Updated: Obama "personal appeal" *will* drop contraception money from stimulus plan

{post updated - see below}

Quite a development:

House Democrats are likely to jettison family planning funds for the low-income from an $825 billion economic stimulus bill, officials said late Monday, following a personal appeal from President Barack Obama at a time the administration is courting Republican critics of the legislation.

Several officials said a final decision was expected on Tuesday, coinciding with Obama's scheduled visit to the Capitol for separate meetings with House and Senate Republicans.

The provision has emerged as a point of contention among Republicans, who criticize it as an example of wasteful spending that would neither create jobs nor otherwise improve the economy. (AP)

Two initial reactions:

• It is gratifying (even encouraging) to see Obama willing to bend on such issues
• It is gratifying to see Pelosi's stupid justifications left out in the cold this time

I'll be watching this and related stories closely.

Nancy Pelosi still needs to be answered.

update: Good analysis from Ed Morrissey, along with news that Pelosi is backing down:

"Democrats thought they could sneak subsidies for Planned Parenthood into the stimulus package, and why not? After all, in a bill that will cost $825 billion, who’d notice? Unfortunately for Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi, George Stephanopolous did. After failing to explain how hundreds of millions of dollars in new contraception funding would stimulate anything except libidos and Democrats, Pelosi will reluctantly remove the provisions from the stimulus bill this morning...

... Reid and Pelosi wanted to toss hundreds of millions of dollars to Planned Parenthood, an important contributor to Democratic candidates and the party. It has nothing to do with economic stimulus; it has everything to do with political stimulus."

Meanwhile, over at the death-happy Feministing blog, typical cluelessness:

"It is clear that state spending on family planning services not only save the state money and time, but have greater long-term benefits for the health of our people."

How do contraceptives save money and time? Oh that's right, because abortions take money and time. Reproductive Health Reality Check is hopping mad, too:

"Women are screwed, the poor lose essential health care, the Republicans galvanize their nutcase base by removing contraception but will still run around playing the common ground card. Could it maybe have been a better idea to flip this tired script and show some muscle right now?"

Note how Pelosi, the Feministing blogger, and RHRC ... are all in complete agreement on this issue!