WASHINGTON (AP) - The House has voted to prohibit coverage of abortions in a new government-run health care plan that Democrats want to compete with private insurers.
The 240-194 vote was a blow to liberals who would let the Obama administration decide whether to cover abortions in a government-provided insurance plan. Sixty-four Democrats joined 176 Republicans in favor of the prohibition.
The vote was on an amendment to a Democratic-written bill to provide health care insurance coverage to 36 million Americans who