ,_, perhaps_RR to_TO avoid_VVI leaving_VVG a_AT1 record_NN1 ._. 
A_ZZ1 2003_MC study_NN1 by_II the_AT Alan_NP1 Guttmacher_NP1 Institute_NN1 found_VVD that_CST 13_MC percent_NNU of_IO abortions_NN2 were_VBDR billed_VVN directly_RR to_II insurance_NN1 companies_NN2 ._. 
Only_RR about_RG half_DB of_IO those_DD2 who_PNQS receive_VV0 insurance_NN1 coverage_NN1 from_II their_APPGE employers_NN2 have_VH0 coverage_NN1 of_IO abortion_NN1 in_II any_DD event_NN1 ,_, according_II21 to_II22 a_AT1 study_NN1 by_II the_AT Kaiser_NNB Family_NP1 Foundation_NN1 ._. 
Abortion_NN1 rights_NN2 advocates_NN2 ,_, however_RR ,_, are_VBR grappling_VVG with_IW a_AT1 series_NN of_IO incremental_JJ defeats_NN2 in_II the_AT courts_NN2 and_CC in_II Congress_NN1 ,_, and_CC are_VBR now_RT bracing_VVG for_IF another_DD1 struggle_NN1 as_II the_AT health_NN1 care_NN1 legislation_NN1 goes_VVZ to_II the_AT Senate_NN1 ._. 
"_" This_DD1 is_VBZ going_VVGK to_TO make_VVI it_PPH1 that_RG much_DA1 more_DAR challenging_JJ on_II the_AT Senate_NN1 side_NN1 ,_, "_" said_VVD Nancy_NP1 Keenan_NP1 ,_, president_NN1 of_IO Naral_JJ Pro-Choice_NN1 America_NP1 ._. 
The_AT president_NN1 and_CC Democratic_JJ leaders_NN2 alike_RR have_VH0 long_RR promised_VVN that_CST their_APPGE proposed_JJ health_NN1 care_NN1 overhaul_NN1 would_VM not_XX direct_VVI taxpayer_NN1 money_NN1 to_TO pay_VVI for_IF elective_JJ abortions_NN2 ._. 
But_CCB the_AT president_NN1 has_VHZ never_RR spelled_VVN out_RP his_APPGE answer_NN1 to_II the_AT contentious_JJ question_NN1 of_IO how_RRQ to_TO apply_VVI that_DD1 standard_NN1 to_II the_AT novel_JJ program_NN1 of_IO offering_VVG insurance_NN1 subsidies_NN2 or_CC a_AT1 government-run_JJ plan_NN1 to_II millions_NNO2 of_IO poor_JJ and_CC middle-class_JJ Americans_NN2 ._. 
House_VV0 Democratic_JJ leaders_NN2 had_VHD sought_VVN to_TO resolve_VVI the_AT issue_NN1 by_II requiring_VVG insurers_NN2 to_TO segregate_VVI their_APPGE federal_JJ subsidies_NN2 into_II separate_JJ accounts_NN2 ._. 
Insurance_NN1 plans_NN2 would_VM have_VHI been_VBN permitted_VVN to_TO use_VVI only_JJ consumer_NN1 premiums_NN2 or_CC co-payments_NN2 to_TO pay_VVI for_IF abortions_NN2 ,_, even_CS21 if_CS22 individuals_NN2 who_PNQS received_VVD federal_JJ subsidies_NN2 used_VVD them_PPHO2 to_TO buy_VVI health_NN1 plans_VVZ that_CST covered_VVD abortion_NN1 ._. 
But_CCB the_AT House_NN1 speaker_NN1 ,_, Nancy_NP1 Pelosi_NP1 ,_, was_VBDZ unable_JK to_TO hold_VVI on_RP to_II enough_DD moderate_JJ and_CC conservative_JJ Democratic_JJ votes_NN2 to_TO pass_VVI the_AT health_NN1 bill_NN1 using_VVG that_DD1 approach_NN1 ,_, forcing_VVG her_PPHO1 to_TO allow_VVI a_AT1 vote_NN1 Saturday_NPD1 night_NNT1 on_II the_AT amendment_NN1 containing_VVG the_AT broader_JJR ban_NN1 ._. 
Five_MC states_NN2 go_VV0 further_RRR than_CSN the_AT amendment_NN1 to_II the_AT health_NN1 care_NN1 overhaul_NN1 ._. 
The_AT five_MC --_JJ Idaho_NP1 ,_, Kentucky_NP1 ,_, Missouri_NP1 ,_, North_ND1 Dakota_NP1 and_CC Oklahoma_NP1 --_NN1 already_RR bar_VV0 private_JJ insurance_NN1 plans_VVZ from_II covering_VVG elective_JJ abortions_NN2 ._. 
The_AT federal_JJ employees_NN2 '_GE health_NN1 insurance_NN1 plan_NN1 and_CC most_DAT state_VV0 Medicaid_JJ programs_NN2 also_RR ban_VV0 coverage_NN1 of_IO abortion_NN1 ,_, complying_VVG with_IW a_AT1 three-decade_JJ old_JJ ban_NN1 on_II federal_JJ abortion_NN1 financing_NN1 ._. 
Seventeen_MC state_VV0 Medicaid_JJ programs_NN2 ,_, however_RR ,_, do_VD0 cover_VVI the_AT procedure_NN1 ,_, by_II using_VVG only_JJ state_NN1 money_NN1 ._. 
The_AT bishops_NN2 objected_VVN to_II the_AT segregated_JJ funds_NN2 proposal_NN1 previously_RR embraced_VVN by_II the_AT House_NN1 and_CC Senate_NN1 Democratic_JJ leaders_NN2 in_RR21 part_RR22 because_CS they_PPHS2 argued_VVD that_CST it_PPH1 amounted_VVD to_II nothing_PN1 more_DAR than_CSN an_AT1 accounting_NN1 gimmick_NN1 ._. 
Advocates_NN2 on_II both_DB2 sides_NN2 of_IO the_AT question_NN1 weighed_VVD in_RP ,_, but_CCB the_AT bishops_NN2 '_GE role_NN1 was_VBDZ especially_RR pivotal_JJ in_RR21 part_RR22 because_CS many_DA2 Democrats_NN2 had_VHD expected_VVN them_PPHO2 to_TO be_VBI an_AT1 ally_NN1 ._. 
They_PPHS2 had_VHD pushed_VVN for_IF decades_NNT2 for_IF universal_JJ health_NN1 insurance_NN1 ._. 
"_" We_PPIS2 think_VV0 that_CST providing_VVG health_NN1 care_NN1 is_VBZ itself_PPX1 a_AT1 pro-life_JJ thing_NN1 ,_, and_CC we_PPIS2 think_VV0 that_CST ,_, by_RR31 and_RR32 large_RR33 ,_, providing_VVG better_JJR health_NN1 coverage_NN1 to_II women_NN2 could_VM reduce_VVI abortions_NN2 ,_, "_" said_VVD Richard_NP1 M._NN1 Doerflinger_NP1 ,_, a_AT1 spokesman_NN1 for_IF the_AT anti-abortion_JJ division_NN1 of_IO the_AT United_NP1 States_NP1 Conference_NN1 of_IO Catholic_JJ Bishops_NN2 ._. 
"_" But_CCB we_PPIS2 do_VD0 n't_XX make_VVI these_DD2 decisions_NN2 statistically_RR ,_, and_CC to_TO get_VVI to_II that_DD1 good_JJ we_PPIS2 can_VM not_XX do_VDI something_PN1 seriously_RR evil_JJ ._. "_" 
Beginning_VVG in_II late_JJ July_NPM1 ,_, the_AT bishops_NN2 began_VVD issuing_VVG a_AT1 series_NN of_IO increasingly_RR stern_JJ letters_NN2 to_II lawmakers_NN2 making_VVG clear_JJ that_CST they_PPHS2 saw_VVD the_AT abortion-financing_JJ issue_NN1 as_CSA pre-eminent_JJ ,_, a_AT1 deal-breaker_NN1 ._. 
At_II the_AT funeral_NN1 of_IO Senator_NNB Edward_NP1 M._NN1 Kennedy_NP1 in_II August_NPM1 ,_, Cardinal_NNB Sean_NP1 O'Malley_NP1 ,_, the_AT archbishop_NN1 of_IO Boston_NP1 ,_, stole_VVD a_AT1 private_JJ moment_NN1 with_IW Mr._NNB Obama_NP1 to_TO deliver_VVI the_AT same_DA warning_NN1 :_: The_AT bishops_NN2 very_RG much_RR wanted_VVN to_TO support_VVI his_APPGE health_NN1 care_NN1 overhaul_NN1 but_CCB not_XX if_CS it_PPH1 provided_VVD for_IF abortions_NN2 ._. 
The_AT president_NN1 "_" listened_VVD intently_RR ,_, "_" the_AT cardinal_NN1 reported_VVN on_II his_APPGE blog_NN1 ._. 
Bishops_NP1 implored_VVD their_APPGE priests_NN2 and_CC parishioners_NN2 to_TO call_VVI lawmakers_NN2 ._. 
Conservative_JJ Democrats_NN2 negotiating_VVG over_II the_AT issue_NN1 with_IW party_NN1 leaders_NN2 often_RR expressed_VVD their_APPGE desire_NN1 to_TO meet_VVI the_AT bishops_NN2 '_GE criteria_NN2 ,_, according_II21 to_II22 many_DA2 people_NN involved_JJ in_II the_AT talks_NN2 ._. 
On_II Oct._NPM1 8_MC three_MC members_NN2 of_IO the_AT bishops_NN2 conference_NN1 wrote_VVD on_II its_APPGE behalf_NN1 to_II lawmakers_NN2 ,_, "_" If_CS the_AT final_JJ legislation_NN1 does_VDZ not_XX meet_VVI our_APPGE principles_NN2 ,_, we_PPIS2 will_VM have_VHI no_AT choice_NN1 but_CS to_TO oppose_VVI the_AT bill_NN1 ._. "_" 
On_II Sunday_NPD1 ,_, some_DD abortion_NN1 rights_NN2 advocates_NN2 lashed_VVD out_RP at_II the_AT bishops_NN2 ._. 
"_" It_PPH1 was_VBDZ an_AT1 unconscionable_JJ power_NN1 play_NN1 ,_, "_" said_VVD Cecile_NP1 Richards_NP1 ,_, president_NN1 of_IO Planned_JJ Parenthood_NN1 Federation_NN1 of_IO America_NP1 ,_, accusing_VVG the_AT bishops_NN2 of_IO "_" interceding_VVG to_TO put_VVI their_APPGE own_DA ideology_NN1 in_II the_AT national_JJ health_NN1 care_NN1 plan_NN1 ._. "_" 
Now_RT some_DD Senate_NN1 Democrats_NN2 ,_, including_II Bob_NP1 Casey_NP1 of_IO Pennsylvania_NP1 and_CC Ben_NP1 Nelson_NP1 of_IO Nebraska_NP1 ,_, are_VBR pushing_VVG to_TO incorporate_VVI the_AT same_DA restrictions_NN2 in_II their_APPGE own_DA bill_NN1 ._. 
Senior_JJ Senate_NN1 Democratic_JJ aides_NN2 said_VVD the_AT outcome_NN1 was_VBDZ too_RG close_JJ to_II call_NN1 ._. 
