NRSC

Indiana Voters Deserve To Know Where Ellsworth Stands

The Associated Press reported late today that House Democrat leaders “have concluded they cannot change a divisive abortion provision in President Barack Obama's health care bill and will try to pass the sweeping legislation without the support of ardent anti-abortion Democrats.”

However, earlier today The Hill looked at five members of Congress “with significant political motivations who will determine whether the Democrats’ health care bill lives or dies.” At the top of their list?  Indiana Congressman and announced Democrat Senate candidate Brad Ellsworth, who is under even more pressure this week after fellow Hoosier Democrat Joe Donnelly indicated that he intends to flip his vote to “no.”  From today’s story:

• 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.

Now that House and Senate Democrat leaders have made clear that they intend to move forward and pass a health care bill that does not contain the pro-life legislative language – language that Ellsworth made clear last fall was a prerequisite for his support – where does the Democrats’ presumptive Senate candidate stand on today’s announcement? 

Will Ellsworth stand by his party’s leaders and vote “yes,” or will he stand by his word and vote “no?” Hoosier voters deserve an answer.