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Nelson: Vote Could Hinge on Anti-Abortion Provision

Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) said Monday evening he would vote against a motion to proceed on any health care reform bill that does not include language barring federal funds from being used to provide insurance coverage for abortions.Nelson said he needs language in the final Senate bill similar to the amendment filed by Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) that was approved as part of the House health care overhaul bill, which narrowly passed Saturday night.“I feel that something like the Stupak amendment should be included in the Senate version. I don’t know that it’s not because I haven’t seen the Senate version,— Nelson told reporters, adding that inclusion of such language does not guarantee his support given other issues he may have with the legislation.Also Monday, Nelson met with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) as part of a regular series of meetings the two have been holding on health care reform. Nelson, a moderate whose vote is viewed as critical to passage of a Democratic package, said the discussion did not include any talk of what is going to be in the final bill.

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