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Ellsworth Faces Mounting Pressure

In Indiana, the Evansville Courier-Press reports that soon-to-be anointed Senate candidate Congressman Brad Ellsworth (D-IN) finds himself under growing pressure as one of the publicly undecided members on the health care bill.  Ellsworth’s position is complicated by his decision to seek the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate seat recently abandoned by Indiana’s Evan Bayh. Republicans, who deem the legislation exceedingly unpopular and looking to score political points, assert that Ellsworth owes it to Hoosier voters to declare where he stands. “For someone who aspires to represent the state of Indiana in the Senate, Ellsworth should step forward immediately and make his position clear,” said Brian Walsh, communications director for the National Republican Senatorial Committee. Ellsworth’s deliberations likely center on the issue of abortion. As an anti-abortion advocate, he helped formulate the language in the House bill prohibiting the use of federal funds to finance the procedure….Several lawmakers who supported the original House bill oppose the new language, including 2nd District Rep. Joe Donnelly, D-Indiana. Several anti-abortion organizations, including the Web site Life News, have listed Ellsworth as a potential convert because of the abortion language. But the lawmaker most recently said he is still considering the bill.  ”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,” Walsh said.  ”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.”

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