Pelosi defends abortion curbs in health care bill, calls bill victory for American people

Pelosi defends abortion curbs in health bill

WASHINGTON — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says the health care overhaul that Congress may complete this weekend should be backed by lawmakers who want to retain current restrictions on federal financing of abortion.

The California Democrat says the legislation leaves intact the existing curbs on federal payments for the procedure. She told reporters Friday that for lawmakers who favor restricting abortion funding and overhauling the health care system: “This is it.”

Some abortion foes who voted for an earlier version of the bill are threatening to vote “no” Sunday because they say the current version’s abortion restrictions are too lax.

Pelosi said, “When we bring the bill to the floor, we will have a significant victory for the American people.”