Big Step for Healthcare, but Let's Keep Religion Out

A giant step for Americans was taken last night with passage of a bill that will provide healthcare to 96% of our population. While not perfect (why not 100%?), it does close many loopholes in our existing system. One of the most important stipulations is that insurers cannot deny or limit coverage to anyone with pre-exisiting conditions. This is great news for anyone who has ever had (or will ever have) a serious illness or injury.

There is one important piece of coverage that is missing, though: abortion. This is disturbing because it denies women the right to make choices about their own bodies, and is another instance of religion weaseling its way into government.

Bart Stupak (D-MI), the amendment's sponsor, said, "Let us stand together on principle—no public funding for abortions." And if that wasn't enough, the knife was twisted by a further restriction barring anyone who receives new federal health subsidies from buying insurance plans that do include abortion coverage (a restriction that in turn discriminates against low-income women).

The fact is, abortions are legal in this country, as Diana DeGette (D-CO) pointed out: "Like it or not, this is a legal medical procedure and we should respect those who need to make this very personal decision." The reason abortions are legal is because so far the Supreme Court and the majority of the U.S. population have succeeded in keeping personal religious beliefs out of the mix. Barbara Lee (D-CA) supported this history, arguing that this amendment "attempts to dictate to women how to spend their own money... It further places the religious views... of some into our public policy again. We're a democracracy; we're not a theocracy." (Thank you, thank you, Barbara Lee!)

Even with this blemish, I applaud the House for taking this first wobbly step in the right direction. There will be many amendments and it will take many years to work out the kinks, but at least we are now on the path to becoming a more humane society.

(Check out the Freedom From Religion Foundation for more info on the separation between church and state.)