Videos Examine Health Reform Abortion Debate, International Women's Day

March 11, 2010 — The following summarizes selected women's health-related videos.

Uncertainty Surrounds 'Stupak Dozen': On Wednesday, MSNBC host Rachel Maddow challenged Rep. Bart Stupak's (D-Mich.) claim that he has about twelve lawmakers who will vote against the Senate health reform bill if it doesn't include more restrictions on abortion coverage. According to a senior House leadership aide, an informal whip count found that only four or five House members are willing to back Stupak, Maddow reported (Maddow, "The Rachel Maddow Show," MSNBC, 3/10).

Sebelius Discusses Abortion Language in Health Reform: HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius took the Obama administration's health reform message to ABC's "This Week" and NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday. In discussing abortion coverage, Sebelius said, "Neither the Senate or the House bill has any federal funding for abortions, none" (Dowd, "This Week," ABC, 3/7). She also said, "There are very clear rules that apply across the board on federal funding for abortion coverage, and that's what we'll have at the end of the day" (Gregory, "Meet the Press," NBC, 3/7).

DeGette Explains Reform Abortion Debate: Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) -- co-chair of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus -- spoke with "Rachel Maddow" guest host Chris Hayes about the caucus' efforts to ensure that health reform legislation does not go beyond the current ban on the use of federal money for abortion. "History shows that if we pass a restriction on a woman's right to choose, we'll never get that back," she said (Hayes, "The Rachel Maddow Show," MSNBC, 3/9).

 White House Marks International Women's Day: During a speech at a reception to celebrate International Women's Day, first lady Michelle Obama noted that the administration lifted the "global gag rule," which she said "restricted women's access to family planning services abroad." The first lady also discussed the administration's efforts to invest in child and maternal health, and the creation of the Office of Global Women's Issues at the State Department (White House release, 3/8).