THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 14, 1994 TAG: 9407140679
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: KNIGHT-RIDDER NEWS SERVICE
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium: 55 lines
An all-or-nothing battle over abortion is looming in Congress, and the first casualty could be health reform.
The bishops of the 60 million-member Catholic Church announced a campaign Wednesday to defeat any health care bill that includes abortion in its national package of medical benefits.
They vowed to fight even if that spoils chances to secure health coverage for all Americans, a goal the church shares with President Clinton. Hours later, liberal members of the House - who also want health insurance for all - released a letter signed by 72 lawmakers saying they could not support a health reform bill that excluded abortion coverage.
A senior House official said there was likely to be a vote on abortion coverage when the health care bill comes to the floor in August.
The rhetoric on both sides was unwavering.
``We cannot compromise on this,'' said Bishop James McHugh of Camden, N.J. ``Abortion must be excluded from basic benefits in the health plan.''
``For those who say there will be a battle if you put (abortion) in, we say there's going to be a battle if you try to take it out,'' responded Rep. Nita Lowey, D-N.Y.
The abortion war threatens to split Clinton's coalition for universal coverage.
The president's 1,300-page health care bill included abortion as a benefit. But Hillary Rodham Clinton has recently hinted that the administration may compromise. Each side claimed Wednesday that the Clintons would ultimately go along with them.
Rep. Patricia Schroeder, D-Colo., said the president told her at a White House meeting that abortion coverage was ``non-negotiable.''
But Bishop John Ricard of Baltimore said Hillary Clinton told him the administration could accept a congressional decision to drop abortion coverage.
In an interview Wednesday, White House health policy strategist Harold Ickes refused to be pinned down.
``Abortion is obviously a very controversial issue, and it will have to be decided through the legislative process,'' he said.
Congressional committees working on health reform rejected attempts to strike abortion coverage, but abortion opponents believe they can win on the floor of the House and Senate.
KEYWORDS: CATHOLIC CHURCH ABORTION
by CNB