Bad: Democrats keep abortion in Baucus bill with party-line vote

The new health care bill introduced in the Senate by Sen. Baucus has the best chance (out of any of the bills currently being debated) of making it into law.

No surprise then that Democrats are making extra-sure that abortion funding stays in its provisions:

The Senate Finance Committee turned back Republican-led efforts to tighten abortion restrictions in health-overhaul legislation, and the Senate's top Democrat said he wants to bring a sweeping bill to the floor in two weeks.

... The sparring over abortion Wednesday underscored the sweep of the health legislation, which not only makes fundamental changes to a key segment of the U.S. economy, but also inflames passions on a range of social issues.

Mr. Baucus said he didn't want to add abortion to the debate. "This is a health-care bill," he said. "This is not an abortion bill. We are not changing current law."

... But Sen. Orrin Hatch (R., Utah) said the limits in the current law could easily lapse. He called on Mr. Baucus to fold the language into the health bill, making it permanent law. "Let's codify it," he said.

... The Hatch amendment failed 13-10 on a mostly party-line vote. Sen. Olympia Snowe (R., Maine) joined Democrats in opposing it, while Sen. Kent Conrad of North Dakota was the lone Democrat in favor.

The panel also rejected an amendment Mr. Hatch said was needed to ensure the government doesn't discriminate against health-care providers who refuse to perform abortion procedures for moral or religious reasons. (Wall Street Journal)

Baucus tries to claim that his new proposal is moderate and bi-partisan.

Apparently he doesn't think preventing your tax dollars from going to abortions, or allowing Catholic and other Christian health-care providers an exemption from performing abortions, even counts as moderation or a bi-partisan position.

So who is more extreme, Sen. Baucus or Catholics who don't want to be involved in abortions?

And - just as a reminder - yet again Mr. Obama has failed to deliver his promise that abortion would not be covered in his health care proposals and that there would be an exemption for those with religious convictions on the issue.

The health care debate is entering the late game - when exactly will Mr. Obama fulfill his promise?