Two key developments today on the health care bill front that will put even more focus on Indiana Democrat Senate candidate Congressman Brad Ellsworth (D-IN) to step forward – as his colleagues have already done – and make clear exactly where he stands on the Senate health care bill.  

Talking Points Memo reports that House Democrat Whip James Clyburn (D-SC) said today that he expects to see language on the health care bill today, and he anticipates a vote on the measure “in the next 10 days.” TPM also notes that House Democrat leaders have made it clear that they will not include the anti-abortion provisions sought by pro-life Democrats and that their decision is non-negotiable:  

• House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer told reporters this morning that Democrats “have not discussed a third way” and that when he spoke with Stupak (D-MI) about the abortion provisions he wants in the measure, “I made it clear that I wasn’t negotiating.”… The majority leader said that as Congress nears a final vote it’s clear the abortion provisions Stupak wants inserted into the health care legislation can’t be addressed in the budget reconciliation bill that House Democrats need to pass.Asked if the case was closed, Hoyer said: “We’ll have to deal with that pretty much as it is at this point in time.”

Hoyer’s comments come in the wake of statements from pro-life Democrats, including Indiana’s Joe Donnelly, who have made clear that they will not support the bill unless the anti-abortion language is included. The Daily Caller reported on Donnelly’s statement this week:

• Rep. Joe Donnelly, of Indiana, told me unequivocally just now that he remains a staunch no vote against health care if the Senate bill’s language on abortion is not changed.  “It provides federal funding for abortion-related services, so I can’t cross that line,” Donnelly said, standing just outside the House chamber.  I asked him if he’s getting a lot of pressure to back down and vote for a health care bill.   “No. They know that this is a matter of conscience and I’m trying to do the right thing. We want good health care for this country but this language does not provide good health care,” Donnelly said.

However, as The Hill newspaper reported yesterday, Ellsworth remains one of the few key Democrats who has remained silent on how he intends to vote on this partisan measure, contrary to his strong statements on this issue in the past.

• Ellsworth probably didn’t think he would be a Senate candidate when he cast his yes vote in November. What people tend to forget is that Ellsworth was not only a supporter of the Stupak Amendment, but a key player in getting it inserted into the bill. What’s more, Ellsworth at the time told a local paper, “I will not support a bill that I believe would result in federal tax dollars being used to pay for abortions.” If there’s no Stupak language in the coming bill, Ellsworth will be torn between living up to those words and pleasing the Democratic leaders who have anointed him as their Senate candidate.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) released the following statement in response:

“Hoosier voters deserve to know exactly where their elected leaders stand as Democrat congressional leaders move forward to force their unpopular health care bill to a vote. As Brad Ellsworth seeks a promotion to the U.S. Senate, his continued silence in this critical debate is remarkable, especially considering the fact that he was very outspoken in the defense of life last year. The choice could not be more clear – will Ellsworth stand with his fellow pro-life Democrats like Joe Donnelly, who have already made clear that the absence of this anti-abortion provision is unacceptable, or will Ellsworth stand with the party leaders who are preparing to anoint his Senate candidacy and once again rubber-stamp this unpopular health care bill?  For someone who aspires to represent the State of Indiana in the Senate, Ellsworth should step forward immediately and make his position clear.” – Brian Walsh, NRSC Communications Director 

BACKGROUND ON ELLSWORTH’S PAST SUPPORT FOR THE PRO-LIFE LANGUAGE IN THE HEALTH CARE BILL

August 2009: “Ellsworth Pledged He Will Fight For Language In The Final Health Care Reform Bill To ‘Prohibit Any Funds In This Bill To Contribute Toward The Performance Of Abortion.’ He Said He Is ‘Very Confident’ That Effort Will Be Successful.” (Thomas B. Langhorne, “Callers Sound Off On Health Care,” Evansville Courier & Press, 8/23/09)

September 2009: Ellsworth Called For “Stronger Language” Against Abortion Funding In The Health Care Bill. “‘Stronger language’ against abortion funding in health care reform legislation is needed, Rep. Brad Ellsworth, D-Ind., said in a letter to U.S. House leaders last week. The letter, instigated by Ellsworth and co-signed by Rep. Bobby Bright, D-Ala., calls for stronger prohibitions against abortion funding through whatever new public insurance option may come to the House floor for a vote and through federal subsidies used to purchase private plans. ‘First, we believe stronger language must be added to the bill to protect federal tax dollars from funding abortions through any new public health insurance option,’ according to the letter. ‘Second, we support adding a new provision to clearly define the standard used to ensure federal subsidies are not used to purchase coverage for abortions.’ The letter drew praise from the National Right to Life Committee’s chief lobbyist in Washington, D.C., who said Ellsworth had recognized the complex subterranean machinations employed by abortion rights supporters to achieve federal funding for elective abortions in health care legislation.” (Thomas B. Langhorne, “Ellsworth Enters Abortion Fray,” Evansville Courier & Press, 9/21/09)

• “As A Pro-Life Democrat, I Am Committed To Protecting Life At All Stages And Defending Existing Policies That Prevent Federal Tax Dollars From Being Used To Fund Abortion. . . . My staff and I will continue to work with leadership and like-minded members to prevent federal tax dollars from being used to pay for abortions and ensure Americans have access to pro-life insurance options in the health care reform bill.” (Congressman Brad Ellsworth, Op-Ed, “Health Care Reform,” Evansville Courier & Press, 9/24/09)

October 2009: “U.S. Rep. Brad Ellsworth, D-Ind., Has Drawn A Line In The Sand: He Will Not Vote For Any Health Care Reform Bill That Does Not Explicitly Forbid Federal Funding Of Elective Abortions. Ellsworth’s declaration goes further than his Sept. 16 letter to House leaders on abortion funding in health care reform legislation. . . . ‘As I have said all along, we cannot afford to put off health care reform. The costs to all of us – in premiums and out-of-pocket expenses – will only continue to rise if nothing is done,’ Ellsworth said. ‘That being said, as I made clear to House leadership, I have significant concerns about the current abortion language, and if I suspect the bill will result in federal taxpayer dollars being used to fund abortion, I will oppose it.’” (Thomas B. Langhorne, “Ellsworth Draws Line At Funding Abortions,” Evansville Courier & Press, 10/4/09)

November 2009: Ellsworth Joined Forces With Congressman Bart Stupak To Offer An Amendment To Prohibit Federal Funding For Abortion In The Health Care Bill. “The House voted Saturday to prohibit federal funding for abortion in new insurance programs created by a Democratic health overhaul, in one of the biggest showdown votes on the issue in a dozen years. The amendment, sponsored by Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., along with Brad Ellsworth, D-Ind., and Joe Pitts, R-Pa., was adopted 240-194. One member, John Shadegg, R-Ariz., voted ‘present.’ Sixty-four Democrats supported the amendment and no Republicans voted against it.” (Alex Wayne, “House Adopts Stupak Amendment On Abortion,” Congressional Quarterly Today, 11/7/09)

January 2010: Ellsworth: “I Will Not Support A Bill That I Believe Would Result In Federal Tax Dollars Being Used To Pay For Elective Abortions. Period.” “I was proud to work with pro-life members in the House to introduce and pass the Stupak-Ellsworth-Pitts amendment, which strictly prohibited insurance providers – both public and private – from covering abortion services using federal funds. Negotiations for the final health care reform bill are just beginning. But I want to make it clear, as I have said many times, I will not support a bill that I believe would result in federal tax dollars being used to pay for elective abortions. Period.” (Congressman Brad Ellsworth, “Ellsworth Reaffirms Support For Pro-Life Protections In Health Care Reform,” Press Release, 1/13/10)